On the water scoops

[Keppy]

I was going to post this and saw ..Sandmans.. post on scoops but here is the question any how.. I am going to water hunt this year fresh water lake Erie & inland lakes but i will just be wadeing waist high give or take. Where i live Lake Erie has a lot of little stones and gravel in the lake not much sand. So i am going to get a good SS scoop but what is the best handle SS or wood ? Will a wood handle float is that why they use them? Or does it matter what the handle is made of ?

 

[hawk-run]

You know i always thought about that also what is best for a handle wood or stainless steel. Good question i want to know to.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Wood handle floats upright, but it is at a 90 degree angle, a member is going to have aluminum one custom built with bend for his stainless steel scoop.

 

[Keppy]

Treasure hunter are you saying it would be better to use a SS handle . I was thinking that a wood handle could break.

 

[Sandman]

I have never broken one of my wood handles in my Sunspot scoops. However it could be done when prying on rocks. I like the wood handle because it floats the scoop handle upright. You drop the metal handle ones, you have to fish for it. The metal handles can take a bend to make them easier to position the point downward easier so your not bending over with your kisser in the water. Prohandle makes a nice handle attachment that will work for helping lift the bent metal handles up which are nice for the positioning but awkward to lift up without the prohandle. See picture. http://www.prohandle.com/manyuses.htm
This handle would be nice if you could rotate it 90 degrees and place it on the rear for positioning. Someone suggested to me to use two handles, front and back.

What I think I am going to do is have a metal fab. shop bend me a handle something like the old Miller scoops in Olebeechnut's videos. See second Pic. This way I can position the point downward easy and lift easy. Metal handles you can teather to you in fresh water where the wave action is light, but it is dangerous to do this in saltwater surf.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Treasure hunter are you saying it would be better to use a SS handle . I was thinking that a wood handle could break.

I don't know of anyone who has broke the wood handle, but sure it is possible if you put enough pressure on it while prying. The scoop is already over 6 pounds, if you add a SS handle your talking major weight.......Just my personal opinion, I tried but did not like the SS scoops with the 90 degree handles, you have to lean them too far forward to get a good bite in the sand in my opinion. They are also very heavy on the basket end which makes it unbalanced when carrying it on my shoulder.....

These are just my personal opinons, the scoop itself is great, but the draw back for me is the 90 degree angle and the unbalanced way it sits on my shoulder when carrying it, makes it unusable for me......I use the Beach Brute II with the Stainless Steel lip. It has the angled handle, weighs 5 pounds, and when I put the scoop on my shoulder i can rest my arm over the handle like you do with a rifle and it is perfectly balanced and very comfortable......I also have a noodle around the handle which makes it float and very comfortable when sitting on my shoulder.

I use the pro-handle like SM has posted on mine also.....

 

[frankie]

i just having my handles made up now. if you use a metal handle eather weld the ends air tight and if you can put some spray foam into the handle b4 it gets welded. digging in rocks you need s/s but the handle can go eather way. metal gets colder ,wood floats and oak can be pretty strong even in rocks. and how much digging are you going to do? if you dig 500 rings then you can pay for another handle if whatever you get breaks.

 

[Keppy]

Well in my part of Lake Erie not much sand if any in some places.

 

[Number9]

Don't weld near foam!
If the handle is airtight, you do not need to use foam,
the extra weight would even make it float less!

 

[igorsr]

I break a wooden handle about every two years. I use it in the great lakes and on vacation in the saltwater. I always wash it off with clean water but it will still rot a bit and I really work it hard. No problem I just go to the hardware store and spend $10-$15 on a shovel handle and I am good to go for a couple years.

 

[Number9]

Am I missing something here?

Do you carry two wooden handle scoops with you, just in case one breaks?
Do the wooden handles only break at home and to and from the beach...
and not when you need them the most?

 

[Indasurf]

I use the Prostock Pro-scoop and the handle is made from a wooden post hole digging tool (very strong)!
The handle is held to the SS basket with brackets and I've never broken it.

If I drop it in neck deep water the handle floats a little to help recovery.

I also use a Reilly's RTG aluminum scoop and like it more for freshwater use.


Thanks!