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Recomendation wanted on a beach machine...

P

popsmoke

New member
Can you recomend a good beach machine for:

Going in only about knee deep in salt water
strolling up and down the lanes

What are the popular machines for this kind of vanilla usage.

Thinking about the DFX, MXT, Infinium, or Excal 800/1000. I wouldnt mind adding a F75 to the stable - how do they do on the beach?
 
Excalibur 1000 does great in both salt and fresh water.
 
Many posts on this, but..heres mine..Excal 1000, targets gold like a hound dog...excellent deep seeker Plus eliminates abot 90% of the iron problem.
 
Minelab Sov GT. If all you ar going to do is the wet sand and out to your knees there is no need to spend $1100 on an Excal when you can get a Sov GT for only 2/3 of that. The Excal is a waterproof version of the Sov.
JMHO

HH

Beachcomber
 
This confirm the stuff I read in other posts, how does the Excal compare the Infinium?
Soverign vs Excal vs Infinium

Thanks for the posts
Terry
 
If you are going to hunt in the Gulf of Mexico , the excal 1000 works fine , but the Infinium can not tune out the minerals in the salt water. This is a problem Gerret is working on ,
 
I had the below information in a recent post. Since you're asking about the Infinium here it is:

[quote One thing to remember is the Infinium is a super sensitive detector (more sensitive than other PI units) and requires research, knowledge and practice to get the settings correct for different situations. I've got around 50 hrs on it and still learning. Once you have this machine setup correctly, it's lethal on the deep targets!!! I can't stress enough about reading up and practice to really learn what the machine is telling you. I would not recommend this detector for any beginners or someone just getting into water hunting. I would not recommend if its your only machine and plan on beach/dry sand hunting (VLF better for that). The Infinium is a pro-level pulse machine best used in pounded out locations, surf and serious water hunting. It can get down to depths where most other machines only dream about. I have no issues in salt with high mineralization on the North East coast using the 8" mono coil and loads of tips and tricks on the forums! I would not recommend any Pulse machine based on your description and needs. I would go with a top of the line multi-frequency VLF machine. The Fisher CZ21 should be out soon and I would take a serious look at that before purchasing anything. Thanks, HH
 
The one reason I could think of would be if you drop the Sovereign in the water, it's all over but the cryin'. If he's going to be IN the water at all, I say get the Excal. Otherwise the chance is just too great that it will end up in the drink. Or hit by an unexpected wave. Better safe than sorry.
 
This post is to no one in particular! The Infinium has no problems with salt water!!! The detector is a super sensitive machine and needs to be adjusted correctly to be used effectively. Most beach PI and VLF detectors are preset and detuned to not react to salt water. They lose sensitivity to smaller gold targets when detuned. This is why many machines have trouble detecting gold chains! All you need to do is look at the water machines that are used mostly in fresh water, they CAN and do pick up the smaller chains but don't work as well in the salt. The Infinium has been designed to be able to detect small gold (prospecting) and is SUPER sensitive (not falsing) when not adjusted correctly for salt water. The machine was designed as the name states: Infinium LS, L for land and S for sea to 200' depths for diving! The advantage with the Infinium is you can detune as you like right on the threshold to not miss the smaller deep gold that would not be picked up with other machines. The Infinium is so sensitive that if you detuned it up to 50% it would still detect deeper than most VLFs. There are great forums with expert advice on how to setup the Infinium for great beach hunting. I have been using the mono coils to great success on tough North East coast beaches! This is not a beginner machine, not the best choice because it's a PI on the beach, but amazing in the water. I read a similar post months ago and others posted back that they spoke to Garrett and were told that people are having great success in all salt areas with the Infinium (Garrett knew of no issues). This machine has it applications and when used correctly is very effective!

Hope this information helps!
 
