Menu
What's new
Find's Treasure Forums

Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!

You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.

Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.

Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.

Click here to register!

Need Support Help?

Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you

Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.

Has anyone used a X-Terra for water hunting.

Ron from Michigan

Ron from Michigan

Moderator
Staff member
The X-Terra seems to have ideal possibilities to be turn into a great wader.The control box is compact and light,high frequency range with a simple coil change,and tone ID.Transition into a wader would require a three foot patch cord,kayak vest with a back pocket and (wireless headphones optional).The box would be carried high on your back ie more clearance form the water and less likely to dunk your control box when reaching for targets using the water scoop.With the X-Terra box high on your back you won't get water run off from the rod assembly or the coil cord when lifted. I'm going to try my XT50 as a wader in a couple of weeks using these changes. HH Ron
 
Hi Ron....when weather gets warmer Im going to wade with mine. I bought the extension cable a little while back....was gonna hook it up to the 9" hi freq coil but now Im considering an aftermarket one.
On the minelab brand side, not counting the 15" coil there are only two coils I believe that are hi freq and waterproof...the 9" and 6".
​
 
Was thinking of picking up a Detector-pro Wader,but the little X-Terra performs.Already have a Minelab 9 inch high frequency coil(Goldie Locks for water hunting) which will put me at a higher frequency than a Tiger Shark which is a great gold detector.The extension I can make this myself from stock I have from my 180 meter builds lots of 6 pin mic connectors female and male.Ordered on EBay a 3 ft 8 wire cable $9.00 with shipping.(6 wire cords are hard to find) to install the female and male 6 pin mic connector.For $23.00 got a Kayak vest with a rear pocket. Cold weather here in MI will use waders and get an early start.This is a lot less expensive than a wader detector.
 
I have waded with mine several times. But have thought about buying a 30 and making it completely waterproof. I have found lots of civil war relics with my 70 in the creek. I enjoy hunting in the water in summer.
 
Ron

I have waded with the X-T 70 and 9" MF coil with good success in the past. You should do well with the HF coil.

I'm also trying out a larger high freq aftermarket coil this year. Better coverage and "hopefully" more depth.

Also picked up a ID Edge that will spend some time in the water.

Tom
 
7Cents, did you hip mount? XT 30 would probably work well with little money invested.Good Luck Ron
 
I wade proofed my Sovereign GT & CZ for salt water use. Used the Plano box on the Sov & a Walmart box on the CZ. Both control boxes fit nicely in those along with a wireless setup & have held up well. Use the Sov the most since I have 4 coils for it. Carry it in a mesh backpack that is a perfect fit. The box sits upside down with the coil cable out the top. Even though I have 2 factory water machines (both single tone) for fresh water I want to set up the X-terra as well because of the great features. I also have a couple of AT3's but they have been worked hard over the years & I wouldn't want to risk leakage.
I test fitted the control box of the X-terra in the 2 boxes mentioned above....not a fit even though the control box is small. With the coil connector on the back, the headphone jack on the side & the mounting post out the bottom, it's going to take a fairly large box. I think I will abandon that idea & just go with a "water bag" set up with wireless and a cable clam. Be interesting to see what you come with.....may change my mind.
Ron I still use your 180 meter on my Sov when I use it to hunt on land. Thanks for setting that up with a longer wire so I can hip mount the control box.
 
Ron

On the X-T 70 I just used it pole mounted, stayed in shallow water and prayed I didn't drop it. LOL

I bought the 3' extension cable for this one. Will probably go with a bag setup with wireless also.

Tom
 
ME,I notice with some X-Terra coils I bought that had connector problems the cords had 8 wires for the six pin connectors,which 2 wires were not used.With the X-Terra box being so light I could use a binocular size case to fit high on my back near the neck line.This setup would almost equal a Detectorpro or a Fisher 1280 wader for wading depth.My Sovereign would be too have to carry around the shoulder blades.The Kayak cammo vest would do to jobs support the detector and in an emergency a life vest in water.The patch is easy to make and would enable the XT to be mounted for water.Hopefully will have everything finished in two weeks,will share some photos for recommendations.Thanks Ron PS the Sovereign is a great water detector,but one dunk and $$$.
 
