Dumb stunt at the river.

[fongu]

I got to go to the river yesterday and had high hopes because the power company had let the water down about 10 inches due to heavy rains up north. I started at one side of a dock I hadn't worked much and when I got to the other side, my At/Pro started acting up. First, I thought it was an underground electrical line, then I thought the pinpoint button was stuck. I also thought one of my batteries had come loose and checked the batteries and I must have got some moisture on them. I initially thought I had not had the battery plug sealed good or it leaked when it fell and hit my sifter. The depth button was showing back and forth 4 inches to 6 inches like it had a target under the coil, even when it was up in the air. I took the coil cover off and nothing there. Went to the car and changed the coil, batteries and head phones and went to the other side of the swim park, same problem. Went back to shore and pulled the batteries out and noticed moisture on the batteries. Either I got water on them when I checked them or it had a seal leak due to falling or carelessness.
I was really hoping to find some good targets with the water down and it doesn't seem like much, but when you're wearing chest waders,
10 inches opens up new teritory to detect. I also tripped over a vine on land and busted by self face down and I'm really feeling the pain today. Thank goodness all that was hurt was my pride and some muscle pain. I took the battery plug and battery holder out and have it airing out and will try it again tomorrow. I will take my 2500 with me for back up this time. I usually do this, but I'm wary of taking the 2500 in the water. Afraid I will forget it's not water proof like the At/Pro and fry the circuit board. HH.
The plans of mice and men ofter go astray sure applied yesterday.

 

[mudpuppy]

Man! What an adventure! I hope you and your gear are OK...I feel you are ready to get some more gold, since it seems to come in streaks with a lot of pulltab time in between!
Mud

 

[Grubstake]

Get some silicon grease, and put on the O ring, Grubstake

 

[jim tn]

That's a bummer. I agree, gotta take advantage of those often small windows of opportunity. Hope everything is o.k. on your next outing. Good luck! HH jim tn

 

[M_d_in_guy]

sounds like one of those days to sit and have a flakie lol, I'm glad all's ok. I agree on the water level and new hunting ground, what a great chance for some very cool finds, HH.

Jon

 

[William-NM]

Glad you're OK! Also glad to hear that I'm not the only one who's a little accident prone, heh. Hope tomorrow is a banner day!

 

[fongu]

I got out today and it was raining with a cold wind and didn't get out of the 40's air temp. Only found 2-3 pennies and the water was back up too high to get out far in my chest waders. I put two packs of silica in the battery compartment and put silicone on all the seals and left the 5 X 8 on and found loads of trash. I'm just so happy to be in the water and having my At/Pro working, I'm trying to ignore the aches and pains. Be glad when I get my wetsuit so I can get out farther in the river. HH.

 

[Ytcoinshooter]

It stinks to have equipment issues in the "field" and physical pain on top of that adds insult. Glad you are ok, detectors can get fixed faster than our bodies. I always use a film of silicone on the connectors and battery door seal.
HH - Bruce

 

[upnorth]

I hear you on both counts. I had recently moved to a town and the local creek, normally damned, was drained for maintenance. It turned out that this was only the second time in 100 or so years that this happened. I didn't know this at the time, so I went pretty hard with the machine and bottle collecting anyway, just because it was too good to pass up. I'm glad that I did, I may never see that creek down again. As for the machine, mine still has a broken back from a tumble late fall. I will get another shaft some time this winter, which is pretty long here. I remember walking a W.W.2 air training base that had chest high weeds in it. I was unfamiliar with the lay out and stepped into a ditch un expectedly. It took me by surprise I had laid there for half a minute or so. After that my knee killed me for months and I thought that it was doctor time because I messed it up. Surprisingly it self healed, luckily. A guy can just take one mis-step and he can get hurt out there.