Is it worth it?

[crazy4coins]

Hi everyone!
I own a Fisher F2 and have a couple years worth of experience with land/dry sand hunting. Now I'm starting to think about the benefits of getting a saltwater machine (Tesoro Sand Shark) that I could use on the beaches this summer. However, to keep myself from shelling out $575 on a piece of wall art, I have a couple questions.

1. If I can go to the beach 1-2 times per week for ~6 hours a time during the summer months (8 weeks), is it worth investing in a dedicated saltwater detector?

2. I'm aware that the Sand Shark (and other pi's) cannot discriminate. Will I drive myself insane with digging junk and save up for an Excalibur? Is it really worth more than 2x the $$$?

Thanks,
Crazy4coins

 

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[sandswimmer]

If time is limited you would be better of with a MD that can null out on the unwanted targets, otherwise you will be spending valuable time digging junk.
Good Luck SS

 

[SonnyFl]

I agree! or keep diggen!

 

[ColonelDan]

Some swear by their PI machines as fervently as I swear by my Excal, so it depends on who you ask. Those opinions are theirs alone. The choice however is yours alone. What do you envision yourself doing with that piece of equipment? Detectors are tools....take time and choose the right tool for the job you want it to perform.

Since 99.9% of my hunting is on the beach and shallow water, I like the discriminating capability of the Excal and by hunting in Pinpoint mode, I get similar characteristics of a PI but can easily switch to Disc to check for iron. As for depth, I can go pretty darn deep in PP with a 12x15 SEF coil on that Excal...and quite frankly, being 67 years of age, it goes as deep as I want to dig in the Florida sun anyway!

Just the view from my personal foxhole....

 

[CASPER-2]

this was one of my better years

2-3 times a week - 3-4 hrs an outing
can it be worth it? - yes ...yes it can
Ive heard of 3 rings this year being found in the water at over $10,000 a piece
you can pay for a machine with one find or with a small handful of finds

 

[penzfan]

I started with a Sand Shark(new) and now own an Excal 1000(pre-owned) also. The SS tracks very deep and is great if your beaches are relatively clean of junk targets. It's also very light weight, easy to set up/use, is built like a tank and includes the Lifetime warranty. The Excal tracks very deep as well in Pinpoint Mode and the Null feature in the Disc Mode eliminates digging trash. The Shaft Balancer's I manufacture and sell also make the Excal with the "S" shafts a breeze to swing for hours. Each has it's own advantages/disadvantages, however, I love both machines and would never give them up. If your beaches are relatively clean of trash, I would start with a SS. Try it out and see if it fits your needs/style. You can always sell it as they hold their value if taken care of. Keep an eye out on the forums/websites as you can always find deals on pre-owned Sharks and Excals also. GL and HH

 

[G.I.B.]

1. Yes

2. Yes, but possibly No.

 

[lookindown]

The beaches I hunt have way too many iron targets for me to use a PI...you can get a good used CZ 21 or Excal for $800 or less...the machine will pay for itself if you water hunt at the beach...water is where the gold is.

 

[crazy4coins]

Like you said, penzfan, I was going to start out with the SS, but I have absolutely NO IDEA how trashy the beaches I would hunt are. I wish I could try one out for a day.

 

[crazy4coins]

I'm thinking about getting a used cz-20. It seems like a good unit with disc capabilities. How does it perform on smaller gold (ie. Chains)? Should I be concerned about the leaking issue?

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

The life time gauarantee for the Sand Shark manufactured by Tesoro is a two edged sword.
Great, when you buy the SS new, and keep.
not so great if you buy the SS used or want to sell
a SS you own as the warantee cannot be transferred.

 

[ivan salis]

some swear by theirs---while--- others swear at them...

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

More than likely, the amount of grey matter retrieved would pay for your detectors, even if you
never found any jewlery.

 

[jeepGold]

Only being able to speak on behalf of my excalibur, I couldn't imagine having a PI at any of MY local beaches. It's hard enough flipping back and forth from PP to Discrim and I have a Remote toggle. Beaches here are littered heavily. That's how you know there's potential. Stupid people drop trash, stupid people lose things. With a PI I'd be digging EVERY tab, piece of foil wrapper..etc... I can't comprehend that. My arm kills enough as it is.

 

[DJWEHAGE]

I'm thinking about getting a used cz-20. It seems like a good unit with disc capabilities. How does it perform on smaller gold (ie. Chains)? Should I be concerned about the leaking issue?

Speaking for myself, you wouldn't go wrong with the CZ20 as long as you get it for a good price and in great working condition. I've never had any problem with leakage and small gold has never been a problem (at least that I am aware of!) I hunt in auto tune and switch over to 0 to hear the audio tone. Low tone is ALWAYS iron.

 

[lookindown]

Only being able to speak on behalf of my excalibur, I couldn't imagine having a PI at any of MY local beaches. It's hard enough flipping back and forth from PP to Discrim and I have a Remote toggle. Beaches here are littered heavily. That's how you know there's potential. Stupid people drop trash, stupid people lose things. With a PI I'd be digging EVERY tab, piece of foil wrapper..etc... I can't comprehend that. My arm kills enough as it is.

Which tabs are you able to leave and know they aren't gold?

 

[CASPER-2]

I'm thinking about getting a used cz-20. It seems like a good unit with disc capabilities. How does it perform on smaller gold (ie. Chains)? Should I be concerned about the leaking issue?

I been using a CZ20 or CZ21s since 2006 - before that PI Pro whites
https://www.flickr.com/photos/casper-1/
done pretty good with both - I
but many others can show similar with their brands too
started out in 1975 with an all metal machine - so not afraid to dig the trash / used to digging it all (or almost all)
you try to take everything out - and hopefully you'll take everything out - have gotten many goodies over the yrs under or with trash in many spots hammered by others that passed it by

 

[crazy4coins]

I been using a CZ20 or CZ21s since 2006 - before that PI Pro whites
https://www.flickr.com/photos/casper-1/
done pretty good with both - I
but many others can show similar with their brands too
started out in 1975 with an all metal machine - so not afraid to dig the trash / used to digging it all (or almost all)
you try to take everything out - and hopefully you'll take everything out - have gotten many goodies over the yrs under or with trash in many spots hammered by others that passed it by

It's nice to hear from someone with you're level of experience (true with many others here on Tnet). I think I'll keep my eyes open for a used cz-21. Looks like it will fit my needs as a saltwater detector and just fine in the freshwater ponds as well.

 

[WaterWalker]

A lot has to do with the beaches and water (salt or fresh) you are going to detect.
At heavy mineralized BLACK sand beached, not many in the southern states, I go with a PI detector.
PI, VLF, different manufacturer's machines are more suited for one type of beach over another. That is why I have 11 detectors.
In the south I use my Excal, in the north an ATX or Infinium in in salt water and in fresh water I use an ATPro. The Infinium and ATPro offer the advantage of changing coils. In the summer I use the biggest coil I have for fresh drops and in the winter, the smallest coil for "seeing" around rocks.
Both the ATX and Infinium have, sort of, a discrimination of high-low and low-high tones - based on the targets conductivity.
I have no experience with a Sand Shark, sorry.

 

[jeepGold]

Do you want craftsmen or snap on? Most jobs can be done with either.
I would go INSANE with a PI here in San Diego. Yesterday I was flip flopping between PP and discrim with my toggle that my thumb started hurting. No joke.. lots of aluminum and iron and general trash here. People are pigs.