What would be a good guest water detector for Florida beaches?

[GuerillaBill]

What would be a good 'guest' water detector for Florida beaches?

Ok, here's the thing.

We have a home near the beach and we get visitors who are intrigued about my metal detecting hobby.

When we have visitors that want to go out on the beach to detect, I've been letting them use the Ace 250, and they have been having great luck.

But when they see the things I find out in the water with my Excalibur II, they want to join in. Especially when it is hot on the beach and cooler in the water.

While the Ace 250 does a good job right up to the water line, it is not waterproof and I don't want to risk losing it to a wave or rainstorm.

So I'm thinking it would be nice to have another water detector so friends who wanted to do so, could get out in the water and hunt with me. (Plus we all need a backup water detector don't we?)

Because this backup detector will be used by guests, I would prefer something extremely easy to use, basically a turn on and hunt type machine.

But I don't want junk. I want something that has a reasonably good chance of finding something, and won't be breaking down.

I'd rather not invest in another excalibur, so I'm open to suggestions.

As for price - I'd like to keep it under $700.

Thanks,

Bill

 

[nudels]

Re: What would be a good 'guest' water detector for Florida beaches?

Used excals go for $500-700 on ebay, FWIW.

 

[guzz1]

Re: What would be a good 'guest' water detector for Florida beaches?

i let my guest use my Tesoro Sandshark when i owned it ... Great pi at Low price 549.00 with lifetime warranty can't beat it ,, or look for a use surfmaster PI by whites also great detector ... Guzz1

 

[Dixie Digger]

Re: What would be a good 'guest' water detector for Florida beaches?

for people that are not used to hunting better keep it simple..id go with a good PI..Tesoro Sand Shark or Whites PI Pro..i like the lifetime warranty of the Sand Shark!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Re: What would be a good 'guest' water detector for Florida beaches?

Just my opinion, but I would look for a good used Excal, there used ones with in your price range and that would also give you a backup to your Excal. I really don't think a newbie is going to enjoy digging bobbypins and little pieces of iron 2 foot deep. Not a good introduction to detecting for most people.

Look for what YOU would like to have as your backup, then loan it to your guests.

Good luck and good hunting.................

 

[JP]

Re: What would be a good 'guest' water detector for Florida beaches?

I missed a good deal on EBay the other day. Someone sold a nice looking Excalibur 800, supposedly one year old, not used much, etc. It went for $650.

It's just my opinion but buy something similar to what you are using so they know they also have a descent chance to find something out there in the surf with you.

I bought my son an Ace 250 thinking we could hunt together...but how? I'm going to be out there in the water and he's up on the dry, frustrated because he wanted to hunt with daddy. Sooner or later I'll find another Excal and it will be his to go out there with me.

HH

 

[JoeSWFla]

Re: What would be a good 'guest' water detector for Florida beaches?

I have 2 Excals and a Sov. Tried to teach my youngest son to hunt using the sov on the beach
while I was near or in the water with the Excal.The problem-they cross-talk when you get
close.Can make it difficult.Didn't seem to notice that as much when I let my other sons use
my old White's PI.Something to consider if you want to stay close while hunting.May just
have to keep a good distance if you want to have 2 Excals.May be worth it.HH Joe

 

[GuerillaBill]

Re: What would be a good 'guest' water detector for Florida beaches?

Good point about the interference between two detectors of the same brand.

The two Ace250's we use do interfere with each other if you get closer than about 12 feet.

But the Ace250 doesn't interfere with the Excalibur - even when inches apart.

I wonder which other detectors won't interfere with the Excalibur (or visa versa)?

Bill

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Re: What would be a good 'guest' water detector for Florida beaches?

I have 2 Excals and a Sov. Tried to teach my youngest son to hunt using the sov on the beach
while I was near or in the water with the Excal.The problem-they cross-talk when you get
close.Can make it difficult.Didn't seem to notice that as much when I let my other sons use
my old White's PI.Something to consider if you want to stay close while hunting.May just
have to keep a good distance if you want to have 2 Excals.May be worth it.HH Joe

I have 2 Sovereign GTs, one of which is water-proofed and an Excal. When using my WP Sovereign in the surf I can hunt with in 10-15 feet of an Excal with no interference at all. With my Excal I can hunt with in 15 feet of another Excal. Anything closer then that and we would be tripping over each other anyway.

My trusty WP Sovereign snagged another gold wedding band today in chest deep water......................

 

[ivan salis]

Re: What would be a good 'guest' water detector for Florida beaches?

check their operating freq range -- so long as their not close to each other they should be ok ---cross talk is when two machines using the same or vey close freq run too close to each other each picking up the others "vibes" in comp hunts its a real pain so PI type machines are nomally barred

 

[bill-USA]

Re: What would be a good 'guest' water detector for Florida beaches?

DetectorPro recently released a bargain water hunting machine. I think they called it the Pirate. Brand new for less than $300 I think. Course, my memory isn't quite as sharp as it was thirty years ago.....

Someone on here must have one and can report. I only have the Diver and it has to be repaired, so can't give you a report on it. I bought the Diver used, cheap, and defective, but I'm happy with the deal so I just need to send it in and see what the total damages are.......