View Full Version : vexilar edge
beetle
03-03-2002, 09:21 AM
Just looking for owners opinions on this unit. Likes? Dislikes?
Thinking of purchasing one this year. I know there are prolly better units out there, but the Edge is in my price range.
I to am interested. One thing I would like to know is if the power output is suffient. Their's is 200 watts RMS, with a peak to peak of 1600 watts, while many others on the market boost much more. Does this really play a critical roll or is the Edge more than enough to be a major player. The Edge seems to be a "no nonsense" finder. I like that they don't have some of the whistles and bells we typically don't use. I realize it's a little pricey, but I would pay a little more to have a unit that functions as two different finders on one screen The concept, I think, is the best of any finders on the market. I really am interested in this finder and really would appreciate owners/users comments on this unit.
Dave E
Bad Finger
03-03-2002, 02:15 PM
I have had this unit for one season. I love it and think it is among the best out there. The unit is 2 finders in one. The screen is split in half and there are 2 separate transducers. A 200khz wide angle ducer and a 400 khz narrow angle ducer. Both working at the same time in conjunction with each other. This is very important. You really need a good understanding of how the cone angles work and how the 400 khz side magnifies the bottom. Kinda hard for me to explain, (Because I'm not a tech head) but I'll give it a shot.
The 200 khz side shows a larger area under the boat, the 400 khz is a small zone in the 200 khz cone. So any fish you see on the 200 side, may show up as a "spec" or a "bump" on the bottom. The 400 khz side will show that "spec" as more of a hook and separate it from the bottom. The unit does an incredible job of showing bottom content changes, like sand to mud, hard to soft ect. That brings me to personal settings. I fish Mille Lacs a lot and have settings I use there. I have them saved in the unit for retrieval when ever I hit the lake. I have another setting saved for when I'm fishing the Mississippi river. All user setting can be made right from the units face, no filing through several menus just to bump up the power!
The back lighting is excellent, and Vexilar will stand behind the unit.
Any specific questions?
beetle
03-03-2002, 03:53 PM
Bad Finger,
I guess I'm even less of a tech head than you. You talk of saved settings for Mille Lacs and the Miss. river. If it's what I think it is, I don't know if it would be of any use to me. I fish many different lakes and many areas of the Miss. And I'm always looking for new places. In other words, very seldom do I fish the same places over and over.
Also, in the warmer months I do a lot of crappie fishing. Always looking for the underwater brush in the transition areas that climb from deep water to shallower water. Sharp dropoffs.
So would saved setting feature be of any use to me?
Bad Finger
03-03-2002, 04:24 PM
I'd say yes. My third setting is for running Wide Open Throttle. I have the power and screen sweep set where I'm always reading bottom and can mark clouds of bait or see bottom changes in most all situations.
My Mille Lacs setting is set for a certain depth zone. I'm only looking at the bottom 10 feet in 30 feet of water. So, everything on my screen is 20-30 feet. I can hit that saved setting without messing around with menues every time out.
eyewitness
03-03-2002, 04:52 PM
Just curious what other graphs you have recently owned and operated to make a comparison with. I currently run the X85 and do like it alot, however when I go into boat upgrade mode next spring all options will be open. I am intrigued by the dual cone operation, just wondering if the transducer mounting is then an extremely critical part of the equasion. IMHO a lot of the riggers out there don't have a clue how to properly mount a transducer for optimum performance and obviously this could be an issue to consider. Any insight would be appreciated.
beetle
03-03-2002, 04:54 PM
Not sure if this makes a difference, but I plan to mount this up front with the ducers on the trolling motor. I spend 95% of my time up there so that is where I'll get the most use from it. How is target separation for this unit? How close to bottom wil it decipher fish from bottom debris?
thanks, herb
camolund
03-03-2002, 05:42 PM
I have one and I love the ##### out of it. I set it up per the instructions in the manual and haven't changed it since. I fish a lot of different waters (Mille Lacs included) and I've found everything I need using the 3 programmed settings.
Brad
Bad Finger
03-03-2002, 06:10 PM
If you think the x-85 is good, you will like the Edge a lot better. I don't want to bash the x-85, good unit, but there are better in that units old price range. Personally, I think the Garmin 240 and the Zercom 2000 are better units.
