Guys on shipwreck post dont seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

[makahaman]

Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

Hi guys it seems as though the guys looking for the real treasure under the water isn't too thrilled about the Minelab Excalibur! The shipwreck hunters!! Its seems this metal detector has given them alot of trouble in the past. Like things breaking and it not working properly, I guess the integerity of this machine has given those guys lots and lots of trouble. It makes me wonder if I should invest a $1,000 dollars and have tons of trouble or investing it in something else that will help my exploits to finding the gold on the bottom of the sea! Now I am very apprehensive with my decision. Can anyone sway my mind? Aloha

 

[makahaman]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

It seems like the machine has some major problems with it and isn't as sturdy like the pulse machines. I hear lots of the guys on shipwrecks having problems not using the machine but it breaking down and having technical difficulties. Like it isn't built to handle the wear and tear of having it in the water on a daily basis. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Aloha

 

[wreckdiver1715]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

The majority of shipwreck hunters I know (myself included), swear by the Minelab Excalibur. I have been diving with the one I own for ten years, and have very little problems. Second choice is the British built Aqua Pulse.

Tom

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

I read the posts on the shipwreck forum. The majority of the "problems" they complain about are not really defects in the excal.

If they get to close to another excal it goes nuts.-- Stay about 15 or more feet away.

Excal goes nuts when hand held pinpointer gets close or touched coil.-- Keep pinpointer away from coil.

Chirps when coil accidently touches ground or object. -- Recognize it will do that.

All of these things it does on the surface as well and for me are not problem or a sign of a bad unit, just tiny quirks I quickly learned to recognize overlook and or avoid.

Neither one of the 2 excals I have and use have had any problems at all so far, no knobs loose, or fallen off, no leaks, no electronic failures. A buddy had the little yellow cap come off top of one of his knobs, but the fix was to mark the knob so he knows where the start position on the knob is. Not a big deal at all. I should be so lucky if the only problem I ever have is to remark a knob, or replace a knob with a new one from Radio Shack.

No offense meant, but it appears maybe your looking for reasons not to buy an Excal. I do know this, when I go to the beach to hunt, 8 out of 10 hunters I run into in the water are using Excals.

I would be a lot happier if they were using a different unit while hunting when I am there.

 

[Sandman]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

I've dived with my Excals in saltwater and freshwater and only had a coil problem with one of them in the 6 years I had that one. I have never heard anyone that dives say the Excal has problems in a water invironment. I have had PI Pro's leak though from bad seals.

You were interested in a detector that would help you not find so many hot rocks while looking for coins and rings on the beach and the Excal is the only detector besides the Sov GT that will do this where you are located.

If you feel so strongly that you think the Excal is too expensive or not up to your standards, keep digging the hot rocks with the Surf Pro PI and leave the good stuff for the guys using the Excaliburs. Maybe some day the hot rocks will make a nice collection.

Good Luck,
Sandman

 

[makahaman]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

Now now SWR I am not trying to make this big flame o rama thing I am just trying to start a debat on this machine and trying to find all the pros and cons to make my decision. Wouldn't you if you were to invest $1,000 dollars in a new machine? A $1,000 is a lot of money for a metal detector right? Or is it wrong to ask tons of questions to get some kind of insight on a certain product? Is that wrong may I ask? I guess the reason for me posting so much is to find the answers to convince me into buying this machine. I don't want to be stuck with a machine and not use it and waste $1,000 on it. So don't take it so personal I am not dogging you or anyone else for that matter but I am trying to learn about this wonder machine of yours!! Thanks again for Sandman's posts and everyone else's for that matter!! I really do appreciate it, also I don't see no one in Hawaii using this machine. So maybe I shoud get one to be the first and find all that gold in the ocean!!! Aloha

 

[teklord]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

As soon as I can afford a back up detector for my Excal, I'm going to buy another Excal ! It's a great machine.

Tek

 

[wreckdiver1715]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

makahaman, with the cost of the Excalibur being an issue for you, please consider this. I have been able to recover enough treasure from both the beach, and underwater using my Excalibur 1000, to more than pay for the machine several times over each of the last ten years that I have been using it along the Florida coast.

Tom

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

wreckdiver1715 is correct.

Look at it this way, check Ebay and see what they sell for used 3-5 years old. If you pay new, say $1100 for a machine and you can sell it 3 years down the road for $750-$850, then it cost you $250-350 for the detector. It will not take you long to have paid for the machine.

I bought a 2nd Excal as a backup to my first. If I had seen any problems at all with the first, I sure wouldn't have bought the second one. They are sweet machines.

When I first started hunting I bought the Cobra Beach Hunter, (IMO terrible) I returned it with in 24 hours and bought the Whites Beach Hunter ID. I loved it, but made the mistake of hunting with and trying out an Excal a couple months later. 6 months after buying the BHID I bought my first Excal, was so impressed with it, that the thought of not having an Excal to hunt with if I had to send mine in for any reason depressed me. 9 months after buying the first Excal I bought the 2nd one. I traded the BHID in on a Sovereign GT with a WOT.

