03-01-2012, 06:08 PM
I've had a single beam model Showdown for three ice fishing seasons. I am totally impressed with the performance of the unit and I've had a chance to make use of Marcum's customer service when I had a problem.
When I called their Minnesota offices I got an immediate response with a real human being.
I think if you are going to purchase a current model, you'd be crazy not to spend the little extra and get the dual beam model just because of the flexibility it will provide to you on a variety of fishing situations. Deep water such as the Gorge or Fish Lake require the narrower beam to limit the area you're viewing near the bottom. In shallow water the wide angle beam gives you the best performance.
Since the actual cost is really just a little more, go with the dual beam and you'll never worry that you bought the wrong one.
After you get your Showdown, you might want to make a [#0000ff]TubeDude[/#0000ff] inspired stand to use while ice fishing. Mine is great because it keeps the unit at eye level and out of the slush.
[url "http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/topwater52/Showndownonstandresized.jpg"]http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/topwater52/Showndownonstandresized.jpg[/url]
[url "http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/topwater52/Showdownfinderwithbluetext-1.jpg"]http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/topwater52/Showdownfinderwithbluetext-1.jpg[/url]
The second photo shows my stand before I added a piece of 1/8" hardboard for a base. If you add a base plate of some kind, you don't need to go crazy with the PVC cross pieces. It must have been that [#0000ff]Prince of PVC[/#0000ff] mindset I get once in a while
Mike
[signature]
When I called their Minnesota offices I got an immediate response with a real human being.
I think if you are going to purchase a current model, you'd be crazy not to spend the little extra and get the dual beam model just because of the flexibility it will provide to you on a variety of fishing situations. Deep water such as the Gorge or Fish Lake require the narrower beam to limit the area you're viewing near the bottom. In shallow water the wide angle beam gives you the best performance.
Since the actual cost is really just a little more, go with the dual beam and you'll never worry that you bought the wrong one.
After you get your Showdown, you might want to make a [#0000ff]TubeDude[/#0000ff] inspired stand to use while ice fishing. Mine is great because it keeps the unit at eye level and out of the slush.
[url "http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/topwater52/Showndownonstandresized.jpg"]http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/topwater52/Showndownonstandresized.jpg[/url]
[url "http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/topwater52/Showdownfinderwithbluetext-1.jpg"]http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/topwater52/Showdownfinderwithbluetext-1.jpg[/url]
The second photo shows my stand before I added a piece of 1/8" hardboard for a base. If you add a base plate of some kind, you don't need to go crazy with the PVC cross pieces. It must have been that [#0000ff]Prince of PVC[/#0000ff] mindset I get once in a while
Mike
[signature]