Lowrance LCX 15

[addecus]

Hello All, Posting here and hoping to get feedback good or bad on this fishfinder that I have installed in my boat. Have gone offshore only once since and the unit tracks bottom OK in depths to 140-150 fa. so I,m not worried about that. My concerns are toward actually seeing tuna marks out at the buoys that are in really deep water 500-900 fa. The tuna usually hang out at 30-60 fa. but I'd like to be prepared to find them when they return in the spring. We pop little bags of chum attached to our baited lines and knowing where the fish are is important.Mahalo for any help.

 

[JB]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

Aloha Addecus.<br /><br />The LCX-15 is about the best monochrome sonar there is. What is your question?<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[addecus]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

JB, On another board where I lurk for info, they are very much predjudiced towards Furuno sounders and I know they are good machines, but this unit was a gift from from my wife so you know why it is going to stay. Anyway over on the other board they say stuff like the new Lowrance's are unproven and how can you get 1000 watts with so little current draw. They say too that in very deep water where the unit is unable to sense bottom it will not show fish marks even right under the boat. I have talked to Lowrance reps also techs from West Marine and they have assured me that my unit will do it all. And after more info from other board, have found out that they have only seen pictures of the Lowrance. I just wanted to hear good things from someone who can say it is so. Thanks.

 

[JB]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

Well, Addecus, I'm sure you have run onto me over there, too. <br /><br />I agree that they think (or at least SAY they think) Furunos are the best. Well, for what Furunos cost, you have to say that or look like an idiot for buying one.<br /><br />The Furuno are very good. They are NOT better performers than the more powerful Lowrances that cost half as much.<br /><br />The only sonar for under $2000 that will outperform your LCX-15 is the LCX-16CI.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[addecus]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

Thanks JB, I will let you know how it goes in a few months. Aloha and good fishing, addecus.

 

[BUCK N DI]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

JB, could you post the other website that you refer to? It never hurts to get as many tips and information about products before spending. Thanks

 

[fritchey]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

addecus<br /><br />I have a LCX-15MT that I bought last year. I only use it in fresh water and only in depths of 200 ft or so. I can assure you that I have had no problems with the unit so far. It will not only reliably pick up fish, but will also pick up schools of baitfish. Which in my opinion is more important than picking up the fish. If the installation is correct and the sensitivity is adjusted correctly you should have no issues.

 

[addecus]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

Thank you Fritchey, that is good to hear. Good fishing, addecus.

 

[JB]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

Hi, Buck 'n' Di<br /><br />I regularaly visit<br /> www.continuouswave.com/whaler <br /><br />and<br /> www.thehulltruth.com <br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[trollhole]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

I have had a lot of graphs in my life but I will have to say that the lcx-15 beats them all hands down for the money. I use mine regulary in fresh water anywhere from 20ft to 400 ft and I have know problem with bottom clarity. They can be a little tricky in the beginning with setting the sensitivity right but once you get used to it its awesome. It really is good for trolling downriggers. Not only can I see my cannonballs but can also see the stackers on both sides which is hard to do when you are trolling at 30ft at about a 18 foot spread.

 

[RJS]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

Using the car analogy<br />Hummingbird = Yugo<br />Lowrance = Chevy<br />Furuno = Lexus or BMW<br /><br />Furuno's are excellent. I've owned both. You can find a Furuno at the same price range of the Lowrance, plus you get color. Ask commercial fisherman or charter boat capt's what they use: Furuno, Scitex or Raytheon.<br /><br />These units tend to discriminate bottom from fish better.

 

[trollhole]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

What RJS failed to tell you is that you can get a Furuno for the same price but without any features that the lowrance has for the price. If you just fish occasionally go with Lowrance if you fish a lot go with Furuno but expect to pay a lot more for the same features. But both are good units. And a lexus comes with all the luxuries and features; buying a Furuno for the same price as a Lowrance is like getting a Lexus with no radio, no power windows and no leather seats compared to a Toyota with all the extras so what's the point in buying a Furuno? Basically same quality you are just paying more for the features that you probably won't use anyway unless you fish a lot and I mean a lot.<br />

 

[RJS]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

The extra features are related to GPS capabilities. If I'm buying a fishfinder, I'd prefer th company put the money into more sophisticated electronics, not the bells and whistles. It's what under the hood that counts. If you want to listen to music, stay home and listen to your stereo. I've owned both, the Furuno is better. FYI: The Furuno FCV-582L was voted the best fishfinder for 2001 by the marine electronics industry.

 

[trollhole]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

Alright that's wonderfull but it still 1200 dollars without transducer of from what I could find on the web. It also doesn't come with gps for that price. So I don't understand? A lcx-15 is 1200 with everything GPS and transducer with temp. SO like I said lets compare apples to apples and you will see ther is a big price difference.And I'm not saying they are bad models Furuno Are great units they are just a little more expensive.

 

[RJS]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

Apples to Apples<br />Furuno FCV-582L (voted best fish finder) $1248 (speed & temp included)<br />Lowrance -15XCI (color) (speed & temp extra)<br />$1299<br /><br />I don't see where the price advantage is, there is certainly not a quality advantage. What's your point?<br /><br />with GPS $1599 (no WAAS)<br /><br />I would rather get two separate units Furuno + Garmin (you get Bluechart) for insurance. I owned a Lowrance Combo, when the GPS failed, I was left without a GPS and a fishfinder. When the fishfinder failed, I was left without a fishfinder and a GPS.

 

[Xenos]

Re: Lowrance LCX 15

The ice is finally out up here in Canada and I had an opportunity to try out my X15mt. First off I run the Navionics charts in one word awesome I particularly love how it shows where all the buoys are, so at night no more straining my eyes looking for them after dark as well the back light allows for night viewing. As far as the sonar well it’s been my 3rd in the last 2 years and this is the first one where I have actually been able to see fish archs on the bottom. The thing that impressed me the most was, when I finished fishing I uploaded the data from it to my pc so I could review the graph and what I saw astounded me. Somewhere in the graph was the most awesome looking structure and fish were all around and over it and I misted it while driving, please note not trolling. As I moved my mouse over the fish a menu popped up and gave me the GPS coordinates to the exact spot.WOW guess where i'm going back to.