While service on any detector appears to be pretty slow, the breakdowns seem to be coming mostly from the Excal (not the older models, the newer ones). The Sovs, Explorers, and others seem to be doing just fine.
As far as a good water detector goes, if you're looking at wet sand and surf, I'd get a decent pi machine. I just bought a used Sand Shark from Crackbadger, but since the Sand Shark is presently out of production until Tesoro gets a new seal manufacturer, you probably want to either look at the Garret Sea Hunter II or the White's Dual Field. I am told the coil on the White's tends to float, but I have never used one.
I'm going to defend PI's here for a moment, because I think they are excellent in the surf. Yes, it has no discrimination so you have to dig everything. But I am finding that in the surf you just don't get nearly as much trash as you do on the sandy beach. Will you dig trash? Yes and plenty of it. But trash leads to gold and if someone isn't willing to put in the work, maybe they ought to take up something easier, like checkers.
We can too easily fall in love with the latest technology, but I can't shake the feeling that those detectors that tout they can eliminate iron, just might be eliminating some worthwhile targets also. Guess we may never know since they don't get dug.
Air tests just don't impress me much. PI units are lousy in air tests, but they go deeper than anything out there.
I think the pi user who is willing to put in the time and effort (so long as age and health allow) will be more greatly rewarded in the long run. People may scoff at that and that's fine, but it's just the way I see it.
Ok, I'm done pontificating. Good luck in your decision!
