I started metal detecting back in 1994 when I met a couple of guys who would become hunting buddies on an AOL metal detecting forum. John and Peter intoduced me to relic and coin hunting and I was hooked. I lived in Atlanta so lots of opportunities for Civil War artifacts. I started with an old Whites Coinmaster 5000 and quickly upgraded to a Spectrum XLT when they hit the market. I had many great finds but better yet, great times with numerous friends I have met through the hobby. My detecting time has waned for the past few years due to work and family, but "the bug" was always there.
I was recently transfered to Jacksonville, and decided to pick up a good beach detector and hit the surf. I have read many of the forum topics on this great site and have followed many threads silently. Based upon research, I decided to purchase a Minelab Excalibur II 1000 several weeks ago. I knew there was production issues, but figured the waiting lists would turn over quickly. Much to my dismay, week after week has passed and the dealer I am purchasing through still has no idea of an expected delivery date. Night after night, I would log on to the forums and see the great finds and read the great advice, adding fuel to my desire to put coil to sand. The waiting was making me irrational, and I began looking at Ebay for a used Surfmaster Pro DF which would become my backup. I mean, everyone could use a second beach machine and a PI would be a nice change up to the Excalibur, right? Well, I found some on Ebay and missed the mark on a couple of auctions. The selling price was not far off from a new unit!
Finally I couldn't take it anymore. I loaded the wife up into the car and headed to Kellyco. Through grovelling, begging, and agreeing to a period of indentured servitude to be determined by her, I was able to get a new Surfmaster PI Pro DF and remain on the list for the Excalibur. I could tell she did not believe my tales of gold awaiting to be plucked out of the sand, but she could not see me moping about the house awaiting for my detector.
Needless to say, today was my first day out and I hit Jacksonville Beach this morning about 2 hours before low tide. I was working in about knee deep water when I got my first signal. One scoop and the target was not in the hole. Raising the scoop and agitating it soon revealed the sun illuminating the soft color of gold. Eureka! First target and I strike it rich. A shark gnawing on my leg couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Thoughts of retiring and reaping gold in each scoop of sand flittered through my head. This quickly faded as I became intimate with surf pounding me, holes filling as quick as I could dig, and swinging the coil through waist deep water was like trying to stir peanut butter. After a good 4 to 5 hours, I decided to call it a day and head home, satisfied with my day and the knowlege I would be able to tell my wife "I told you so!"
I was recently transfered to Jacksonville, and decided to pick up a good beach detector and hit the surf. I have read many of the forum topics on this great site and have followed many threads silently. Based upon research, I decided to purchase a Minelab Excalibur II 1000 several weeks ago. I knew there was production issues, but figured the waiting lists would turn over quickly. Much to my dismay, week after week has passed and the dealer I am purchasing through still has no idea of an expected delivery date. Night after night, I would log on to the forums and see the great finds and read the great advice, adding fuel to my desire to put coil to sand. The waiting was making me irrational, and I began looking at Ebay for a used Surfmaster Pro DF which would become my backup. I mean, everyone could use a second beach machine and a PI would be a nice change up to the Excalibur, right? Well, I found some on Ebay and missed the mark on a couple of auctions. The selling price was not far off from a new unit!
Finally I couldn't take it anymore. I loaded the wife up into the car and headed to Kellyco. Through grovelling, begging, and agreeing to a period of indentured servitude to be determined by her, I was able to get a new Surfmaster PI Pro DF and remain on the list for the Excalibur. I could tell she did not believe my tales of gold awaiting to be plucked out of the sand, but she could not see me moping about the house awaiting for my detector.
Needless to say, today was my first day out and I hit Jacksonville Beach this morning about 2 hours before low tide. I was working in about knee deep water when I got my first signal. One scoop and the target was not in the hole. Raising the scoop and agitating it soon revealed the sun illuminating the soft color of gold. Eureka! First target and I strike it rich. A shark gnawing on my leg couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Thoughts of retiring and reaping gold in each scoop of sand flittered through my head. This quickly faded as I became intimate with surf pounding me, holes filling as quick as I could dig, and swinging the coil through waist deep water was like trying to stir peanut butter. After a good 4 to 5 hours, I decided to call it a day and head home, satisfied with my day and the knowlege I would be able to tell my wife "I told you so!"
