Looking for beach detector

[bassmaster1255]

Hi I go to the beach for a few weeks during the summer. I am interested in buying a metal detector that I can get wet, to use in the wet sand and in the tides. I will only be submersing part of the detector so the whole thing doesnt have to be submersible. Maybe a submersible coil will work too, idk. I dont have much money now so any ideas will help. Thanks!!!

[Compass]

If you are in the water you may want to consider a completely waterproof detector. Most of us who have hunted in the water have either got hit by a rogue wave or have lost our balance at some time.
The White's Dual Field is one of the more popular beach hunting machines for the wet sand and water (not as great in the dry sand if you don't like digging a lot of trash). I use a DF and the Excalibur II at the beach and each has their place depending on the conditions.
I bought my Dual Field from another forum member and saved a couple hundred dollars off the price of a new one. It was in perfect condition and most of its transferable warranty was still valid. This morning I saw a similar deal being offered by one of our members, Steve, in the Classified section. Steve has been a member for a while so you can rest assured on his credibility.
Check out the video of my finds from last year. Many of the better finds were found with my Dual Field. In fact, the white gold, Tiffany "spring" ring all but paid for my detector in one scoop.

I'm sure that there are some other good detectors out there but if you look around you'll notice that certain ones keep coming up again and again in the conversation. Good luck and HH!

[Cfmct]

One of the best beach machines is the Sovereign GT if you do not plan on going in the water... its deep and stable.. if water is in your future the two detectors mentioned by George are great choices...

[Surf Master]

Water machines are expensive as you pay to play in the water,so there are 2 choices,save your money for a waterproof machine,or get a used one,or just buy a Gt for the wet & dry sand,needs for water hunting machine 1060.00----1200.00,scoop 145.00 water pouch 30.00 You can get a Detector Pro waterproof machine at a great deal,talk to Gary Storm

[Tony in FL]

I think that the Sovereign GT as a wet sand / low water machine has become less of a value proposition given the recent price increase by Minelab. I certainly agree that it is a great detector and I am wondering if I should have picked one up before the price increase. At this point, however, the advertised price of the GT is now $999 and it comes with very little factory accessories. By the time you add some common accessories: a meter, alkaline battery pack, hip mount bag, and earphones, you have quite an investment. And to boot the meter is no longer being made by Minelab. While a meter at the beach is arguably not needed, for land hunting it might come in handy.

I am a little dismayed by Minelab's substantial price increase of the Sovereign GT as well as the dropping an accessory that has been available for so long. Unless you are buying used I would probably opt for an Excalibur over a Sovereign. When factoring in some accessories and the recent price increase, the price differences become relatively small. And with an Excalibur you need not worry about being chased in by rising tides, getting hit with a rouge wave, etc.

Of course the Dual Field is a great option for the wet sand and and water as well. Plus it is cheaper than both the Excalibur and Sovereign. I will probably pull the trigger on one myself later this year.

[Cfmct]

The reason why Minelab can raise the prices is because people buy them... $999 won't stop anyone if they are willing to shell out big bucks for the E-trac...

[firstbigestmost]

Originally Posted by Tony in FL

I think that the Sovereign GT as a wet sand / low water machine has become less of a value proposition given the recent price increase by Minelab. I certainly agree that it is a great detector and I am wondering if I should have picked one up before the price increase. At this point, however, the advertised price of the GT is now $999 and it comes with very little factory accessories. By the time you add some common accessories: a meter, alkaline battery pack, hip mount bag, and earphones, you have quite an investment. And to boot the meter is no longer being made by Minelab. While a meter at the beach is arguably not needed, for land hunting it might come in handy.

I am a little dismayed by Minelab's substantial price increase of the Sovereign GT as well as the dropping an accessory that has been available for so long. Unless you are buying used I would probably opt for an Excalibur over a Sovereign. When factoring in some accessories and the recent price increase, the price difference become relatively small. And with an Excalibur you need not worry about being chased in by rising tides, getting hit with a rouge wave, etc.

Of course the Dual Field is a great option for the wet sand and and water as well. Plus it is cheaper than both the Excalibur and Sovereign. I will probably pull the trigger on one myself later this year.

[Tony in FL]

Originally Posted by Cfmct-PI

The reason why Minelab can raise the prices is because people buy them... $999 won't stop anyone if they are willing to shell out big bucks for the E-trac...

While it is possible Minelab may not loose much in the way of overall sales across all models, I do believe there will less sales of the Sovereign GT. If you are looking for a beach machine, the price difference seems too low to warrant choosing a Sovereign over an Excalibur. And if you are looking for a land machine, the price is on par with a Safari. Once you add headphones, alkaline battery pack, and a meter (assuming you can still find one) you are in Explorer price territory. Unless Minelab has a new Sovereign in development I am a tad suspicious that they may be starting down the road of phasing it out by 1) making it less competitive than their other models and 2) trimming costs i.e. no more manufacturing runs for the digital meter.

