Don't miss a thing!

[sandscoop]

(1) Start by placing some kind of marker at point (a). Preferably use a marker which is light but still which has some length to it and perhaps with a colorful streamer on top. Make sure that the distance from point (a) to the water line is about the length of your right side swing with the coil.
(2) Then you get to point (b) which should be suitable to start detecting from (i.e. point [a] still being visible) and in as a straight as possible angle towards point (a).
(3) But before you start detecting, you place yet another marker at point (c), a point straight above point (b) and at a distance which should equal (or a little bit less for complete coverage) the area your left side swing with the coil x2 is able to cover.
(4) You then return to point (b) and start detecting towards point (a). Whoopee!!! A gold-ring after just two feet.
(5) The area of (x1) will now be covered by the left swing of the coil; the area of (y1) will be covered by the right side swing of the coil.
(6) When reaching point (a) you pick up the marker and place it at point (d), a point straight above point (e) and at a distance which should equal (or a little bit less for complete coverage) the area your right side swing with the coil x2 is able to cover.
(7) You then return to point (e) and start detecting towards point (c). Whoopee!!! A gold-chain. I just love my Excalibur.
(8 ) The area of (x2) will now be covered by the coil's left swing; the area of (y2) will be covered by the right side swing of the coil.
(9) When reaching point (c) you pick up the marker and place it at point (f), a point straight above point (g) and at a distance which should equal (or a little bit less for complete coverage) the area your left side swing of the coil x2 are able to cover.
(10) You then return to point (g) and start detecting towards point (d). Whoopee!!! A gold-plated watch. Man, is this really happening.
(11) The area of (x3) will now be covered by the coil's left swing; the area of (y3) will be covered by the right side swing of the coil.
(12) The same process is then repeated all over again until the depth of the water no longer permits further advancement. Instead, move on to another part of the beach, preferably next to point (a).
Did you miss an inch? Didn

 

[Mike (Virginia Beach)]

I think that MAYBE you could be OVERTHINKING this thing.

1) Pic an area

2) Start grid-walking the area, methodically

3) If bling is not forthcoming, start grid-walking a NEW area

4) Repeat as required to achieve bling

There are two MAIN aspects to successful hunting. One is good coverage...maximizing your ground covered per-swing, covering as much ground as you can in the time you have.

The other is finding a productive hunt spot, through random sampling of the total area at your disposal. If your spot is not a productive one, no manner of coverage will help you succeed..

 

[Mat in MA]

I've got to agree with Mike. The pic looks more like a high school algebra problem than having some fun detecting on the beach. By the time you got that set up it, there wouldn't be enough time left for detecting. Just enough time to take it down and go home.

Just use the K.I.S.S. method, it's always the best. There's just too much beach out there to try and be picky. Once you did an area today and "thought" it was cleaned out, the tide may bring something in overnight when you are thinking of a new spot. Then when you go to a new spot you'll see someone else over your old 'cleaned out area' digging a lunker of a gold ring that you wish you had. Doesn't make much sense now, does it?

Happy Hunting!!!

 

[GaBeachsweeper]

n/t

 

[bdahunter]

Good Hunting is mainly an artform but science has a roll to play too. The main factors that affect the surf environment are wave intensity, density and drag co-efficient of targets, bottom composition and other factors such as rip currents,etc. being wild cards. Density of targets and target donors are also measureable factors but how all of the components of target separation sort out is not measurable in more than a rule of thumb sense; hence the art aspect of hunting.
Mike makes good sense when he suggests doing a quick pass over an area and if it yields targets then grid it out heavily, if not move on until you hit an area that is giving up the goods. This is much the same as Norm from the Goldenolde's approach to beach hunting, zig zag until you get targets, then tighten up the search pattern when you're in the hot spot.
Try not to over think it and your results will be better than if you do over think a hunt, it's more fun too!