Zercom Marine
Alma Wass
I just recently bought a clearwater classic off of ebay. It is in really good shape and it seemed like a good buy from what I have read about them. I have taken it out fishing a few times now and am a bit disappointed. I haven't even been able to mark my jig in 8 to 10 feet of water. I realize that it isn't going to work as good as a vex or marcum but shouldn't I at least be able to mark my jig?
I have been using an older battery that is pretty much on its last leg...do you guys think that could be part of the problem. Also, I don't have an ice ducer for it, it is the one you mount on the boat....any suggestions on how I should get it to level out better. Thanks a bunch for any help.
Also make sure your ducer is completely level. If it's skewed sideways a bit, you could be missing your jig. Also, you're not in an area with current, I assume. If there's current, it could be pushing your jig out of the sonar cone.
I wasn't fishing in any current but it is possible that I could be missing my jig. I guess the transducer could be bad but I could still mark the bottom and fish pretty decent. also, I tried up sizing to a 1/32 oz. jig and I could just barely see that, but whenever I tried a normal size panfish jig it wouldn't pick it up.
Get a NEW battey.... I was told you could use the vexs transducer if you modify it with the rca type plug in for the clearwater. I have one of the t.o.a.d trancducers for my clearwater. You need to get it LEVEL to work properly.
Try to see if transducer is leveled by hanging something large on a string and drop it down. Slowly move transducer until you mark the object, then you know if you have a good or bad ducer, but if you mark bottom transducer should be ok.
My high speed(boat) transducer works better than my ice ducer... for some reason I have to turn the gain all the way up with the ice ducer... but I can pick up a wax worm in 40' of water no prob... IF my transducer is strait.
I can pick up anything that any other flasher can on the market, and I have better target separation than the other colored units.. I just dont have all the battery eating pretty colors, or a zoom mode. I had the classic in the past and it worked equally as well.
A few years back I cut a 4" piece of foam off the end of one of the kids' "noodles" that they use in the lake/pool. Cut a slice lengthwise for the cord to slip into, and bingo - had myself a self leveling transducer float. Not sure that would help you out, though?
actually I tried foam float thing already and I just can't get the ducer to float correctly. I think I am going to hve to try some sort of fixed rod with a bubble level. I've been searching the sight for examples to see how others have done it but I can't find much on the topic. If any of you guys have done this before and have any info that would be great. Other wise I think I have a pretty good idea of what to try. thanks again
Seems like you are going to need an ice-ducer. or at least you need to make sure you have a good bracket for mounting the unit like has been mentioned. If it isn't level you will be missing your bait. Just got an Ice-ducer for My LCF40 Going to have to play with it a bit to bring back the Zercom Nostalgia for myself. PS....I have a few Classics and Pros still kicking around also. Just love those Z-Marine units.
I seem to be having the same problem with my Zercom (LCF-40). I have been using this unit for 8 years or so, couldn't have been more happy with it. Now this season I can't pick up my bait, although it does pick up the bottom. So I find it hard to believe it is a transducer problem and I don't think it is a leveling problem. Also, I bought a new battery for it and that doesn't fix the problem either.
You can get the zercoms looked at and also purchase transducers for them at a shop in Columbia Heights. Its called fishlectronics. They have a website but you need to find it yourself because I don't want to be banned again. I still have my clearwater classic and it works great. I will be getting either a fl20 or a lx5 soon once I can really get a good handle on which one. The discussion/forum over the 2 is about 40 pages long!
First off let me say this is a great site. You guys have something to say about everything, and thats awesome. I experienced my first minnesota ice fishing trip last winter on lake Winnie and it was something, I've ice fishing the west my whole life, but this was the first time to actually see shanty towns! But anyway to the question. I saw a zercom (I know they went out of business/were consumed by Marcum) color point flasher used the other day for $100. Can't say I ever heard much about them good or bad, I have a vex already but would like to get this unit for my buddies on the ice to use so they will leave me alone!! I thought I once heard they create alot of interference with surrounding flasher and just wanted to see what you guys thought? I'd hate for this thing to still seperate me from my vex. Thanks and If you have any questions about ice in the west, fill free to give me a shout.
