Beach detector?

[depwraith]

Have an old headhunter pro diver that has seen better days and thinking about a new machine. Will be used almost exclusively at beaches/shallow saltwater west of Tampa. Looking at the Deus (not sure on version), Etrac, Excalibur 2 and of course the CTX 3030 (not sure I want to spend that much though).

Any recommendations from those of you that have hunted the same area or conditions?

 

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[Goldfleks]

I pondered this for 3 months and went with the dual field, and I think the thing that swayed me to the dual field was after reading the owners manual on both machines, the Whites just seemed simpler to set up , threshold, gain. Done.

The guy I met on the beach day1 of my beach detecting used the Whites dual field. I'm not sure there is much difference in depth between the two machines. He's definitely better at picking up the deep tones compared to me. But any time he's called me over to see if I can hear the tone on my machine, I'm able to hear it on the shark.

Having another person to detect with is really great when you're new to the game. It's really helped me better understand not only my machine but also how the tides and swells effect my area to better anticipate where the next cut is going to be.

As far as difficulty, I don't think the shark is that much different. Gain is pulse width, threshold is threshold. Turn it on into normal mode and you're done.

 

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[cudamark]

The guy I met on the beach day1 of my beach detecting used the Whites dual field. I'm not sure there is much difference in depth between the two machines. He's definitely better at picking up the deep tones compared to me. But any time he's called me over to see if I can hear the tone on my machine, I'm able to hear it on the shark.

Having another person to detect with is really great when you're new to the game. It's really helped me better understand not only my machine but also how the tides and swells effect my area to better anticipate where the next cut is going to be.

As far as difficulty, I don't think the shark is that much different. Gain is pulse width, threshold is threshold. Turn it on into normal mode and you're done.

One of my hunting buddies uses the White's Dual Field also. I use either my E-trac/NEL 15" coil setup, or, Excalibur with the same coil. When it comes to depth, the dual field will go a slightly deeper than the E-trac, but not as deep as the Excalibur. I've compared it other PI machines (Sand Shark and Sea Hunter) and the Excal is deeper than those two also. The only machines that are consistently deeper than my Excal is the Garrett ATX, Minelab SD and GPX series, and the GPZ7000. If you're willing to dig lots of iron, there's nothing wrong with using a relatively in expensive PI machine......just don't use depth as a justification, because a properly set up Excalibur will go deeper......at least here on our SoCal beaches.

 

[sandmartin]

One of my hunting buddies uses the White's Dual Field also. I use either my E-trac/NEL 15" coil setup, or, Excalibur with the same coil. When it comes to depth, the dual field will go a slightly deeper than the E-trac, but not as deep as the Excalibur. I've compared it other PI machines (Sand Shark and Sea Hunter) and the Excal is deeper than those two also. The only machines that are consistently deeper than my Excal is the Garrett ATX, Minelab SD and GPX series, and the GPZ7000. If you're willing to dig lots of iron, there's nothing wrong with using a relatively in expensive PI machine......just don't use depth as a justification, because a properly set up Excalibur will go deeper......at least here on our SoCal beaches.

Not sure I would agree about the excal being deeper than a pi machine if you don't mind me saying, I have just bought a Sea Hunter and it's quite a bit deeper than my CZ21 but that's just my experience.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Not sure I would agree about the excal being deeper than a pi machine if you don't mind me saying, I have just bought a Sea Hunter and it's quite a bit deeper than my CZ21 but that's just my experience.

With a 15" DD coil on excal, hunting in all metal using reverse discrimination I hit targets over 22+" deep with mine and I still dig no iron. With stock 10"coil using same method I can see 18" buried quarter in my test garden.

A lot of people just do not know how to tune an excal for max depth until taught, those of us experienced with it using large coils and reverse discrimination know I am telling the truth.

January 20, 2017 A New Beginning!

 

[strick]

I have 2 CTX's, 1 Excal and several PI's plus an AT Gold. If you are going to be strictly hunting water then I would recommend the Excal. Do the straight shaft like others have stated. Some beaches have lots of iron and you are going to get sick of digging 2 foot holes with a PI for a nail while others are out there are finding rings. For non trashy beaches the PI is good way to go. If you are going amphibious then get the CTX. My CTX is my main land machine and it works great at the beach....however I have found that the Excal gets targets just as deep and maybe even slightly deeper then the CTX especially in black sand. I bought my Excal with 8"coil for black sand/trashy beaches here in California where the CTX has a little trouble. Good Luck and HH

strick

 

[SWFLA]

Hey Soda pop, I live in swfl and have a Tigar shark vlf and a White duel field pi. When you get down here I'd be happy to show you both machines. I really enjoy both, I found when I had my Tiger shark at the beach I was always running in all metal and decided to get the pi. There is a difference , it's just how much effort (deep digging) your ready for.

 

[LawrencetheMDer]

Regarding AT Pro (otherwise great machine) - Not for use on salt water beaches with black sand (iron) added in as in west coast of Florida...It will constantly talk to you (not in a good way).

 

[sandmartin]

With a 15" DD coil on excal, hunting in all metal using reverse discrimination I hit targets over 22+" deep with mine and I still dig no iron. With stock 10"coil using same method I can see 18" buried quarter in my test garden.

A lot of people just do not know how to tune an excal for max depth until taught, those of us experienced with it using large coils and reverse discrimination know I am telling the truth.

January 20, 2017 A New Beginning!

Wasn't trying to say you are wrong buddy as I've never had an excal, just surprised as everything you read and hear says a PI machine is usually always deeper. Sounds like you have your machine well dialled in! Good hunting bud.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Wasn't trying to say you are wrong buddy as I've never had an excal, just surprised as everything you read and hear says a PI machine is usually always deeper. Sounds like you have your machine well dialled in! Good hunting bud.

No problem, I didn't mean to imply you were, just posting my view based on my experiences.

January 20, 2017 A New Beginning!