grouperguy
New Member
Hello all,
I am new to MD'ing and new to this forum. I live on the west coast of Florida and have been breaking in my new Minelab 705 at the beach for the last week. Definitely a learning experience, but starting to get a feel for the machine.
Given that spring break is just around the corner, I figured that I could improve my hunting results by actually going into the water. No, the 705 is control box is not waterproof (or even water resistant?), and I don't want to take a high risk of trashing it. But I figured there must be a way to fabricate a waterproof box that would offer sufficient protection to allow me to wade up to my waist or so.
I've toyed with a few different ideas, but I was thinking of doing this:
1. Purchase a waterproof electrical box at Depot/Lowes. It has a cover that is removable with four screws and has a gasket/o-ring seal.
2. Install waterproof connectors for the coil cable. I figure this might require me to actually cut off the OEM connector, but I don't see a problem with this if done correctly.
3. Either install a waterproof connector for my headphones or permanently mount it to the box using a waterproof fitting.
4. Devise some sort of harness/mount where the box will be as high above the water as possible but still within reach of the existing cable length. Extending the cable length may allow me to actually have it positioned above my head. yes, the hot college girls watching the sunset might look at me like an alien, but whatever.
5. Create my own shaft/coil mount
Pros:
1. Would provide sufficient protection for the control box to allow me to hunt in the water
Cons:
1. Would not allow me to adjust the unit while in use. I don't see this as a huge setback, as I could determine the appropriate settings before putting the unit in the enclosure, but I would not be able to switch into pinpoint mode.
2. Would not allow me to view the display. Again, not a huge setback, as I will likely dig most everything anyway and i still have sound to help me.
Possible improvement #1:
Mount a piece of Plexiglass to the outside of the enclosure so I can see the unit. Alternatively, mount one piece outside and also a piece inside. They could be sealed with silicone or something like that.
Pros:
1. Would allow me to see the unit and have better discrimination.
Cons:
1. Would possibly increase the risk of leakage.
Possible improvement #2:
Install waterproof controls (kinda like what is on underwater camera housings, but would not need to withstand so much pressure) that would allow me to depress some of the touch-pad buttons... pinpoint at the very least.
Pros:
1. Would allow me to adjust the unit on the fly.
Cons:
1. Also likely increases the risk of leakage.
OK, I guess that's about it for now. This is one of my first posts, so please be nice.
And before you suggest it, no, I cannot afford to but a waterproof unit at this time. It was all I could do to convince my wife to let me but this one.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions!
I am new to MD'ing and new to this forum. I live on the west coast of Florida and have been breaking in my new Minelab 705 at the beach for the last week. Definitely a learning experience, but starting to get a feel for the machine.
Given that spring break is just around the corner, I figured that I could improve my hunting results by actually going into the water. No, the 705 is control box is not waterproof (or even water resistant?), and I don't want to take a high risk of trashing it. But I figured there must be a way to fabricate a waterproof box that would offer sufficient protection to allow me to wade up to my waist or so.
I've toyed with a few different ideas, but I was thinking of doing this:
1. Purchase a waterproof electrical box at Depot/Lowes. It has a cover that is removable with four screws and has a gasket/o-ring seal.
2. Install waterproof connectors for the coil cable. I figure this might require me to actually cut off the OEM connector, but I don't see a problem with this if done correctly.
3. Either install a waterproof connector for my headphones or permanently mount it to the box using a waterproof fitting.
4. Devise some sort of harness/mount where the box will be as high above the water as possible but still within reach of the existing cable length. Extending the cable length may allow me to actually have it positioned above my head. yes, the hot college girls watching the sunset might look at me like an alien, but whatever.
5. Create my own shaft/coil mount
Pros:
1. Would provide sufficient protection for the control box to allow me to hunt in the water
Cons:
1. Would not allow me to adjust the unit while in use. I don't see this as a huge setback, as I could determine the appropriate settings before putting the unit in the enclosure, but I would not be able to switch into pinpoint mode.
2. Would not allow me to view the display. Again, not a huge setback, as I will likely dig most everything anyway and i still have sound to help me.
Possible improvement #1:
Mount a piece of Plexiglass to the outside of the enclosure so I can see the unit. Alternatively, mount one piece outside and also a piece inside. They could be sealed with silicone or something like that.
Pros:
1. Would allow me to see the unit and have better discrimination.
Cons:
1. Would possibly increase the risk of leakage.
Possible improvement #2:
Install waterproof controls (kinda like what is on underwater camera housings, but would not need to withstand so much pressure) that would allow me to depress some of the touch-pad buttons... pinpoint at the very least.
Pros:
1. Would allow me to adjust the unit on the fly.
Cons:
1. Also likely increases the risk of leakage.
OK, I guess that's about it for now. This is one of my first posts, so please be nice.
And before you suggest it, no, I cannot afford to but a waterproof unit at this time. It was all I could do to convince my wife to let me but this one.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions!