$1500 and a beach

[Scott in WY]

So here is the deal.
I am going to be moving home to Oregon. I will be hunting the central and north coast. I already own a GMT and a ML 705.

I have $1500 to spend on a beach detector. I am/was thinking about trading in/selling the 705 and getting an Etrac in addition to the beach detector.
I have been reading through the posts, but some of them are dated, So looking for current info.

suggestions please.

Scott

Thanks!

 

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[Thead]

Get a TDI Pro and waterproof it.

 

[goldkey]

Fisher CZ-21 or an Excalibur.........best beach machines and they are waterproof

 

[Terry Soloman]

Keep the Minelab for dry sand hunting, and get a Tesoro Sand Shark pi for wet sand and saltwater hunting.

 

[lookindown]

Fisher CZ-21 or an Excalibur.........best beach machines and they are waterproof

You cant go wrong with either of these...these two detectors dominate the water hunting scene.

 

[Thead]

But just think how awesome a waterproof TDI Pro setup would be. Check out this comparison. My next detector will be the TDI Pro which I will then waterproof (unless White's releases a waterproof version of the TDI Pro).

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

I would wait till I got to Oregon and looked over the area that I would be hunting, focusing on the mineraliziation, trash, and hunting conditions
before I would buy any detector, especially a beach detector.

Also, I would try to meet detectorists who actively hunt the areas you will be detecting to learn which detector(s) are most effective.
From what I have read, Oregon has some particularly unique characterstics that differ from most areas.

Joining a metal detecting club, would help, at least initially, as this many detectorists like to help.

To be honest, I believe you have the cart before the horse.
You should identify your requirements, first.



had a chance Wait till you get to Oregon, So here is the deal.
I am going to be moving home to Oregon. I will be hunting the central and north coast. I already own a GMT and a ML 705.

I have $1500 to spend on a beach detector. I am/was thinking about trading in/selling the 705 and getting an Etrac in addition to the beach detector.
I have been reading through the posts, but some of them are dated, So looking for current info.

suggestions please.

Scott

Thanks!

 

[Scott in WY]

Interesting vid Thead, thanks for the responses Lookindown, Terry and Goldkey.
You guys aren't doing a very good job enabling my addiction, ha!
The Excal II is what I'm leaning to but I don't know if I want to buy it, then send it off for mods.
Are the headphones on the Sand Shark or CZ-21 better than the Excal II?
Waterproofing the TDI? with a bag? I don't think that will work well if caught in a Oregon rain.
Price wise, the fisher and tesoro, are looking good

Scott

 

[Thead]

You would waterproof the TDI Pro using a Plano polycarbonate field box and cableclams. Construct the box properly and you could take the unit underwater (rain would be zero concern). I have a waterproof setup (Plano 3600 and cableclam) for my Sovereign and a similar setup could be used for the TDI Pro. Just food for thought. The easier route is to obviously get a machine already constructed for use in the water (I am partial to the Excalibur).

 

[Scott in WY]

Thead, I am unfamiliar with cableclams, but I will check them out.

Sir Gala Clad, you make a good point.

 

[redcobra8u]

Excal!

 

[ARC]

Excal 2

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

Thead, I am unfamiliar with cableclams, but I will check them out.

Sir Gala Clad, you make a good point.

Thanx Scott:
I understand that my reply was not what you were looking for.
From what I have been able to tell, Oregon is especially challenging as the local beaches do not have much foot traffic compared to Florida or California.
Also, many detectors do not work well there, I assume it is because on mineralization, all I know is that it is difficult.

It rains a lot where I hunt, so much so that I have only been able to use a Sovereign one time without bagging it, stuffing it under a rain coat or doing a Forrest Gump running for a tree which does not leak before the rain hits - you can see it comming at you. Hopefully, one of these days, I figure how to waterproof it by stuffing it in a plano box -
it sure would be worth the effort, but I have difficulty finding enough time to hunt the way it is without having to play Macgyver.

It sure would be nice if minelab upgraded the Excalibur to Sovereign GT capability and provided it with waterproof connectors and a remote pin point switch.
Afterall, that is the detector that water hunter(s) want and need, rather than a wimpish all terrain metal detector with a ten foot depth limitation in placid water.
I want a machine that can take a beating in the water and still go on beeping , not one that can only be gently stirred or shaken!

 

[Scott in WY]

Thead, you recommend the TDI, how does it differ from the Surf PI dual field? the surf is already waterproof.

 

[Thead]

The TDI Pro goes deeper. Look again at the video I posted. The Surf PI Dual Field is one of the detectors that is compared to the TDI Pro. See time index 2:17 in the video for the Surf PI Dual Field. The TDI Pro blows it and the other detectors away. Also note the comparison chart at time index 9:50 in the video.

With respect to the Plano field box, note that the manufacturer does not recommend using at depths greater than one meter. The setup would only be useful for wading into neck deep water or so (no diving).