Is there a small dredge for sandy beaches and mud?

[Steve from Ohio]

Is there a small vacuum dredge for in the water at the beaches? I hate the scoop.......it takes too darn long. Scooping seems to take forever and I've yet to really see a good way to scoop. And the scoops really don't work all that well in the mud.

Is there a better way to dig targets in waste deep water? I've seen the machine that works with a Fisher detector...but is there a machine that would vacuum up the sand and or mud along with the target and put it in a floating sifter?

I would think that a small 4 HP engine and a small pump would be able to bring up the sand and mud to sift through instead of digging with those darned scoops.......I hate those scoops....I've tried them all and they take too long. I want to be as efficient as possible with my time....and scooping just don't cut it.

Or would it be quicker and easier to dive on the target instead of trying to scoop the target up with a long handled scoop?

 

[Bobbie]

I usually hit my target within the first or second scoop. Maybe the scoops you have used are not good for your area. I find that stainless steel are the best, sand and mud tend not to stick like aluminum.

 

[Andy Sabisch]

Steve,

Having been involved with the original Keene Coin Dredge in the early 80's and having tried several different dredges for this application over the years, I have a good deal of experience in this area.

A few points:

1) Unless you are in pure sand, sucking mud up and ensuring you get what's in the clumps often takes far more time then a good scoop and a sifter

2) Unless you are in some abandoned location, using a dredge to churn the bottom up and dig big holes quickly will do a great job in getting the area closed to all detecting . . . and I have seen several great sites get shut down for this very reasons when dredges had their popularity surge in the early 90's

3) Many areas - state parks, Corps property and ocean sites do not allow dredges to be used - check first

As Bobbie stated, a good scoop and sifter will out preform a dredge in most instances.

Andy

 

[Steve from Ohio]

Good points Andy. I guess I will have to get my body used to scooping. I find that it uses muscles I have not even known existed.

I was in the water for several hours in Florida in the Gulf at a popular beach and I was finding things, but it was really tough scooping and sifting. I've got a good scoop and it works well, but after a few hours, I felt like I ran a marathon. It took several tries before I was able to get a target in the scoop. Maybe snorkeling to the target would be a better way with a small hand scoop?

I guess I will have to just keep on scooping to get myself better at it and get my body into the activity.

I was amazed at all the attention I was getting though. Lots of people asking questions. I was told by the beach patrol that there have been very few people in the water detecting and that most are on the beach. I know that is where most of the good stuff is so I will endeavor to persevere.

 

[docguin]

It is good exercise to be sure, but a fella can get too much of a good thing. A good scoop will help a lot, and digging with the rhythm of water will save a lot of muscle power. Move a little slower in the water and you will not tire so fast. When steeping the scoop into the sand, try wiggling it a little to allow water to come in and loosen the sand as you go, it eases digging considerably. If you dig slow and learn to use a little gentle rocking then much less effort will be required.

Hope this is helpful

 

[fieldboy]

n/t

 

[docguin]

What kind of scoop do you use FieldBoy? 20" down in two scoops is incredible!