sanddrifter said:
Hi,
I have been working the beach and when it warms up, I want to try in the water. From reading notes from everyone on here, I need to work on my MD first.
(Keeping them tethered to me)
It sounds like I need to get a Florida straight shaft.
I have an aluminum scooper, lightweight 6061/ 6" bucket, so how do I prepare it for water.
Do i need a knob guard?
Is there anything else I am missing?
Also, I haven't been very lucky finding gold, but determined to. So what is the least expensive, but good scale to use?
Thanks for all the help!!!
FIrst. Yes tether the detector and the scoop to a belt. I use a US military surplus belt which can also be used to hold a nice pack that has a velcro closure to store finds. Make sure it is able to be closed so the stuff will not fall out. I use a very thin poly rope clipped to the detector. A very short tether for the detector so if you drop it you can pick it right up by the rope. I have the rope just short enough to drop to around my knees and not hit the ground. I use a float on my scoop at the top to allow me to find it if I drop it.
I would highly recommend either a straight shaft or a chest mount. The chest mount can cause problems if not set up right with the connections sometimes breaking. The straight shaft will make the Excalibur very easy to swing all day and no real problems with the wires.
A knob guard is not necessary until you drop the Excalibur and break a knob. Then you need it real bad. I would say if you do not have a knob guard then make sure you do not drop the detector. The short tether prevents the Excalibur from hitting the ground so that will help.
If you want to detect the low tides, then a headlamp of some type is needed to see at night as the one low tide is at night. I use a small mag light with a piece of Velcro on it and a hat with another piece of Velcro sewn on it. I like that better than the LED lights because it gives off much more light.
A good wet suit is needed as even in water that seems warm, you will get cold and not last more than just a few hours without one. Make sure you have some type of footwear also.
Some people use a set of chest waders. Keeps you dry but every once in a while a wave will hit you and go over the top. So a good waterproof top is also a good thing with a chest wader.
On your scoop, make sure it is strong and can dig fast as waves will fill your hole quickly so the faster you can dig the better.
Make sure you use plenty of plumbers grease on the battery connection. Make sure you spray off the Excalibur after you are done because that sea water can cause all kinds of problems if left on too long.
Sunglasses...polarized are best and a good hat to keep the sun off. I do not recommend using sun screen. Far better to eat lots of vegetable and that seems at least to me prevents me from getting sun burned.
Go with a positive attitude. Learning to scoop is hard at first with scooping taking a lot of scoops to learn it. Once you get the idea, it becomes easier. I like to use my foot to mark the edge of the coil where a target is. It does take practice!
)
