Etrac....beach or not to beach? That is the question

[JamesBondaka]

Im going to spend some extended time at the beach for awhile. Should I take the etrac or better off getting something else made for the job to take?

thanks!

 

[Jack Flynn]

The ETrac does not like the mineralization at the beach. Now dry upper beach sand is not that big a problem.

 

[JamesBondaka]

Ok thanks.....any recommendations on what to get for the beach?

 

[Sailorman]

Depends. I've done OK on the beach with mine but it's no PI unit, Excal or CZ-21. I'll wade up to 6" or so in the water but not brave enough to go further. But for serious water hunting and finding that deeeeep jewelry another machine might be worth it. All depends on what level you want to take it to, the location and your budget I guess.

 

[hershey1]

I have done well with my E-Trac at the beach in both dry and wet sand. I use my Excall in the water but you should do fine with your E-Trac. Make sure you use low trash and deep on and I like an open screen myself. With deep on I drop my gain down to 20. You may need to adjust your gain some but not much. I try to go a couple of hours before low tide. A good scoop is a must. Good luck and HH

 

[MHirschmann]

Your E-Trac should do just fine at the beach. I personally use Excals on the beach but I have logged plenty of hours with the E-Trac on Florida beaches and it did just fine. Give it a go before buying something would be my recommendation. If you go to the beach a lot, then you might want to look into a dedicated beach machine but if you casually go, the E-Trac will do you just fine.

Hope this helped your decision making -Marc

 

[wpaxt]

James,

If I read your post correctly you have an Explorer SE. If that is the case you should be good to go in dry or wet sand, mineralized or not. Run in semi-auto NOT manual despite what others may advise.

i have extensive experience with both the Etrac & Explorer series & the Etrac is an underperformer in a beach environment. An Explorer will beat it every time.

Good luck.

Bill

 

[firtyfwee]

Prepare to dig ungodly depths into the sand if its anything like the Explorer SE.

 

[scoopjohnb]

The E- trac will not let you down on the beach.
In fact I've got a couple of stretches that were a real challenge for the Excal.
Nearly impossible to get it running stable, E-trac performed flawlessly.

Use a bungee, that way you won't drop it in the water when searching knee deep.

 

[davect70]

I took my e-trac to the beach in cape cod pulled 19.56 in clad deepest 14inchs in wet sand three silver rings one gold ring a million pull tabs most of the finds were founr in the low tibe mark

 

[E-TREC-Virginia]

My E-Trac preformed well at the North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Maine beaches. I've since purchased an Excal II and use that at the beach now, but you should do well with the E-Trac.

 

[Johnnyanglo]

E-trac does fine at the beach - dry or wet sand - and plenty deep.

But again, it doesn't do well on small, fine, jewlery. That is, it won't respond to it. Thin rings will often end up like foil - conduct numbers below 5. Thicker rings will be higher om C0 - depending upon depth. Just be careful not to get water inside the unit (don't lift the coil above the housing where water can run down inside the stem).

 

[Todd Pickens]

I use mine on Texas beaches all the time. It goes deep. I even use it out in the water if the surf is not bad.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

If your in dry sand it excels! If your in wet..... Just don't drop it!

Holler if you have questions on a machine. Love to help you!