Roland,I notice those 3D printers can build AR 15 receivers,measurements on an watertight box could be perfect. HH Ron
 
No I just went in water three to four feet or less.
 
Yep, a dunk would be disastrous. That's why I don't use them without a case. Be to easy to step off into a hole or lose my balance. I make sure that the electronics are well protected. Actually I feel better on using my setup than some factory units. A lot more than an "O" ring or thin gasket for sealing & I can see if any moisture should get in.... never happened & hopefully not in the future.
Can't help you on the wiring. I bought a couple 4' curly cord extension cables about 3 years ago for my Sov & can also use them on the XT. Not sure how they are wired. Never wanted to take them apart since they are so well sealed. Extremely well made & high quality. Similar to the one on EBay #151395114841. You may want to take a look at it.
The DP(1280 electronics) & 1280 are both 2.4khz. Maybe the 3khz coil on the XT???? Years ago their wasn't the options in water units we have today. I say guys have pretty good results with the 1280.
 
The Fisher 1280 is an outstanding fresh water detector and the current prices reflect the performance.I think low frequencies are better for silver and the higher frequencies work better for gold as a rule.
 
I've thought more than once about putting together an Xterra water rig, either chest mounting the pod, or completely waterproofing the whole unit. The thing is, that I already have a 1280X, so it's not been any sort of priority.
To any that are planning on using an Xterra for water using an extension, I would recommend that you do a little extra sealing on the coil and cable. Minelab rates a coil as waterproof if it can withstand submersion for an extended period at 1 meter only. going deeper than that you run a certain amount of risk that the pressure will overcome the unit. A couple coats of Flex-Seal would probably be sufficient, and a good idea.

And the hot ticket for finding gold with the 1280X is setting the DISC to where it just barely rejects bobby pins. My 1280X paid for itself on it's first outing, and it never disappoints.
 
Rick,a couple years ago I used my Sovereign as a wader.There was an old beach at this lake that was no longer used,but no one was sure of the location.Anyway from the current beach to possible old sites i waded at least a mile and some places I ended up in deeper water than expected.Problems I had with the Sovereign it was chest mounted and some of the wakes came too close,also run off from the cord was getting water close to the control box.I used a newer Tornado 800 coil that I just bought and failed to put silicone at the cord base of the coil.This lack of silicone may have cost me that coil,because it never worked right after that,which I ended up selling for parts and had to buy another coil.You are correct in small print Minelab ads state these coils are only waterproof to one meter.What I like about the X-Terra it can be carried high,yes I will waterproof the Minelab coil better.There are a lot of after market coils for the X-Terra that doesn't look waterproof. Patch cords are cheap if you make them yourself. By the way the prices of a used and new Fisher 1280X have gone up a lot. Thanks Ron
 
Ron from Michigan said:
Rick,a couple years ago I used my Sovereign as a wader.There was an old beach at this lake that was no longer used,but no one was sure of the location.Anyway from the current beach to possible old sites i waded at least a mile and some places I ended up in deeper water than expected.Problems I had with the Sovereign it was chest mounted and some of the wakes came too close,also run off from the cord was getting water close to the control box.I used a newer Tornado 800 coil that I just bought and failed to put silicone at the cord base of the coil.This lack of silicone may have cost me that coil,because it never worked right after that,which I ended up selling for parts and had to buy another coil.You are correct in small print [size=x-large]Minelab ads state these coils are only waterproof to one meter[/size].What I like about the X-Terra it can be carried high,yes I will waterproof the Minelab coil better.There are a lot of after market coils for the X-Terra that doesn't look waterproof. Patch cords are cheap if you make them yourself. By the way the prices of a used and new Fisher 1280X have gone up a lot. Thanks Ron
Click to expand...

That is only 3.2 feet deep per Minelab .......... for those that do not know the conversion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top