Sand Scoop Size Poll

[Deep1]

What width sand scoop do you use for saltwater beaches?
Wet sand/waist deep water.
If you used a different size scoop in the past, why did you change sizes?
Do you wish your current scoop was a different size?
What do you dislike about your brand scoop?
Been beach hunting for over 40 years and never used one.
Always used an E tool for wet sand, but it's got too hard on my back.

 

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[DeepseekerADS]

I bought a Stealth 920iX = 9"

Hit a water spot, and my hunting buddy was using a 6" aluminum scoop. I let him try out my Stealth before I even tried it myself.

The next day he ordered one just like mine.

Most people recommend a carbon fiber shaft = expensive. I use a wooden hickory post hole digger handle - about 1/5th the price of a carbon fiber shaft. Negative = a wee bit heavy. Positive = cheap and floats upright in the water. I also use a "lift assist" handle attached to the shaft, and I'd tend to call that "essential".

 

[RustyGold]

I have the Stealth 720i And believe it’s 7” wide. As per their website the measurements are: The STEALTH 720i is 6 ” high x 7” wide and now 14” long.
You really can’t go wrong with either model but the 920x for the water and the 720i for the dry stuff to damp sand.

 

[FLORIDA KEYS PIRATE]

RTG 6

 

[Jason in Enid]

Sunspot 920i, although I travel with an RTG pro6 because the 6 packs so much better.

 

[GreenMeanie]

I made myself a 7"

 

[cudamark]

I use a re-enforced Stealth 720 with a wooden shaft for rocky areas, a Stealth 920ix with a carbon fiber shaft for most other wet and dry beach hunting locally, and a 2 piece aluminum 6" Kellyco special for air travel. If you get one with an aluminum shaft, paint it or wrap it in tape or you'll get your hands and clothing coated in a black film that doesn't like to wash off.

 

[LawrencetheMDer]

Destroyed a Stealth 920iX (about 9x13') in 4 months and sent it in for replacement and Sunspot were willing to replace/upgrade to Stealth Extreme with carbon fiber handle. The pic also shows a 6" RTG aluminum scoop I destroyed (but wired together and still working), but took years to do it in.



The Stealth Extreme, similar to 920iX, lasted about 4 months (241 hrs of detecting) as well before collapsing and breaking apart. I sent it in for repair/replacement, but haven't heard from Sunspot about replacement. [Note: Appears Sunspot has moved to sunny California from Michigan and may have changed it's replacement policy guarantee...we'll see and I'll let ya know.]



I hunt in heavy sand/clay and rocks usually at low tide in washed-out beaches. I have broken 3-4 wood handles (and would NOT recommend them), including wheel-barrow handles. The thing about the carbon fiber handles is that they will not break and at the same time place a very heavy load on the scoop eventually compromising the scoop basket. I personally would rec a 7" RTG scoop for water hunting and you'll need to paint it so the aluminum doesn't blacken your hands and shoulder (clothing) as noted earlier. The 6" RTG travel scoop is also very good and will last yrs. If you go with a SS scoop basket, I would rec the carbon fiber handle w lift assist, but be aware of the extra stress a carbon fiber handle places on the scoop basket.

 

[Terry Soloman]

I voted 8" but, it is really about how big, strong, and old - YOU are. Pulling a 10" scoop of wet sand, out of a sucking hole in knee-deep water, requires a lot of strength, effort, and wear and tear on the body. Times that by "?" over a five-hour period, and if you're 55+ years old, your shoulder may feel like a truck ran over it while you were asleep the next morning

Now, if you're 6', 180lbs, and 35-years-old, go for that 10" scoop. Your shoulder problems won't really start to bother you until you're 50- or so.