Does the detector exist that does equally well on water and land?

[Frankn]

True, the surfmaster PI works great in fresh and salt water as well as on land, but as someone mentioned it detects everything metal and at extreme dept. I have pulled targets from 2' with it. I have also used it for prospecting. Yes it pulled some nuggets. It does detect differently though and you must understand this. A PI detector only detects under the solid coil parts. That is the hole in the center is dead. This fools a lot of hunters into believing the target is to the side of it's actual location. With the PI you pinpoint with the sides of the coil. Frank

 

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[trueTreasure]

Many thanks to the rest of you who've responded. George - I've probably ruled out the AT Pro. Just too many equivocal or negative reviews to give me a good comfort level. Where do you hunt in MN? I used to live in the Twin Cities and would love to be able to go to some of local beaches. Imagine what you might find around Lake Minnetonka - though there weren't many big swimming beaches there.

Iron Patch - I don't know for sure what the trash conditions will be of the fresh water beaches I'll visit, but I've concluded that if I get one detector only, that a PI machine will probably not be of much use at many inland sites due to the lack of discrimination. Tell if I'm missing something.

Dano - Both the Etrac and the Excal II are out of my price range, but I appreciate the info all the same. In reading reviews of the Excal though, it seems like a lot of people have had problems with it and then further trouble getting Minelab to complete repairs in at least what they felt was a reasonable time frame.

Frankn - Appreciate the clarification on PI machines. I can now say I learned something new today.

In case any were wondering what I am leaning toward, it's the Tiger Shark. It's the right price and seems like it will do all I need it to do; although salt water may cost it some depth and require more tweaking of the GB. Thanks again to all.

 

[Iron Patch]

A PI is definitely out as a land detector.

Staying on budget makes it tough but you just make the best choice you can, and to do that there are the questions that need to be answered. Where you will be spending your time.

% Detecting salt water in the water.
% Detecting fresh water in the water.
% Detecting salt water on the shore, not in the water.
% Detecting fresh water on the shore, not in the water.
% Detecting on land.

Those are the questions that will help decide whether you should look at a waterproof single freq. or multi. freq. (maybe used) All water hunting here can be done at low tide so the obvious answer for me would be multi freq..

 

[underarock]

I have used the at pro among other detectors and would recommend it for someone in your case. Its very easy to use gives you a lot of info before digging and is not going to cost you a mortgage payment. It didn't get the depth I expected from an 11" dd coil but it still gets the job done quickly and was still suprisingly pretty good in trash for such a big coil. {Everywhere I go has lots of trash. IE every other swing goes beep beep. Even with iron notched.} I wouldn't spend more than 450 for one used. I just sold mine because I never went in the water with it like I thought I would. I just got a CZ70 pro off craigslist for a few bucks and yeh. I see why CZ's are hard to find PEOPLE HOARD THEM! The guy I bought mine from had a minelab a cz 21 and 2 cz 70 pros. He said it was his backup to his other cz 70 and never used it!

There aren't as many options as you might think when it comes to detecting.
Some people like digital some people like more analog knob setting styles using there ears mainly and then confirming with a screen and VDI. Some people like the option of both or all at once. At the end of the day its what works for you. I haven't met a metal detectorists whos only had one metal detector his/her whole life so I wouldn't try and overthink it too much.
Get something with a good resell value if your nervous or doubtful. Minelabs always sell but I think in the 3 4 5 hundred dollar range your more likely to get most of your money back when reselling as opposed to getting a 1400 dollar machine and only get back 8 or 9 hundred for it when you realize its not the end all be all of metal detectors.
Hope I could help.
Your in the right place. people in this forum actually answer you back when you have questions.

 

[trueTreasure]

A PI is definitely out as a land detector.

Staying on budget makes it tough but you just make the best choice you can, and to do that there are the questions that need to be answered. Where you will be spending your time.

% Detecting salt water in the water.
% Detecting fresh water in the water.
% Detecting salt water on the shore, not in the water.
% Detecting fresh water on the shore, not in the water.
% Detecting on land.

Those are the questions that will help decide whether you should look at a waterproof single freq. or multi. freq. (maybe used) All water hunting here can be done at low tide so the obvious answer for me would be multi freq..

You're right, Iron Patch, I really need to answer these questions before I can really decide on a detector. But at this point, being a newb, all I can do is guess. Salt water will be only occasional given its lack of proximity, that much I know. Good point though.

 

[trueTreasure]

I have used the at pro among other detectors and would recommend it for someone in your case. Its very easy to use gives you a lot of info before digging and is not going to cost you a mortgage payment. It didn't get the depth I expected from an 11" dd coil but it still gets the job done quickly and was still suprisingly pretty good in trash for such a big coil. {Everywhere I go has lots of trash. IE every other swing goes beep beep. Even with iron notched.} I wouldn't spend more than 450 for one used. I just sold mine because I never went in the water with it like I thought I would. I just got a CZ70 pro off craigslist for a few bucks and yeh. I see why CZ's are hard to find PEOPLE HOARD THEM! The guy I bought mine from had a minelab a cz 21 and 2 cz 70 pros. He said it was his backup to his other cz 70 and never used it!

There aren't as many options as you might think when it comes to detecting.
Some people like digital some people like more analog knob setting styles using there ears mainly and then confirming with a screen and VDI. Some people like the option of both or all at once. At the end of the day its what works for you. I haven't met a metal detectorists whos only had one metal detector his/her whole life so I wouldn't try and overthink it too much.
Get something with a good resell value if your nervous or doubtful. Minelabs always sell but I think in the 3 4 5 hundred dollar range your more likely to get most of your money back when reselling as opposed to getting a 1400 dollar machine and only get back 8 or 9 hundred for it when you realize its not the end all be all of metal detectors.
Hope I could help.
Your in the right place. people in this forum actually answer you back when you have questions.

Are any of the CZs water detectors? I didn't think they were. Anyway, you make some good points. I have no intention of spending a small fortune on a metal detector, and yes, avoiding over thinking makes sense as well. If I manage to avoid it, it would be a first for me. Thanks for the caution all the same.