u'll love it ...nice machine ...Just Peachy has one and i think he left it stock ...I have seen some add foam...try it both way and see what u like best ..I got an older vex with foam loves it too
 
let us know ok be good to hear
 
thanks Horseshoe
 
 

Hey there baldeagle. I do have the Lowrance and love it. I do not use the rod but do use the arm. What I did was take the rod off and left the stop in the arm. when I drill my hole I set the unit beside and swing the arm out so the cable doesn't rub on edge of hole and then make sure there is enough cable so the tansducer is hanging just below the bottom ice. It makes it easy to pack back up and move from hole to hole. I have been running that for 3 seasons now with no probs. As the ice gets deeper you just need to lengthen cable so it hangs just under the ice.
 
Good Luck, Peachy

thanks guys .....i`ve been thinking on the idea myself and i do like to keep the actually sonar unit closer to me ,so the arm may not be the way to go ......at least with the float i can move the unit where ever i want it ....thanks again for the ideas

Wow there baldeagle.. sounds like you got the fever bad...lol

Sorry guys ,,,,i guess i do have it bad ....can`t wait for that hard water ......may have to go down to the barrie marina and try for a few perch off the docks till the ice comes ....i like the barrel idea though ,....lol.....won`t need the heater for that ....lol