Welcome to the site. If I was looking at the Zercom I think I would pass and look for a LX-1 or the new LX-2. So much has happened since then. A couple of years ago I was upgrading my FL-8 dual beam and was wanting the FL-18 dual beam but after reading all the info on the site I bought a Marcum LX-3. I am soooooo glad I did. There was a big difference in what I was useing and am useing now. Do your self a favor a buy a "updated" Marcum you won`t be disappointed.
As Bob has alluded to, thew technologies have expanded so much since the introduction of the colorpoint that spending a c-note on one would not be a prudent piece of shopping IF you can afford better. If your budget has a cap to it and getting something to work with for a year is what you are thinking, then perhaps. I would do a search on the net to see if a used Marcum unit is floating around. Marcum has come out with a few very exciting units this year which really smacks them into the #1 spot for locating equipment and people stepping up to these new units may opt to sell a nice Marcum unit only a year or so old for a very reasonable price. You'll be much happier with a flasher under the ice.
I was a Colorpoint user for many years. Worked great until I started fishing around other flashers (Vex or Marcum). Your buddies will pull their hair out trying to use it because they won't be able to eliminate the interference that your Vex will cause it. The Colorpoint doesn't have an interference rejection feature like the other flashers.
if you have budget problems,look for a zercom clearwater clasic,or a lcf-40,or the clearwater pro..used one for16 years or so and they work excellent..they just don't have interference rejection or zoom..
You may be able to pick one up on ebay. Hummingbird purchased them a number if years ago and you can still get accessaries from them like transducers, etc. The Marcum folks I believe are the same ones that used to own Clearwater. All I know is that they've really come up with some great innovations since that time.
I am surprised so many people have had interference problems with a Zercom, i've had one for many years now and have not had any problems nor has my buddy with an older vex. Mostly we are usually within 6 ft of one another , not always, but usually, when we find a school.
I looked at one of these at a local baitstore yesterday, and the price for the whole set up,that is the flasher,transducer,battery,and the base/holder is $239.99. Is this a decent sale price for this LCF? I have no experience with this flasher, so can you LCF-40 owners give me the pro's/con's of owning one.I have already read a few comments after doing a search here at FM.Folks at other forums say the LCF-40 is a good unit to have. Am I better off buying an FL-18 for a few more bucks? The money difference is not the issue,but I am looking for the real truth as to how this flasher actually runs,before plunking down the cash. Note: I am not intending to start the Vexilar vs. Zercom arguement again, because I already have an FL-8. I am looking to add another flasher to use when fishing with more people than just myself.
The only problem you might have with the Zercom is from interference off the FL-8. The Zercoms dont have and type of interference reduction, and both run at the same frequency.
Other than that it is a good unit.
I use a zercom and my buddies use the vex's they do the same thing but, they have a hard time reading the screen when the sun shines. I think the Vex company sells a shade or a can work good. For the price the Zercom is great plus I think the zerc is more accurate
okay here is how I am split, FL-18 for ice fishing and the Zercom LCF-40 in da boat in the summer. The only problem I see in the LCF-40 is the fact that it has an LCD display which, if I remember correctly freezes and damages below 20 degress F. This is what I have heard I could be wrong but I am about 99% sure. Although I say all this I will admit I am a diehard Vexilar fan, they've always just seemed to lead the industry. Oh ya one more problem, I know Vexilar has many more dealers then Zercom this means that there are probably more places that could fix your unit if it ever fails while you are on the trip of your life.
The new Zercom LPG (LiquidPaper Graph) is a state-of-the-art, high-resolution fishfinderthat provides highly detailed sonar images on a 320-by-240-pixelLCD screen. This dual-beam sonar yields excellent bottom detailand records fish targets as arches, just like the old paper-chartrecorders used to! The LPG features simple rotary controls withall functions accessed through four knobs. One knob selects theoperation mode, and a large rotary gain-control knob adjusts sensitivity.The LPG operates at 250 kHz, so it can be used simultaneouslywith other fishfinders. Additional features include a split-screenReal Time Sonar display, digital depth display, a shallow-wateralarm, and speed and temperature indicators. The unit is completelywaterproof and includes a high-speed transom transducer_. TechsonicIndustries, (800) 747-9329; www.zercom.com._
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