The Edge can be found for $499.00 now. A steal. I paid $699.00 and am still happy!!
dave e
03-03-2002, 06:36 PM
Bad Finger,
I will be using the unit in deep water as well as shallow. My concern is that I may not have the power to get down there (250 to 300 feet) and get a good reading. With the finder I have presently, I feel I might not have the power to see everything. I have a Impulse 2800 plus (oldie but goodie)with a 45 degree cone angle and I like the fact that I can see the canon balls behind the boat when running down riggers, but am I missing some fish down there (deeper)? With the concept of looking at the same area with two different cone angles is very attractive to me. Most of my fishing would be inland lakes, only occasionally work deeper waters. Does this unit have the power? Also, does this unit have any zoom features? I don't see much advantage to that, but wondered if it did. Anyone with this unit that uses it in deeper water, I would appreciate you feed back.
Dave
dave e
03-03-2002, 06:46 PM
Bad Finger,
I forgot to ask you where I would be able to fing this unit for $499?
Thanks again, dave e
Backwater Eddy
03-03-2002, 06:50 PM
Try Reeds or Thorn Bro's.
Backwater Eddy ~ ~ ~><sUMo> ~ ><>
http://home.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/index.html
beetle
03-04-2002, 03:30 AM
Going to Vexilar's web site and download the owner's manual. I'll see what info I can get on the (programable settings).
thanks guys
herb
RVRRAT
03-04-2002, 02:12 PM
Dave E,
I to own a Vexilar Edge and can tell you that I was able to track bottom with it at over 40mph in over 100ft. of water.(Lake Elmo)I really like the sonar!It should be able to track your downrigger balls just fine with its 107khz 38deg cone and look for fish with its 400khz 10deg cone.I have mine on the console and shoot the transducers thru the fiberglass hull.I know they make a kit for trolling motor mount but that area would be a little crowded with 2 transducers.I just replaced my x-85 on the bow with a Zercom 2000.I have not had a chance to try the Zercom yet.I can tell you that the Edge is much better than the x-85 in every way.I must admit that I do not like lowrance's menu driven systems.(have had many lowrance and eagle products and am straying away from them now}As far as comparing it to your Impulse,it is a whole decade ahead in technology.I also owned a Impulse 2831 so I have first hand knowledge on that comparison.You will not be disapointed with a Vexilar Edge.
RR
beetle
03-04-2002, 03:27 PM
Right now on the trolling motor I have a ducer for any eagle and a ducer for a vexilar fl8 slt. Work together with out any interference.
I'm just wanting to upgrade to something better than my eagle and put the vex away till ice ice.
thanks alot guys, looks like I'm going with the Vex Edge.
dave e
03-04-2002, 05:26 PM
Still would like info on where I might buy one of these (Edge) for $499 as previously noted. I looked at Reeds and they are still $699. If there is someone who knows, please let me know, as I'm very interested.
Thanks, dave
Bad Finger
03-04-2002, 06:09 PM
Cabelas - Owatonna store. However, this was about a month ago....so don't know if they still have any. Not a catalog item.
Gander Mountain has the edge on sale for 499. As of last friday the Janesville, WI store still had some. I tried the Lacrosse store but they were sold out.
MaineFisherman
03-05-2002, 03:44 PM
Hello, woluld anyone have the phone number for Gander Mountain? I would like to purchase the Vexilar and these prices are impressive.We have no dealers here in central Maine and the prices ive seen are $600 or so. Thank You
You can find a listing of all the Gander Mountain stores at www.gandermountain.com/stores.htm.
chadk66
03-05-2002, 08:08 PM
As far as there being a better all around unit out there than the edge, all I can say is I doubt it. I wouldn't trade mine for any one of them right now. It is awesome and extremely easy to use. It's kind of like Ronco says on his info-mercials, "set it and forget it".
fisherman
03-06-2002, 12:37 AM
RR, I have crawled thru the barbed wire fence and can offically be called a stray also. Will report when I get the unit on the water. Thanks for helping me on my decision Jon...
RVRRAT
03-06-2002, 07:54 AM
Gander Mountain Woodbury,MN.This was also about a month ago.
Camolund: I just ordered a Vexilar Edge for the console (Lund 1800 Fisherman) and would like to put another unit (less expensive) on the bow. Any suggestions? Will they interfere with one another?