Opinion on the CZ-21??

[EZrider]

I know its not an Excal and i am brand loyal to Minelab. My machine "ETrac" has produced some really great results in the dry/wet salt sand. But for a water machine its down to these two Excal 2 or CZ-21. I would like to hear from CZ users on what they think about the machine. Somone who owns both would be great as well. Thanks all

HH
EZ

 

[Tom/Cocoa]

I have a CZ 20 which was upgraded to a CZ 21 when I sent it in for service over a year ago. I've owned two Excalibur's and on my 4Th Sovereign. I love the tones of the Excal and Sovereigns. You can tell that sweet sound of gold with them and I will always want to own a Excal or Sovereign. That said I also love my CZ 21. I bought this machine around 7 years ago and it's the only machine I have not sold. It's deep and I would say as deep as the Excal on small gold. It's built like a tank and as a rule you will not have any problems with it. The reason I sent it to service was because I was told that Fisher likes for them to be serviced every couple years. It is a heavy machine and I have to hip mount it or I couldn't use it but then I hip mounted my Excals.. The only negative thing about the CZ 21 is when I'm in deeper water ( remember hip mounted) the machine wants to float a little which isn't that much of a problem but can be with big waves. I can swing my CZ faster in the wet sand than the sovereign and excal . When using the CZ and the wind blowing it's hard to hear a weak signal because the wind will make so much noise in the the headphones and it's not like the Excal to where you can turn up the volume to a loud hum. I love both machines and my CZ has the lifetime warranty so I will never sell it unless I quit the hobby and I don't see that happening anytime soon I hope. I feel one is as good as the other . They both have their good sides but I feed the CZ I can depend on . This is just my experience and others may have another view.. Good Luck with which ever one you choose they both are excellent machines..
HH Tom

 

[gamiller]

Tom/Cocoa assessment is very accurate I own an excal and used to use a cz- 20. If I could find another cz-20 I think I would get one. I n my opinion the cz-20 was built better than the cz-21. The cz-21 feels cheap , knobs feel flimsy.
I use an excal but am much more careful with it very delicate in comparison to cz-20

 

[EZrider]

Thanks for the honest replys.

 

[sandman256]

Tom about summed it up well. I had the CZ20 before I got the Excel and found it hard to figure out which was deeper. If the Excal has a down side it is the lack of a battery charge. The new pinpoint button on the CZ21 is worthless to me as a water hunter because I don't use it. To make sure the rubber on the CZ20 wouldn't leak I placed silicone sealant over it. It has never given me any trouble except for the floating of the controls in deeper water when chest mounting it.

 

[GENE EDWARDS]

I had a CZ20 and it did well for me, but......the 4- 9V batterys it takes to run it was to costly. My Excal II's rechargable lasts me two long hunts , and I also carry the alkiline pod in my pouch just in case. the CZ 20 is a very good machine, but as I said the 4-9Volt batterys can eat up you found change money. Gene