Best depth on beach?

[Bigcypresshunter]

I'm going to try to make this question simple so I don't get confused. I hunt on a salt water beach. My detector has little depth. I need to buy a unit with more depth. I'm talking about gold and silver coins, not manhole covers. I also want a waterproof unit because of salt spray. I don't care about discrimination. I will spend about $1000.
The question is: What type of unit would give the most depth for gold or silver coins on the beach---pulse or VLF?

 

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[tb]

I've only been detecting since last winter, but I'm in the same situation that you are. I'm leaning towards a "PI" unit by Detector Pro, right now they're running a little over $700. Everything that I've read and been told the "PI" should out perform the VLF in depth. Black sand and saltwater shouldn't be a problem. They're waterproof to 100 ft. You will dig every target as there is no discrimination. I'm not trying to push their unit, but it happens to be the one that fits my budget and I like the way they are set up and I haven't read anything bad about them.

Good luck and let us know what you end up getting,

tb

 

[Stirling N5PIP]

Hi Bigcypresshunter,
I highly recommend the White's Surfmaster PI Pro. It is waterproof to 100 feet. The street price is $595 and the performance is nothing short of fantastic. I was constantly amazed at the depth it could detect. Granted that PI units have no discrimination to speak of, but on the beach you will want to dig everything anyway. Whichever unit you get, don't forget to purchase a quality sand scoop. Believe me when I say that you need a monster scoop. You will be chasing targets that demand it. If you are in the water you have to move a lot of sand quickly to recover the target before wave action backfills your hole.
An alternative to a PI unit is the White's Beachhunter ID. It's a dual frequency unit (VLF) that sells for under $700. It's waterproof to 25 feet. The Beachhunter works superbly also. I would hunt in "All Metal Mode" for maximum depth. Even in AMM, the target ID LED Indicators would tell you if the target was iron, coins, or jewelry. A Damn fine machine.
I have owned both and can vouch for their quality. White's has a two year warranty (but they routinely cover repairs far past 2 years.

Hope this helps,
HH,
Stirling, N5PIP
Daytona Beach

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Stirling, I have been trying to ask what I thought is a simple question on this and other forum sections. But I am not getting the answer... or I get two different answers...maybe there is no answer. I am not a beginner and am capable of learning my machine, but I need to upgrade.
The question is: In the hands of an experienced user, both units set to maximum depth, in the same conditions, on the same day, what unit will give the most DEPTH for gold and silver coins on the same salt water beach----PI or VLF?
Because you own both types, and hunt a salt beach, maybe you can help answer this question for me. Please don,t tell me about sand scoops....I'm sorry but I'm getting frustrated trying to decide what type MD is best for my situation...please try again to explain.

 

[bakergeol]

I posted a response to you on another forum but did not answer the question which is deeper a VLF or a PI on the beach for silver and gold coins because I thought the answer was obvious.

If a PI had the same depth as a VLF on the beach for gold and silver(or even less depth) who would buy one as they lack discrimination and are usually more expensive. A top of the line PI will blow away the top of the line VLF on the beach with regards to depth. That's why we buy them to get better depth on gold and silver. No a VLF such as an explorer or Excalibur or others is not going to have the depth as a Goldquest SS or Infinium or a number of other PIs on the beach. PIs are not affected by mineralization in the same way as VLFs so they have incredible depths compared to VLFs. This is why serious nugget hunters spend $3500 for a top of the line PI as they just blow away a VLF in the depth department. Now there are some inexpensive PIs which do not have the depth of the top of the line VLFs but you get what you pay for. Likewise,iIf you bought an Ace 250 for $200 you would not expect it to have the same depth as an Explorer 11 at $1200.

Serious beach addicts commonly have two machines. In heavy iron sites they use a top of the line VLF such as the Excalibur which has discrimination. In beaches with little iron trash they bring out a top of the line PI for the increased depth. In addition, there is the issue of "How deep can you dig in wet sand? which is a big issue for water hunters.

So strictly for depth- a top of the line PI compared to a top of the line VLF at any time, place or conditions on the beach and the PI wins hands down. There are some areas with severe electrical interference that make PI useage undesireable.? In addition, a day at the beach digging an incredible number of iron trash? and you may decide that discrimination is more important than depth.

