First beach gold...At Pro. Now need real beach detector
- Thread starter medmike
- Start date
cntrydncr1
Elite Member
That is an awesome ring. Yes you will def want a dedicated beach machine.
DaviDs
Forum Supporter
Excal ... What I didn't like is in salt water (depending on use) you have to swap the o-rings every 1-3 years. The batteries are expensive and of course specialty items. When using a straight shaft, the machine is exceptionally well balanced and ergonomically friendly. You can swing for hours without fatigue. When comparing the Excal to other machines with the same size coil, there isn't a deeper machine. Excal's P/P mode is significantly deeper than just about everything but a pulse induction machine. Mod the Excal and you may achieve even greater depth. Used prices range from $300-800, and maybe more if they are still under warranty. Look for ones that have proof of a recent service (new o-ring, knobs, batts, etc) or work been done by a notable person such as OBN. If you get it on the cheap and don't know its maintenance history, budget a few hundred for a complete overhaul.
CZ ... Built rugged and simply put, it works well in salt water. Biggest issue is ergonomics. The control head head is bulky and heavy. You are able to take it off the shaft but its still a bulky item. Again depth is good but certainly not an Excal. CZ20 vs 21....no performance difference. The 20 is the older of the two so chances are likely that it will need new o-rings to ensure it doesn't leak. Pricing is all over the board on these. I've picked up used ones for $250 but newer ones with a warranty can be $800+
Sovereigns ... basically a non-waterproof version of the Excal. Craigslist in Jax, FL has them as cheap as $250. To waterproof one, the cost of materials is about $60 for a plano box, $40 for cable clams, and $20 for silicon and misc. The plano box can be worn around the waist, neck or in a backpack but compared to the excal, it is bulky and cumbersome. You can waterproof any machine (I've done it to several Explorers and Bounty Hunters), but with the release of the NOX, it just isn't worth it to me anymore.
NOX 600 ... From the factory, this multifrequency machine rivals the aforementioned. At a MSRP of only $650, you get a waterproof machine that is also warranted for 3-years. Its hard to beat. You can get a set of waterproof, bluetooth earbuds for about $30-40 of the bay and hunt in the surf, but to submerge the control box you will need a true set of wired, waterproof phones $140-170.
Beachhunter ID ... Entry level multifrequency machine that comes waterproof from the factory and with waterproof phones. It doesn't have auto GB so it does struggle a bit in heavy deposits of black sand, but otherwise it is still leaps and bounds ahead of your single frequency machines like the ATP. Used, you can pick these up for low $200's - mid 300's.
Pulse Induction ... down side to all currently available PI's is that they can't discriminate unwanted targets like iron. But if your hunting the water only, there is usually less trash so its not that big of a deal. PI machines will go DEEP! most are water proof over 200 feet too...and relatively cheap. The Garrett Sea Hunter, Garrett Infinium, Whites Surf PI Pro, Whites Dual Field, and Tesoro Sand Shark are all great machines.
For a complete list of salt water machines, check out this thread... http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=248905
Slimpickuns
Forum Supporter
Nice gold band, congrats!
There! I changed the avatar. See you September 30th.
R5
So grew up in PA, so Steelers are my team, live in NE Ohio so Cavs are it for basketball. See you sometime in the fall
brncofan
Elite Member
nice ring congrats
