Wet sand metal detector

[Cherza]

Ok after watching hundreds of youtube videos of people using bounty hunter, garret etc vlf metal detectors in the wet sand I'm very confused.
Can I get a metal detector for under $500 to work in wet salty sand.
Is it a matter of buying one with ground balance?
LRP or a whites with ground balance maybe?
I don't expected it to work exceptionally well is there something I can get away with and be happy with?

 

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[1KBlueTuber]

Take a look at the Minelab explorer series. Excellent performance in the wet sand at ocean beaches with a display or the sovereign series, basically Excalibur in a box. Can't go wrong with either choice. Just make sure to cover control box of the explorers. Humidity and moisture from sea mist drives them crazy. Happy Hunting

 

[Terry Soloman]

Multi-frequency or Pulse Induction machines.

 

[KirkS]

Cherza, I recently went through this; wanted a saltwater wet sand detector for ~$500. I had decided on a Sovereign GT, but they are almost impossible to find. So after losing my patience waiting for one, I started looking at the Explorer series by Minelab. I found an Explorer SE with the Pro coil for the $500, and grabbed it. It has worked great in wet salt, in the water, and on dry land/sand. It's become my #1 all around detector.

Not sure where you live, but if you're where there are waves, I would suggest looking for a submersible machine. Even though the Sov's and the Explorers are good in the wet, the box has to be kept dry at all costs, or else you end up with a paperweight. I found working the scoop in the surf, and making sure I was keeping the box high and dry, to be difficult. You have to keep one hand on the machine, and work the scoop one-handed with the other.

That's when I realized I needed another machine, specifically for the surf, so I bought a Tesoro Sand Shark. The Explorer will be for working beaches in the Bay, where there is little to no wave action typically, and the Sand Shark is for the Gulf, which has wave action.

Either of the machines can be had used for $500 or less (the Sand Shark used runs about $350 used, I bought new for the warranty). If this will be your only machine to start off with, I would get the Explorer/Sovereign, but stay out of the surf, and just work the wet sand. If you already have a land machine, get a Sand Shark or White's Dual PI as a water machine, and then you don't have to worry about getting it wet. If you are working calm waters though, the Exp/Sov will be fine to about thigh deep or a little deeper.

YMMV
HH!

 

[Cherza]

Thanks guys
Not going into the surf and depth will be ankle deep.
Is the minelab explorer discontinued ?
I am in australia I could not find it on the website
Here I did see the minelab safari though?
Is that better model ?
So it's looking like fbs is the way to go for wet sand

 

[KirkS]

Yes, the Explorer series has been discontinued, but it's still supported from what I understand.

I think the Safari is the predecessor of the Explorer, but also the e-trac is as well. Not sure of the differences, except that the Safari doesn't have a backlight, which was a must-have for me, as I do almost all my hunting at night, so I didn't look into it as much. Initial specs seem to be the same between the two series, but others will know better then me.

 

[Cherza]

The mine labs look really good however they are different to what I'm use to
Are they easy to use I'm a beginner and my current machine is a garrett ace?
Will I get use to it fairly quick?
the tone is defenetly different to the garretts
Looks like I have some saving to do

 

[RustyGold]

I'd look for a deal on a used Minelab Excalibur. Then you can go in and out of the water, wet sand and dry beach at will and never have to worry about anything happening to it.
The straight carbon fiber shaft is something some folks add so the Excalibur is balanced and just floats over the sand.
Plus the resale value is good.
Good luck!

 

[cudamark]

Ok after watching hundreds of youtube videos of people using bounty hunter, garret etc vlf metal detectors in the wet sand I'm very confused.
Can I get a metal detector for under $500 to work in wet salty sand.
Is it a matter of buying one with ground balance?
LRP or a whites with ground balance maybe?
I don't expected it to work exceptionally well is there something I can get away with and be happy with?

If you want discrimination, any of the Minelab BBS and FBS machines will work great. So will a Fisher CZ20/21. If you don't have much iron trash on your beaches, a PI machine will work fine also, but, they have no discrimination, so, you'll dig everything. It's the single frequency VLF's that have a problem being stable in salt water.

 

[Goldfleks]

The more you dig the more you fine! Save money, find more, go PI!

 

[Cherza]

Thanks everyone, I might look into getting the minelab safari
Just need to find a used one under my budget.

 

[Cherza]

I'm looking for the explorer or safari guys so keep an eye out for me please
Sam

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Yes, the Explorer series has been discontinued, but it's still supported from what I understand.

I think the Safari is the predecessor of the Explorer, but also the e-trac is as well. Not sure of the differences, except that the Safari doesn't have a backlight, which was a must-have for me, as I do almost all my hunting at night, so I didn't look into it as much. Initial specs seem to be the same between the two series, but others will know better then me.

Only the Explorer SE AND SE Pro are still supported by Minelab, No parts available any longer for the earlier explorers.

ETrac has a faster processor, back light and more search programs than the Safari is the major differences.

January 20, 2017 A New Beginning!

 

[Cherza]

Only the Explorer SE AND SE Pro are still supported by Minelab, No parts available any longer for the earlier explorers.

ETrac has a faster processor, back light and more search programs than the Safari is the major differences.

January 20, 2017 A New Beginning!

The e-track would be really nice but it's out of my budget at the moment
The safari would be fine I don't think I need the back light
A second hand explorer se pro I think has a back light so if I ever need one it is there and used it's more in my price range.

 

[Cherza]

Now finding one might be tricky nothing in aus and postage to here is pretty expensive

 

[cudamark]

The more you dig the more you fine! Save money, find more, go PI!

If you want to find more total targets, sure. I would rather dig more GOOD targets........and I do, compared to my buddy using a PI machine. He spends a lot more time digging junk than I do. If you get into a real junky area, the difference in our good finds vs. junk finds is even greater.

 

[Cherza]

Hey guys my minelab etrack is on the way
Found one last night for 1000 aud

 

[adamBomb]

Hey guys my minelab etrack is on the way
Found one last night for 1000 aud

That is an awesome machine and you will be happy. Just be very VERY careful near the water. If you search the forums you will find tons of posts where guys were on the water edge and dropped the machine in the water...the end result isnt pretty. So just be aware and you will be fine.