If your friend is only going to be using it for regular wet sand type hunting, he doesn't necessarily need a waterproof machine. Standard coin/land machines can be used on the beach too, and even have the coil submerged (d/t they're all waterproof). Only if your friend anticipates wading out to where the box will get sloshed, or only if he's going snorkeling or scuba, does he need a waterproof machine. I my Explorer all the time on the beach, for instance. And if I'm going in a pooring rain (for beach storm erosion, for example), I wrap up the box in plastic.
But if you do a LOT of storm/rain hunting, or are going in and out of waves where you constantly need waterproofing, then yes, an Excaliber is in order. But for casual beach hunting, not in deep water and rain, you don't necessarily need waterproof.
