Beach detector recommendations?

[UrbanGrouper]

Hey all—just moved back to Florida and looking to get back outdoors.

Planning to hunt the Treasure Coast, and I’m in the market for a new detector. I ran my Excal II into the ground, but I don’t really need another expensive fully submersible machine this time around. I did buy a Minelab X-Terra Pro for my wife, in case she wants to join the hunt.

Looking for recommendations on solid, user-friendly detectors that perform well on the beach, ideally under $800. Just trying to see what’s popular and worth digging into.

Appreciate any input—thanks!

 

[cudamark]

Who does your maintenance and what does that generally cost? And is that the entire unit under water or just the shaft with splash on the head?

It's mostly changing the switch"O"rings on a regular basis, and checking the cables for splits/cuts. You can do it yourself if you have some basic skills, or hire someone to do it. Minelab repair, or, a guy like Tony Eisenhower come to mind. Tony will also do the various mods to make the Excal more user friendly, coil swaps, and upgrade headphones.

 

[2Peas]

Hey all—just moved back to Florida and looking to get back outdoors.

Planning to hunt the Treasure Coast, and I’m in the market for a new detector. I ran my Excal II into the ground, but I don’t really need another expensive fully submersible machine this time around. I did buy a Minelab X-Terra Pro for my wife, in case she wants to join the hunt.

Looking for recommendations on solid, user-friendly detectors that perform well on the beach, ideally under $800. Just trying to see what’s popular and worth digging into.

Appreciate any input—thanks!

After 11 years My Excal died also. Got the Manticore in September, but I really miss the Excal. Do you still have your old excal? I'm looking to salvage parts.

 

[UrbanGrouper]

After 11 years My Excal died also. Got the Manticore in September, but I really miss the Excal. Do you still have your old excal? I'm looking to salvage parts.

 

[UrbanGrouper]

After 11 years My Excal died also. Got the Manticore in September, but I really miss the Excal. Do you still have your old excal? I'm looking to salvage parts.

Several years ago, I was going to send it in to have it fixed. I communicated with a guy named Stephen Reed at Minelab Service@minelabamericas.com They said they would do a diagnostic for a fee and then quote for repair, I sold it instead. Good luck!

 

[LawrencetheMDer]

In hunting the Treasure coast, remember that you're looking for treasure lost over 300 yrs ago. Personally, I think hunting BEHIND to sand dunes (not water facing) might be a good hunting area if you can find locations where that is possible. Based on stories I've read dating to the 1950s, encrusted doubloons were found all over the beach and people would skip them across the water not realizing they were valuable pirate treasure. Surely, lots of these were washed over, through etc the dune line over time. Just saying...

 

[LawrencetheMDer]

After 11 years My Excal died also. Got the Manticore in September, but I really miss the Excal. Do you still have your old excal? I'm looking to salvage parts.

I have an Excal II I've had since 2012ish and replaced the battery cable 5-6 yrs ago. It works but the All metal/Discrimination knob has excessive play (keeps turning counter clockwise), but appears to work. I'll send to to you for $150.00, if interested PM me. Just searching for a good home.
Moved from Excal II to CTX 3030 (now too heavy) to 4 Equinox 800s (drowned 2) and now to Manticore w M15 coil.

 

[UrbanGrouper]

In hunting the Treasure coast, remember that you're looking for treasure lost over 300 yrs ago. Personally, I think hunting BEHIND to sand dunes (not water facing) might be a good hunting area if you can find locations where that is possible. Based on stories I've read dating to the 1950s, encrusted doubloons were found all over the beach and people would skip them across the water not realizing they were valuable pirate treasure. Surely, lots of these were washed over, through etc the dune line over time. Just saying...

Great point, Thanks!!