HH

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Wow, thank you bakergeol, finally someone answered my question....I thought Pulse units only had good DEPTH under water. And I thought the depth may only be good for iron...only problem now is that others disagree with you....I will probably go to Kellyco and test myself... But thanks again..I am trying to find out as much as I can before buying.

 

[ClamBob]

I really don't know which goes deeper but I can tell you this: If I am on the shoreline of the beach at the waters edge (or in the water), my CZ 20 will detect deeper than I can possibly dig without a backhoe. In other words the sand fills back in too fast to dig much deeper than your shovel depth. If I am in the dry sand away from the water, it will detect deeper than I want to dig. And there is a lot more trash in the dry sand.

When you get the first shovelful up and a hole is already filling with water and you realize the target is deeper and you take another two shovelsful out in a hurry because a wave is heading toward you and the sides are already caving in and the target is still deeper....well, you get the idea.

HH,
BobJ

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

You're right --at the shore line you can only dig so deep and often have to give up... Most beaches in the dry sand is full of trash--parts of aluminum cans , tinfoil, etc....I could care less about clad coins or modern jewelry....I'm only interested in old Spanish gold or silver on the beach....Along the Treasure Coast (1715 sites) there are no crowds of people so there is little trash... Even though tiny pieces of fish hooks or nails from the pier can be annoying, I don't mind digging every hit on these beaches....but the treasure is DEEP. And now I believe only those willing to dig will find treasure...So until the next hurricane hits I need a MD that will locate DEEP... That is why I asked the question PI or VLF? Thank You

 

[Sandman]

Both Clambob and Bakergeol are correct. I own many detectors and this treasure hunting is all I do on both coasts and I've been at it for nearly twenty years. I use all kinds as there is no detectors that covers all areas well. Think of them like golf clubs. PI's work well at salt water beaches near the wet sand and VLF hunts well in the deeper dry sand. Which goes deeper? The PI of course. When I dive I like a PI because of the depth it reaches an you can dig a huge hole just to recover a anchor. After acouple deep holes going after "Silver and Gold" you'll soon get tired and wish you had some discrimination.
The most important detector must be from a major company and have a life time warranty. Fisher, an Tesoro are the only two that I know of that have a life time warranty.
I enjoy the Fisher CZ20 because of it's three tones and only dig the middle tone and leave the iron and coins for others to waste their time digging. Time spent digging coins will not help you scan more area for the Gold. Silver now sounds off loud and higher pitch than a clad coin so it is still easy to dig those black thingys.
To learn how to really hunt a beach go to www.thegoldenolde.com/

HH
Sandman

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I was a coinshooter in the 70's and early 80's. I owned several white's units. I have some nice finds. We all can appreciate anything old. I also dug nice bottles. Now in my middle age I have learned to use the computer and I'm getting interested again. Even though MD's use the same technology, I believe they have improved mostly in depth. The only MD I have that works is an old white's Treasuremaster Amphibian that I have customized. (this is a underwater unit that came out before the white's Turtle). It works OK underwater, if I can keep it sealed, but has no depth on the beach (about 5"). I still find stuff because I work hard. But I feel I need to upgrade for more depth.
When I look at kellyco it becomes overwhelming...I have much to learn to catch up to the 21st century...I'm soaking it all in...keep the suggestions coming.

 

[Sandman]

Bigcypresshunter, Everyone has to start somewhere. Read all you can and don' t have a closed mind to new idea's or equipement. I know a few guys that won't buy Eastern & Western Treasures magazine because they say it takes away from their profit. Heck, if you want profit, get a job.
As for ordering from Kellyco, they have fair prices and a full catalog that describes MD's well, but naturally they push their own products too. I usually purchased from a local detector store where I could handle the different detectors and talk eye to eye with the owner. They are closed now and I order from Clevenger which sells lower than most and advertises in the W&E Treasure mag. I know more than a couple ther's that won't order from Kellyco again and I don't either.

HH,
Sandman

 

[lonewolfe]

PI

 

[Sandman]

Fresh water: Excal 1000. Salt water: PI ​