Ok,
I know the Minelab GO-FIND 66 Metal Detector isn't the best clearly, BUT, I can't afford an AT-Pro and need something that can use in low water levels. It says it has a waterproof search coil.
Anyone have experience with this model? And being as I live in Florida, would it be ok to use knee deep max in lakes, Ocean etc if only the coil and "rod" submerged?
Likely, it will mostly be used on land for old ghost towns which many private owners that aren't on the actual sites, so I can try my luck with permission there as well of other spots I know to be good.
Very long post follows
Hello EagleEye. I don't have any experience with this particular model, but I have been involved in this hobby for 35+ years. Here's a few points I'd like to bring up:
I see that you say that the Minelab "isn't the best, clearly." Whether or not that statement is true, it indicates that you are already considering a compromise. There may be no need to compromise.
From what I have been able to research, I can't find much to indicate that the Go Find-66 is much of a compromise. The good reviews state facts in support of the machine, while the negative reviews mostly consist of "It sucks" , with not much to say about why it sucks.
(That tells me a lot, right there.)
The machine seems to be rather new to the market. Time will tell more.
The published specifications indicate a pretty capable machine, for the price. I have seen great sounding machines fail in the market, sometiles for cause, other times not so much.
I once spent a lot of money on a Cobra metal detector from Kellyco. ($700.00 in 1986) I couldn't get it right, and assumed I got burned on a machine that was new for the market. Kellyco was gracious, and allowed me full credit for a Garrett beach hunter. I had many of the same problems with it, then suddenly it started working right, and I still have that machine.
Later, I realized that my move away from St Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and thusly salt water was what "fixed" the Garrett detector. I also realized that the Cobra was likely suffering from the same malady.
I find myself now searching Fleeybay for a Cobra. (Been looking for about 7 years now. But, as it failed in the market, they are scarce.)
Moral: The Go-Find might be a great machine, and still fail. In that case, do you want to be holding the bag when repair and parts become hard to find? (What about 36 years from now?) :-)
Any modern dectector will be waterproof up to the housing. The issue for me, and you was and is salt water.
I don't see anything in the GoFind-66's to indicate a manual ground balance. Without that, you are not going to have any fun in salt water.
But there are some established models that do include a manual ground balance.
Another note: Ground balance will only get you so far in salt water. To totally eliminate it, you will need to go to a pulse-induction unit, which is gonna kill your budget. (35 year old Garret Sea hunters are selling for as much, or more that their sold new price.)
If salt water is your thing, and you don't 700-800-$ Looks for something that says "automatic ground balance, or something of the sort, instead of a "pre-set ground balance." I use a Technetics 8000. It's "Ground Grab" feature does an acceptable job in the quartz fields of Arkansas. I have never tried it in salt water.
If your vision of beach hunting is dry sand, then any detector in your price range will do an acceptable job. (Even the Go Find-66.)
