Good Detector for Salt Water Beaches

[silverman]

Hello,
I'll be going on vacation for 8 days like I do every year, and was wanting to know what you all think would be a good detector I could use on a salt water beach in dry and wet sand. I have an X-Terra 70, but those are supposedly not very good in wet sand. I would like something I could find new or used in the $300.00 range or lower. It will only be used 8 days on average out of the year, so I just can't justify anymore money than this. I'll be in the Virginia Beach area, if this makes any difference as far as mineralization goes.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Horsesoldier]

Good luck with that. I don't think you're gonna find much worth having in that price range. However, you might be able to rent something for that amount (maybe from a local dealer). You could probably pick up a Beach Hunter ID or PI Pro for around $450 - $500 on eBay or the classifieds. Remember, one good diamond ring or heavy gold chain could pay for the machine!

 

[SandPhantom]

I use my 705 on the beach and it works great in wet and dry sand. I also use it in shallow surf. There cant be that much of a difference between the 70 and 705? Just dont get the head unit wet.

 

[tvr]

X-Terra 70 is single frequency VLF with discrimination and sensitivity adjustments ... OK I use other brands with similar features. Can be used very successfully at the beach with those even if it isn't the best beach machine. You just need to learn how to set it up.

Salt water is conductive. Ground balance it as best as possible, and use some discrimination, like a little higher than the minimum iron setting and you will be knocking out most of the wet salt issue.

It looks like X70 has the following options for ground balancing, Manual, Auto, Track, Beach. Try them and use what works best for the conditions.

I frequently get false signals with single frequency detectors when I cross the wet dry boundary. Turning the sensitivity down a little as well as working more slowly lets me cover those areas well (of course with the ground balance and discrimination set to help handle the salt). If you move a foot either side of the wet dry boundary, it should behave much better since it will have a more stable ground condition.

If you don't want to spend more than $300 or so, I think you may be better off learning to best use what you have.
Just my two cents.
tvr

 

[SandPhantom]

In Galveston I have done well on the beach. Watch the videos on MLOTV with the beach setup. I also study the settings and have only used the stock 9" coil. With threshold and sensitivity adjusted and then ground balanced with tracking I do well in AM mode. Very few falses and really no chatter at all.

 

[Neil]

for $300 I would pick up a used Sovereign, any model if fine, just get one with a water proof coil and use it before you go so you know what to listen for.

Neil

 

[Pascal]

+1 on the used Sovereign, it's the same detector as a Excalibur just not waterproof, I have friends that detect the dry and also work the intertidal wet with Sov.'s and do very well, they will also fit the control box inside plastic bags and do a bit of wading if the surf isn't to bad. I bought one from this forum a few years ago as a back up to my Excals, I think I paid $300 and it's a great machine.

 

[silverman]

I appreciate every-ones help. Have a couple of potential deals on the PI pro in the works.
Thanks again