PI Machine as backup

[adamBomb]

I currently have a CZ21 which I have been using for the past year. I like it a lot and its a fun machine. However, there are a few places I hunt where there is little to no garbage/iron and I think a deeper machine would really help me with my finds there. There are also times when I hunt when sand has been put on the beach from the tide and I think getting deeper would be helpful. Obviously the main beaches around me like wrightsville need a CZ/Excal for discrimination because they are trashy but there are other places that are not. So I was looking at the CTX3030 due its increased depth from the CZ21 but it is way out of my price range and has too many electronics for my liking. Thus I thought a PI machine would be perfect for my second machine.

Am I correct or off in my assumptions?

And which machines should I be looking at?

I do not want to spend more than $1000 and less is better obviously. The two I was looking at are the whites surf pi dual field and the tesoro sand shark. From what I have read, the whites is deeper, and that is what I care about most. Is that correct? What kind of depth would I expect? I have read the sand shark is better designed and has the lifetime warranty but doesnt get as much depth as the whites. Obviously I want a machine that gets 4-5+ inches on my CZ or its not worth it. I do not dive and only go in the water about knee-waist on the very very calm days so I am mostly a wet sand hunter. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks,

 

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[RustyGold]

I had the White's Dual Field and really liked it! As far as depth comparisons,
I'm not sure which one is deeper for your needs!
Best of luck!

 

[Fletch88]

I would go with the Dual Field then if you rarely are going in water. The water I attempt to hunt is usually mid/high current and the big 12" coil was too much drag. I do like the smooth SAT threshold of the Dual Field better than the Sand Shark. The DF balance is a little nose heavy on the stock shaft, but much better with a straight. THE DF coil is also buoyant which is annoying. All in all I like the 8" Sand Shark (owned a 10.5) better for using in the water and it balances better on stock shaft. The lifetime warranty is a plus also.

 

[Olegrumpy]

It's a good idea to complement a VLF/MF detector with a PI unit for beach hunting.

I am not a maniac of measuring depth every time I dig a hole, but my Sea Hunter with the 8" mono coil, and in normal elimination mode (set to zero) is as deep as an Excal/Sov GT in the pinpoint mode, the latters having a 10" coil mouted. Garrett's 10x14" accessory coil probably adds 2 to 3 inches to that (will know as soon as mine arrives).

I suppose the DF will be of equal quality and performance, and I know the sand shark is a bit less deep.

I bought the Garrett over others because of the interchangeability of coils, the seales electronics, and the four configurations (on shaft, Under shaft, Under armrest, and shorter diving stem provided), but that was the ideal purchaxe to suit my needs.

Don't dispair in the beginning, as PI detectors can initially be very frustrating before you get the hang of it !

HH

Grumpy

 

[Terry Soloman]

you don't need to go deeper than 12"-15" deep in hip-deep water. You want to be searching out depressions and hard-pack while being smacked by Atlantic waves here on the East Coast, and wasting time on sanded in spots more than 12" deep is a waste of time, as the heavier stuff is elsewhere. You want a machine that won't break when you fall over it, and that you can wash off with a hose, or put in the shower with you.

 

[Randyg12]

This is just my opinion and I don't have a CZ21 (I do have the CZ7apro) but I don't think you'll get more depth with the CTX unless you use the 17" coil and the depth you gain wouldn't be worth the money spent for the CTX. If you don't have much trash then maybe a good pi machine would be the ticket. Just saying

Oops, should have read the rest of your post. Your not looking at the CTX . My bad! My vote would be for the Whites Dual Field.

 

[MrMikeJackie]

Who says you would get more depth with the CTX3030 over your CZ21? Apples to oranges. As a backup you have multiple PI options from Whites, Tesoro, Garrett, that would give you the added depth needed.

 

[DewGuru]

I live by the shark and die by the shark. Well suited for your needs and wont break the bank.

 

[adamBomb]

Thanks for the tips. There are a couple of used ones for sale in my area that I am inquiring about. If anyone has one for sale PM me

 

[adamBomb]

Also looking at the garret sea hunter Mark II but not sure how the depth/quality compares to the whites.

