Decent machine for salt water beach?

[smokeythecat]

Light weight and not real pricey? Ideas? I know it's been done before but machine models change all the time.

 

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[Zandoliisland]

Not sure what you are thinking when it comes to not pricing but the least expensive one that i have heard about is the Minelab Go-Find 60 Metal Detector priced around $ 250.00 I hear it is water proof and not sure how it works in salt water but might want to check some online videos but the price is pretty inexpensive.. I use a Whites MX Sport that works well in salt water and can compensate for salt beach and salt water plus it is water proof as well..Actually has a beach mode program built in.. Then there is the AT PRO.. I also hear it is a very good detector and is also water proof.. Both are Priced about $ 750.00.. Anyhow I hope this helps but check with others and also look at youtube reviews, etc to help you make a good decision that works best for you..

 

[MexGT]

want to detect in the surf? underwater? want discrimination?

 

[smokeythecat]

Salt water no more than knee deep. And yes to discriminate. Under $1k as I won't use it too much, so spending a lot more than that would be pointless. Not going to scuba or anything like that. Just want to go in no more than 20' out and not more than 2' deep. It's just sometimes fun to play in the water. Got 2nd gold item of the year at the low tide mark this past weekend.

 

[smokeythecat]

Bump?

 

[against the wind]

Smokey,
I have used the AT PRO in fresh water and recovered and returned numerous gold wedding bands, silver rings, and class rings. I really, really, tried to get it to work in salt water but it was a no go with too many ghost signals. (Salt water is a conductor and it will drive most machines crazy).
I purchased a machine that came highly recommended by a guy who has grown a set of gills over many years of salt water hunting. It is the Excalibur by Minelab.
I get in the water when the Temps go into the high 80's, or 90's. That is an average of 20 hunts a year. My first Excalibur paid for itself over 2 years.
I know for sure that this machine really works well in salt water. Why invest in a machine that you know everyone has had problems with when going into salt water?

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Best bet is look for a used excal in your price range. Go Find Series is not water proof and a single freq detector, the design will clog up with sand in the telescoping shaft and folding User Interface if you set it down in dry sand at the beach to dig targets.

 

[smokeythecat]

Is the Excalibur a PI machine? Just got back from a long trip and too tired to look up the thing. Enjoyed listening to WABC radio out of NYC. BTW the Canadians are paying a lot of attention to the election. Maybe more than we do. I won't be getting the AT Pro.

 

[Auriemma]

Smokey... No, the Excal is a VLF. It's basically a waterproof Sov.

I would suggest a Minelab Sovereign, doesn't matter what model. As long as you're not dunking the control box, it rules the beach. I ran my Sov XS in Cape May NJ recently. I ran ran it wide open with the SENS at MAX (just after AUTO). Not so much as a squawk in interference. If metal was under the coil, I found it. If you need to dunk the control box, the Excal is your choice.

Did I mention, the Sov is a great dirt machine as well?

I've used an AT Pro at a saltwater beach, it's not impossible, but just more finicky (constant GB setting, backing off the SENS, keeping the coil completely submerged or dry, etc). In dry sand, it's great, but the closer you get to wet sand, the more you need to adjust and back it off.

 

[smokeythecat]

For up to a few inches of salt water my Tesoro Cibola kicks it. Found a humongous gold and diamond ring at the water's edge (about 1 foot away from the low tide mark, and just found another 14k earring the wave just washed up. I just don't want to drop it, so would have to have something that would go underwater. Too late in the season to go in the water much now, will take a serious look at the Excal over winter. I also don't want to dig a foot deep in the ocean gravel beds. Getting too old for that.

 

[Fletch88]

For up to a few inches of salt water my Tesoro Cibola kicks it. Found a humongous gold and diamond ring at the water's edge (about 1 foot away from the low tide mark, and just found another 14k earring the wave just washed up. I just don't want to drop it, so would have to have something that would go underwater. Too late in the season to go in the water much now, will take a serious look at the Excal over winter. I also don't want to dig a foot deep in the ocean gravel beds. Getting too old for that.

The ATPro would be just as good if not better than the Cibby since the AT had adjustable GB and is waterproof to 10'. You are still better off with a good used excal since it is multiple freq and will run much smother, deeper and about as good as it gets for NOT digging junk iron.

 

[smokeythecat]

Yes, I only dig iron, bigger pieces, at Civil War camps or colonial sites.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Smokey... No, the Excal is a VLF. It's basically a waterproof Sov.

I would suggest a Minelab Sovereign, doesn't matter what model. As long as you're not dunking the control box, it rules the beach. I ran my Sov XS in Cape May NJ recently. I ran ran it wide open with the SENS at MAX (just after AUTO). Not so much as a squawk in interference. If metal was under the coil, I found it. If you need to dunk the control box, the Excal is your choice.

Did I mention, the Sov is a great dirt machine as well?

I've used an AT Pro at a saltwater beach, it's not impossible, but just more finicky (constant GB setting, backing off the SENS, keeping the coil completely submerged or dry, etc). In dry sand, it's great, but the closer you get to wet sand, the more you need to adjust and back it off.

If your going to buy a sovereign keep in mind only the Sov GT is supported by Minelab.




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[smokeythecat]

Minelab does have its service problems.....

 

[Sandman]

Don't waste money on AT Pro, it will false anywhere near salt water. Sov GT is great but you don't want to get the box wet. Excal or even a CZ-21, both are very good in saltwater.

 

[smokeythecat]

I need something I can drop in the ocean, because I know it's going to happen sooner or later.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Look for a used excal...




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[Auriemma]

I need something I can drop in the ocean, because I know it's going to happen sooner or later.

You look at the ML Excal, Whites MX Sport or Beach hunter 300, Fisher CZ21, or 1280X, Tesoro Tigershark, or Garrett Sea Hunter II.
The MX is the only "new" machine out of the bunch with a view screen. And most can handle a dunking.

 

[LuckyLarry]

Fisher CZ is good and Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II are what I prefer and use. The CZ for upper (dry) beach and Garrett PI from there to the water line. The CZ handles the trash well and the PI Garrett goes deep in the less trashy lower beach. Good luck

 

[OBN]

Excalibur or CZ21, to many trashy areas for a PI and the AT Pro does poor near the ocean with the rushing water. Second choice would be a Whites Beach Hunter ID..... Winter is coming, should be some good deals out there..