Although I have been detecting for many years, this has been my first season with the Excal and it would be my only choice of the detectors that you have listed if you are going in up to your knees in salt water. I have the F75 and it would probably be my last choice for the wet strip and forget about taking it in the water for obvious reasons. In a field or relic hunting, it would be my first choice. I had an MXT and it is a great detector too, but not for what you are looking to do with it. I do not have a DFX but it would work the wet lane better than the F75 or MXT due to it is a two frequency machine. You don't want to have any of the above except the Excal slip away from you while trying to retrieve a target with your scoop in any amount of water depth. If you are going to change your mind and stay in the dry sand, any of the above will serve you well. I have not had the opportunity to try a PI, so I have no opinion to share. You didn't mention where you will be working in knee deep salt water. If you are working the moving surf in knee deep water a lot of the time, I would go with the Excal 800 because it is easier to handle with the waves pushing and tugging at the smaller coil. If you are mostly going to work the wet strip but seldom go into moving surf, I would go with the Excal 1000 for more coverage. If you are going to be working mostly still, knee deep water, I think the 1000 would be fine. Although you didn't mention these, the CZ series of Fishers are great beach detectors too (mostly out of production), except 3D, but are not units you would want to get wet unless they are the in water version, the CZ20 (out of production) or the soon to be released CZ21. The salt mist in the air can have an affect on parts over time. With the Excal, you give it a good hosing off and your good till next time. I love it, and even more so than many land detectors. If you go with the Excal, look up ......Mike (Virginia Beach) in the search area for a lot of good information regarding settings and tones that he shared with us.
 
Fisher F-75 does not work for wading in salt water. The F-75 is excellent for dry sand hunting and damp sand hunting. It goes deep and discriminates very well. But when the sand is submerged in salt water, you must turn down the ground balance so far that most of the depth is lost. Also, the F-75 does not have a waterproof box. You can expect it to stop working permanently if a wave splashes on the control box. However, I have used the Technetics T2 (almost the same as the F-75) in fresh water with the coil submerged up to 2 feet with good results.

The hottest detectors being used for wading are the Excalibur with 10 inch coil, and the White's surf PI Pro. The excalibur has a longer learning curve, but it discriminates and saves you time. The Surf PI Pro does not discriminate, and is most useful where there is not too much trash. But the surf PI pro is very easy to use if you don't mind digging a lotta trash, and it goes deep, and finds small gold.

Best Wishes,
J_P
 
Popsmoke, from the list you have there, Excal is my recommendation. If you could only choose one unit, Excal would be the ticket. Infinium sounds interesting too, but I understand the learning curve is steep (may be up for that challenge myself though). The others would not even be in contention for the application you mentioned. Get the Excal, you will not be dissappointed! Another advantage to buying a total submersible unit, is the fact you can bring it home and wash the whole thing off, without fear of water getting into the electronics. All your equipment must be washed thoroughly, after getting back from the surf. I silicone spray the metallic portions also to insure corrosion does not collect. Best of luck in this very important decision.
 
Guys - thanks for the great insight betwen these fine machines.

I have decided to go with a Excalibur 1000. Though I'm not likely to put on waders and venture out, it could happen. Plus - getting hit by a wave is a possibility and this machine would keep going.
The CS21 sounds interesting - but who knows when it will be out.
Thanks again

Popsmoke
 
You nailed it. The little 5X10 coil is great too for a change of pace, although it floats. It is also very quiet in the surf. Great machine.
 
Couldn't agree more with everything you said. And I did have a DFX. And while it was stable in the wet sand and would do OK, it's very depth-challenged, even when "tweaked" and not a real durable machine in that salty environment.

The Excal with it's 17 freq's and multi-tone ID system and ability to hit deep targets is the perfect wet-sand and in-water machine for the beach. Never knew anybody that got one that didn't almost immediately start finding gold either...usually the first couple of times out with it. Of course one DOES have to actually wave it over some gold for it to work. :)
 
To answer your question, I have one and love it!!! If you do a search on BHID or Beach Hunter ID (all dates) you can read plenty of information about this detector. HH
 
JohnA,
I just purchased the 5X10" DD too! Although that coil is not considered a diving/water one for the Infinium, I think Garrett said it's good to around 15' or 20' if I remember correctly. I also heard it's really smooth and stable in the surf and shallow water (really good on the wet sand and it goes deep)! I also like the 8" mono-coil and have done well with it recently. I can't wait to test the 5X10 DD and will let you know what I think about it after using it. One other thing, I've heard that coil is very good on small gold, please let me know about that one!!!

Thanks and HH!!!
 
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