Is the Garrett Sea Hunter the only machine I will need?

Dec 11, 2011
26
0
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
Hello Again,

You all have helped tremendously giving this Newbie advice on my first detector purchase.

I am brand new at this and have spent the past week researching everything about what kind of metal detector to buy. I have seen countless reviews, videos, manuals and etc. I have just purchased a condo right on the St. Pete Beach in Florida. I am basically retired at 48 and will be there mostly as a snow bird. I plan on metal detecting instead of golfing everyday. My wife and I will be doing this together. I plan on going no deeper than waist deep in the ocean. All I know is I want a waterproof metal detector with a warranty. Also I will be doing wet sand and dry white sand from Key West Atlantic Ocean and Miami to St. Pete Beach and Clearwater Gulf Beaches. I have heard that the Excalibur is the best, but I am afraid of getting one of their lemons, which they say can happen 2 out of 10. I also am not into modifying or changing things like shafts and etc. I have crossed out the AT Pro now because it seems no good in saltwater. I originally thought buy 2 machines the Garrett Sea Hunter for waist deep saltwater hunting and the AT Pro for the beach, because it has a display unit. Someone said bad idea.
I don't want the Excalibur or the CZ21. I would really like ONE overall saltwater submersion to saltwater wet and dry white sand detector. These are the one's I am considering now: Garrett Sea Hunter with 2 coils $729 (know I will be doing alot of digging, but I still go to the gym and bench over 300 pounds, so I may get a better workout digging deep holes.) Tesoro Sand Shark $577 with a lifetime warranty. White's Beach Hunter 300 for $1000 (I really like the 3 LED lights for Iron, Gold, Silver). My question is honestly what would you all recommend as the best machine for me? If I want to spend $1000 I can get either one White's Beach Hunter 300. Or I can get the Sea Hunter or Sand Shark and get an additional wet salt sand and dry sand detector with a control panel and have more features?
I appreciate any input. I know I am driving my wife crazy about all my research, but I don't want buyer remorse. Is White's Beach Hunter 300 all they say it is? Is the Whites Surf PI Dual field a good machine also, it is $900.
 

Sandman

Gold Member
Aug 6, 2005
13,398
3,992
In Michigan now.
Detector(s) used
Excal 1000, Excal II, Sovereign GT, CZ-20, Tiger Shark, Tejon, GTI 1500, Surfmaster Pulse, CZ6a, DFX, AT PRO, Fisher 1235, Surf PI Pro, 1280-X, many more because I enjoy learning them. New Garrett Ca
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I think you should forget the Mark II and go for the Sand Shark as your PI detector, as they have been extremely reliable, deep and you hardly ever find one used. If you favor having some disc to save some of that digging for hairpins, the Excal and CZ20 or 21 are the best for saltwater wet or dry sand. The White's BeachHunter 300 is just a plain BH with a larger 12" coil. A word of warning about the White's water units is the coils float like a cork and it is a pain to hold them underwater in a surf. Ask anyone......

Many of us have more than one beach detector for different jobs.
 

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