Putting a handle on my scoop like that would be worse as I would be pulling up non symmetrically on my body and more likely hurt my spine. The way I was pulling was symmetrical. With the scoop full and in the hole I would first swing the shaft left and right and then stand with the hole right in front of me, grasp the shaft end with both hands and lean back, keeping my back straight. The pressure applied itself equally down my spine and into my hips and legs. Best I could do - but stupid! I could have compressed a vertebrae like some of you. Its the weakest link in the chain thing in reverse. What will squish and fail. I didn’t reach that point apparently though. I overstressed muscles that should repair themselves over time. Your mods with the handle would be great for smaller scoops or in the dry. When I started detecting I used a modified green plastic feed shovel. With it you could dig a big section of sand and pull it to shore with much less effort. It only works in the shallow though as waves would hit and empty it. I think there remains potential with a scoop like this. Great when you can scan it and know you have the target.
I’m left kinda wondering what would be best for targets like these. Maybe a deeper but thinner scoop? I went for a scoop with the biggest bite but in some sands it doesn’t want to come out of the hole. I had a smaller scoop earlier and I would be wearing myself out digging as fast as I could as the rapid waves would refill the hole quicker than I could dig it.
Someone needs to invent a battery powered sand dredge-vac! I guess we’d look pretty intimidating carrying such a thing along with a detector.