 

[cudamark]

I have my doubts about any surf machine that will get 4-5" over a CZ21....2-3 maybe. I like the Excalibur for depth and discrimination. Another one I would recommend is the Garrett Infinium LS. The White's Dual Field is another good choice, but the Infinium has better discrimination. Now if you're only going to use it in wet or dry sand and not in the water, a GPX5000 or GPZ7000 will get you a foot deeper than the CZ21, but at a price and a steeper learning curve. Larger coils will usually help you go deeper, but, sometimes at the expense of small targets. The 17" coil on the CTX doesn't seem to go any deeper than the stock coil from the opinions of all my hunting buddies that swing one. It's advantage is ground coverage.

 

[adamBomb]

At this point I am torn between the whites DF and Garrett SH2. The whites seems perfect except for the floating coil but seems to be possibly deeper than the SH2. The SH2 is cheaper and has interchangeable coils, which I really like.

 

[Fletch88]

The Dually's threshold is unbeatable IMO and killer for wet sand hunting. If you are really wanting to wade a lot in knee deep to chest deep water, I would get the 8" Shark personally. The thin coil slices thru the water effortlessly and the 8" diameter is much more maneuverable versus the Dually's trash can lid sized coil.

 

[Fletch88]

Wait a minute! If you use the CZ in Autotune you should be getting pi depths! Especially if you have the 10.5" coil.

 

[adamBomb]

Wait a minute! If you use the CZ in Autotune you should be getting pi depths! Especially if you have the 10.5" coil.

yes I do use the CZ in autotune. I assumed I would be getting a few inches on the cz but maybe I am wrong. We have a few cleaned up beaches around me that I just cant get anything with my cz for the most part and i figured if I had a pi I could get through the sanded in parts/hunted parts better. Then there are other beaches where i have hits every step.

 

[CASPER-2]

you don't need to go deeper than 12"-15" deep in hip-deep water. You want to be searching out depressions and hard-pack while being smacked by Atlantic waves here on the East Coast, and wasting time on sanded in spots more than 12" deep is a waste of time, as the heavier stuff is elsewhere. You want a machine that won't break when you fall over it, and that you can wash off with a hose, or put in the shower with you.

Have to disagree - 75% of my finds are deeper than a foot - that is why I got what I got for finds - I hunt after the guys that only go a foot down think they cleaned it all out - I started out with PI and got stuff down 2 feet at a bunch of spots others told me I would not find anything
I do the same thing even now with my cz21 in all metal - (though I believe the DF will go deeper)
I hit spots that don't get much to zero sand movement - so got to go for it as is most of the time -
I crank sensitivity and go for the slightest fluctuation
do it with my cz21 - did same with my PI
did same with my first TR land machine - not for everyone though

 

[CASPER-2]

Also looking at the garret sea hunter Mark II but not sure how the depth/quality compares to the whites.

when I first got into serious water hunting - I was following a bunch of guys that used sea hunters - I cleaned up behind them

 

[adamBomb]

Have to disagree - 75% of my finds are deeper than a foot - that is why I got what I got for finds - I hunt after the guys that only go a foot down think they cleaned it all out - I started out with PI and got stuff down 2 feet at a bunch of spots others told me I would not find anything
I do the same thing even now with my cz21 in all metal - (though I believe the DF will go deeper)
I hit spots that don't get much to zero sand movement - so got to go for it as is most of the time -
I crank sensitivity and go for the slightest fluctuation
do it with my cz21 - did same with my PI
did same with my first TR land machine - not for everyone though

Do you think its even worth it then to have a PI if I have the cz21? I have my sens on about 9 in wetsand and maybe 7 in the water right now. Its chatty but I dont false.

 

[cudamark]

I'd go with an Excalibur instead.

 

[Crispin]

Get a Sand Shark! Once you get a 100 or so hours on it you can predict with good accuracy when you are digging small iron. The sounds are subtle and each machine is different but I'm accurate with my guess around 80% of the time.