Both Excals were bought used, both arrived working perfectly, other then my having to replace the rubber teardrop gaskets on one and one the lower fiber rod was lose in the metal shaft, I used epoxy, repaired it but bought the new lower shaft and the used shaft is now a spare part. When I bought the teardrop gaskets I went ahead and got 6 of them and 3 of the lower coil nylon bolts as spare parts. I believe in having spare parts with me.

I have no regrets buying two Excals, and truth be said, I would not hesitate to buy a third with a WOT on it if I ran across a a real good deal. Now my wife would probably object, and I would have to consider her thoughts, (I have 4 detectors now) but I would have no concerns about owning another Excal.


Now if you were going to be hunting my hunting areas I may have recommended something else.

 

[badbrains]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

Check out the Crackbadger vids on the youtube forum. This guy is using a garrett250 (non waterproof) and pulling up the same thing the Excal guys (or anybody else for that matter)are pulling so.........I say start at the bottom, work your way up. Id rather have more than one machine anyways. I started in the middle with the Surf PI

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

The ACE 250 may be a good unit, many say it is, I have never used it and I'm not bad mouthing it but you also can't use it in the water more then a few inches deep.

Unless the surf is so bad I am half drowning I prefer hunting in the water between ancle and shoulder deep, that is where most of us find the majority of the good targets. You can't go there with a non waterproof detector with out major danger of destroying your detector. Even the wind blown salt spray is a danger to a non waterproof detector.

makahaman asked about the Excal and everyone I know who has an Excal has nothing but high praise for it. I'm not in to a flame war about what is the best detector, h3ll I'm still a newbie.

I agree on having more then one detector and back up units, that is why I have 2 Excals for in the water, a Sovereign GT with WOT for land and beach, and the Whites 6000 XL PRO for the playgrounds and parks.

Good hunting to all.

 

[vabeachrob]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

K, this should be enough to convince you to buy the Excal over any pulse..



What you dig with a pulse.. These both from same hunt..

Now this is what we average in a normal hunt with the Excal

Now this is SOME of what ive gotten within past year, everything but watch, pendant, grills and 1 ring found with Excal. My HH PI found the watch, pendant, grills and 1 ring. This pic is not including all the silver i have, and all the jewelry my dad and brother have gotten also. Last year my dad used SandShark, then bought Excal at same time i bought HH PI. He was doing so much better than me. So i sold my HH PI, and bought an Excal. So now were a 3 Excal family. (Dad, lil brother, and me) and were all VERY happy, and have had no problems. I did have knobs come off mine, but that was nothing at all to fix, and dont understand why so many people complain of it.

There is 2 junk rings and silver earring in that pic^^

 

[erikk]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

I hunt my excal 4-5 times a week and if it breaks I have my other one for a back up. I just love covering areas that other guys have done with non Excals and it is really exciting whey they are discriminating tabs or there is a lot of iron junk

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

I bought the Whites Beach Hunter ID, it leaked and has a very poor battery compartment design. I eventually traded it for the Sovereign GT. I see nothing wrong with buying the Minelab and to me it is a very easy detector to learn and use.

As far as buying American, one of my vehicles is made in America, the other isn't, I look for quality. I wouldn't buy from a country that is in conflict with the USA, but I see nothing wrong with buying from allies if the product I am buying is high quality.

 

[Mike Silver -gold]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

I have 2 fisher1280's and 1 Excal. Unless my Excal. breaks down I doubt that I will ever use my fishers again. They are Ok machines but I could never tell when the seal would leak on them. Pluse they are not good at all in in salt water. Mike.

 

[KINGPULLTAB]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

Let me first say that if you go to Mel fishers museum here in Florida, you will see Kim fisher in several photos and all with an excal 1000. Second I own an excal and so does crack badger. Now when we hunt we hunt hard, both fresh and salt water. Our hunts usually last 8 to 10 hours and at times longer. To date we have had very minor problems. We are firm believers that if you take care of your machine it will take care of you. We strip and clean our machines after each hunt just like you would a high dollar rifle. I have hunted from Florida to Kansas and all over Asia spending big dollars to do so and each time you will find an excal in my suitcase.

KINGPULLTAB----WISHING EVERYONE A GREAT WEEKEND AND HAPPY HUNTING.

 

[ggmaui]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

MAKAHAMAN,
I HAVE ONE, I LIVE HERE ON MAUI, had some problems with it, but i am still learning to use it, seems my leak has been fixed via some silicone. But other than that I LOVE IT!!

 

[makahaman]

Re: Guys on shipwreck post don't seem too thrilled about Excalibu!

I appreciate everyones response and as soon as I get the money I will get one!! You guys got me convinced!! I will still keep my PI machine for my friends to use and compare the finds. Hee Hee! I am going to get all my scuba stuff ready because that is what I like doing the most. I seem to do better under the water than near the water and I only do really well when there is a big wash out from high surf. Let me tell you hawaii has some high surf! Thanks again for all of your replies and as soon as I get an Excalibur I will share some photos of the stuff I find. Until then I will see you in the surf! Aloha