Hello Ed,
As is the case for all of lifes adventures, it all depends on what you want to do! Do you want to be underwater with a 'breathing device' or do you just want to wade say up to waist deep? If you want to be under water then the first thing to do is purchase some wax earplugs as they keep everything from entering your ears. This said, they also keep you from so many ear infections that it is just not worth not having and not using them.
Next, learn and understand what angle you need to have to keep what you are looking for and let all the rest drop back into the water. That is, the angle of the sluice box must be enough to let the classic rocks and dirt fall out while keeping the gold, platinum, diamonds, etc. behind the riffles.
Next do you want to have to change out carpet and do more difficult wash downs of a carpeted, removeable riffle type box or do you want something simpler? Note here - simpler means that the angle of the box for the amount of water going through it is more critical as the carpet free units need very little water to work and with too much water or angle everything gets washed out. The difference here is also in the weight of the unit. Plastic rifflebox weighs a couple of pounds while an aluminum riffle box with steel riffles and carpet can weigh 10 pounds or more "depending on the size of the unit".
Will you be trucking your gear to a river or will you be packing it in on a horse or can you do a good horse immitation with 200 lbs of gear including gas, engine, wet suit, food, tent, camping gear, sleeping bags, etc., etc.? Oh, and that is for a "backpackable suction dredge of about 2" size" without an air pump.
You already know about Keene and Proline, both good companies. Now check out CASluicebox.com and AngusMcKirk.com
Then consider how much you want to spend as the bigger the unit the more the money. Also, do you already have a spot that you know there is good gold there? Good gold there, one or two ounces a day without much in the way of overburden? Do not walk into this blindly (as I did) as I carried my 200+ pounds of gear into a remote location, going cross country without a trail and finding nothing except a beautiful black bear looking into my eyes with the same look on its face as was likely on mine, oh crap. Hey you will see some beautiful country and have some exciting adventures but do you really have a spot that will pay off in both at least a little gold (1/4 oz. for two to three weeks of work) as well as awesome wilderness country??
I do not recall what type of detectors you have, I have a GMT and it finds gold and it does not weigh much so that makes it easier to carry in. I go in for two weeks at a time, though now having a full time job will modify that, and my packs weigh 85 pounds as I start hiking in for three to five hours down a steep mountain trail. I would not miss those trips for anything but having to carry my dredge system and all my other items in was a real killer and I was In very good shape in 1992, I hiked alone then. I carried it in twice and got Zero gold. Most likely I got zero due to the fact I did not have clue to what I was doing. Hey, just being honest here. Also several years ago I purchased a 454 Casull revolver from Sturm Ruger. Subsequently had the barrel cut down and ported so it does not get in my way when I'm cliff climbing. I would "not leave home without it" as I've just had way too many meetings with bears. Are you bored of me yet? Ok then, I will stop for now. There is gold out there! I believe this and find it every year and of course here in California dredging is outlawed.
Good luck with your choices and have lots of fun whatever you decide to do............63bkpkr
feel free to PM me if you would like more details.
~ 1/4 oz on half dollar me with GMT in 49er country.