[LostNowFound]

Minelab Excalibur is not cheap, however it is the best for the beach, based on the feedback I have received on these forums.

[xlogit3k]

Originally Posted by Tony in FL

While it is possible Minelab may not loose much in the way of overall sales across all models, I do believe there will less sales of the Sovereign GT. If you are looking for a beach machine, the price difference seems too low to warrant choosing a Sovereign over an Excalibur. And if you are looking for a land machine, the price is on par with a Safari. Once you add headphones, alkaline battery pack, and a meter (assuming you can still find one) you are in Explorer price territory. Unless Minelab has a new Sovereign in development I am a tad suspicious that they may be starting down the road of phasing it out by 1) making it less competitive than their other models and 2) trimming costs i.e. no more manufacturing runs for the digital meter.

If the demand is high for the machines, in other words no other company makes as good of a beach machine then they can raise the price as high as they want and people will still buy them.

[Bobbie]

Your key words "I don't have much money now". Everyone is suggesting high priced machines. If you want something that is not very expensive, look at the Detector Pro Pirate series, it does the job, and is waterproof. It works very well as a land machine too.....that is the $300 range. Next is Garrett.....AT Pro......$500 range and a dynomite machine that is waterproof for both the land and water. Takes a little getting used to, but you will be glad you bought it. DO NOT get hooked into some "off brand" detector like the Cobra......these are knock-off's from Asia that end up being disposable. You can buy used, but unless you are a frequent visitor of all the forums and get to know the people on them, you might end up with a broken machine.

[Tony in FL]

Originally Posted by xlogit3k

If the demand is high for the machines, in other words no other company makes as good of a beach machine then they can raise the price as high as they want and people will still buy them.

Agreed. But my point that internal competition may actually hurt sales of the Sovereign GT. The way Minelab has structured their prices, along with eliminating the availability of the digital meter, the Sovereign GT will be hard pressed to compete with sales of the Excalibur, Safari, and Explorer lines.

[Cfmct]

Originally Posted by Tony in FL

My point is that internal competition may actually hurt sales of the Sovereign GT. The way Minelab has structured their prices, along with eliminating the availability of the digital meter, the Sovereign GT will be hard pressed to compete with sales of the Excalibur, Safari, and Explorer lines.

I don't agree and here is why... I would still purchase a GT without a meter because I hunt by tone.. I know a lot of hunters who don't need nor want a read-out... dirt digging is another story.. but on the beach its not needed... I love GT because it has no meter

[Tony in FL]

Originally Posted by Cfmct-PI

I don't agree and here is why... I would still purchase a GT without a meter because I hunt by tone.. I know a lot of hunters who don't need nor want a read-out... dirt digging is another story.. but on the beach its not needed... I love GT because it has no meter

I see where you are coming from and do agree that on the beach a meter is not needed. But between the significant price jump and lack of a meter I think that a certain percentage (not everyone) of would be Sovereign buyers may wind up heading for an Excal, Safari, or Explorer. I probably should have pulled the trigger on one two hundred dollars ago (before the price jump). Anyway I hope Minelab keeps the Sovereign lineage alive for at least a few more model releases.

[firstbigestmost]

Originally Posted by Cfmct-PI

I don't agree and here is why... I would still purchase a GT without a meter because I hunt by tone.. I know a lot of hunters who don't need nor want a read-out... dirt digging is another story.. but on the beach its not needed... I love GT because it has no meter

Hey, I thought you loved your GT because it came with a free hat.

[xlogit3k]

I just think that regardless of price if people are into WATER DETECTING they will still buy the machine. If somebody really wants to water detect, I don't think they will settle for a land machine.

[Cfmct]

Originally Posted by firstbigestmost

Hey, I thought you loved your GT because it came with a free hat.

Actually I got 3 free hats GT is a great machine on Connecticut beaches and I use it whenever I hit a new spot so I can guage the amount of iron or lack of it... its found me gold as well... nowhere near the amount my PI has but I'll never sell my GT second best machine out there behind my DF..

[zeemang]

Buy the best equipment you can, if that means buying a "higher end" machine used rather than a "lower end" machine new, go for the used one! PS, love my sov gt.....

[Jahall50]

I love my dual field.

[firstbigestmost]

Originally Posted by zeemang

Buy the best equipment you can, if that means buying a "higher end" machine used rather than a "lower end" machine new, go for the used one! PS, love my sov gt.....

Dude Z...how many machines have you been through? Not pickin on you but you could be a voice of reason here.. the guy does not need a 1000.00 detector to hunt the beach.

Just go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry0fs1QFPCo and watch crackbadger's video.

HH