The Surf Master PI Pro is one fantastic PI machine!
I'm sure I'll agree, once I get used to the machine.
Regarding your question about gain, I place mine a bit below the preset arrow to keep the unit quite when hunting.
I think between your recommendation, what Cfmct-PI said and my experience this weekend, I think I've got the gain and threshold figured out. In the wet sand, I was able to have the gain set a little above the preset, with the threshold set to hear a slight tone, and it was nice and smooth. In the mine, it was a different story. With the gain set at preset, as I would sweep the coil from shallow to deep, I would hear a tone, then when I would sweep from deep to shallow, the tone would null. I turned down the gain and adjusted the threshold to where I would get a nice quiet, steady tone as I would sweep. Does that sound about right?
Most of the time I use a snorkel when hunting in the water up to about 5 feet.
I may have to try that. I was having allot of difficulty digging targets when I was chest deep. Even using the suggested tips, I don't think I was getting the scoop in the right spot each time. (Additionally, I was getting pushed off of the spot quite a bit and couldn't get a good dig on the scoop once the hole was kinda deep. I couldn't get any weight on it because I kept floating up. Grrr, very frustrating.)
One thing you want to make sure of with the PI Pro is that you keep the O ring underneath the top cover greased with Petroleum Jelly, Vaseline, or any petrol based gel. This will help insure that no salt water gets inside the unit.
I read that somewhere else before. I sent an email message to Whites to find out their recommendation. I'll let you know their response too.
Also, make absolutely certain that you fresh water wash the unit down after EVERY USE! this is sooooooo important and needs to be done religiously after using the unit in salt water.
Yep. I used to be an avid saltwater fisherman. That was always part of the routine. Hose off, wipe down, hose off again.
Pinpointing takes a bit of time to master with the PI Pro and there are many different techniques that people use. Depending on the kind of bottom where you are hunting you may or may not have an easy time using your scoop. If it is rocky, like most of the beaches in the Keys then you will need to start doing the fan thing. In fact, I haven't used my beach water scoop in quite some time because I usually just fan. Wet sand is heavy and it hurts my arms after a while.
If I try the snorkel, I may have to try the fan technique. I used to do that in the freshwater springs to find shark teeth. I don't have to worry about rocks around here. It's all sand.
Try hip mounting the unit, it takes quite a bit of weight off the shaft of the unit making it much easier and in my opinion enjoyable to search in the water.
I'd like to do that. Can you, or someone, tell me how? I was really surprised at how difficult it was to sweep the coil through the water! What a workout! I should have known it would be tough.
I hear ya about KellyCo, my experiences have been nothing but satisfactory with them. I know some people on this board that would disagree but hey, if it works for you, then all the better.
Yep, they've been great so far, and really went out of their way for me this time.
Happy hunting and I hope you find some great stuff!
PS: maybe I will see ya sometime down here on the East Coast of Florida sometime, just look for another guy with a PI Pro
Maybe. I'd like to get down that way sometime. If you see a guy with a PI Pro getting thrashed around by the breakers, that's me. (I got thrashed good once on Saturday. I was not paying attention, ended up in the break line, and got hit by a BIG wave. Lost the scoop, almost lost the detector, the headphones and my hat went flying, and I ended up about ten feet closer to shore.
It took me a few minutes to collect myself and get all my stuff situated. Isn't this supposed to be fun?
)