Hi Chuckaaron:
I have been beach hunting with the Minelab Elite and meter for 2 years in the tropics. Like Rick says, the major problems seem to be corrosion on the connectors, and condensation inside the meter housing. These are not common problems, but the tropics (90 degrees and 90 percent humidity, plus salt air) are tough on all electronic gear. I doubt that buying a different meter would offer any improvement in this tough environment.
Check your cable connectors, and if you see corrosion on the pins, go to Radio Shack and get a spray can of contact cleaner.
Make sure that the connector is clamped firmly to the cable, and tight enough so that you can't pull the cable out of the connector housing. If you can pull the wires out, loosen the screws on the cable clamp, wrap some plastic electrical tape around the insulation to build it up in thickness where the wires come out, and re-install and clamp on the tape. While you have the connector apart, check for broken wires or corrosion. Check both connectors.
If you see water drops on the inside of the meter, you need to open it to let it dry out.
Opening the meter is easy, but you will probably damage the blue label on the plastic face plate. There are four philips head screws holding the faceplate to the meter, and you need to carefully peel the label off to access them. Use an Xacto knife and needle nose pliers to carefully peel it off. Take off the screws and pull the face plate forward. If necessary, remove the nut that holds the calibration pot. You can now tilt the meter out of the housing. I usually put it in the sun for a couple of hours to let it dry out, and then re-assemble it. That's it.
I have only had to do this 2 or 3 times since I bought the meter, which to me is no big deal. I also modified one of my meters for 0-180 operation, which I highly recommend doing. I also made my own meter using an LED instead of an LCD display for night hunting.
Good Luck and Good Hunting
fod
