Some of us use a metal detector to stuff, this guy found a CTX 3030

[Dan(NM)]

This detector is posted on E-bay.




So I suppose I should start with the story of this metal detector. I was kayaking with a friend on Canyon Lake near Phoenix, Arizona. While exploring a small cove, my friend noticed something submerged in the water. We stopped and he pulled out this metal detector. We have no idea where it came from or who it would belong to. It was in about 2-3 feet of water and there are no roads or hiking trails near the spot we found it. Only way to get there was by kayak really (too narrow for big boats). Anyways, we strapped it to the kayak and thought for sure it'd be broken. When I got it home, I opened up the compartments and the only section to have any water was the battery compartment. The batteries were no longer usable. I let the metal detector dry out a couple days. To my amazement, I stuck new batteries in it and it turned on without an issue! Guess it really is waterproof!

The metal detector has been cleaned thoroughly inside and out. I didn't see any signs of water damage anywhere. There is slight rust in the battery box but everything else appears good. There are significant scratches on the battery cover and moderate scratches on the screen. The rest of the body has less severe scratches but it is definitely worn.


As far as I can tell, the unit works 100% but I have never used a metal detector before so I am not sure what to expect or look for. I can go through all the menus and the speaker works great (nice and loud). I can set detection profiles and all the front panel buttons work. It has menu options for GPS and wireless but I haven't tried to use them. The telescoping arm slides pretty well but sometimes I hear a slight gritty sound. The carbon fiber arm appears to have some tiny white specks in it but the arm feels very strong (not sure if this was due to the water). There is some sort of clamp on the arm too, not sure what that's for. The unit appears to be the "standard pack" according to my Google searches. The battery pack is not rechargeable and it comes with a 8 x AA battery holder. It has an 11" coil that says "MINELAB CTX II" on it. All the serial number tags appear to be in good condition and the water didn't make them soggy. The arm slot on top has beat up rubber and is torn in places but it's still usable.

I did try and contact the manufacturer to see if they could help track down the original owner and also put a Craigslist post up saying that I found it but got no responses to either.

 

[AngelicStorm]

Interesting story, but I don't quite "buy" it. That is very hard to believe.
You should have probably posted this in the Metal Detector Classified Section with pictures. Here is a link..... http://www.findmall.com/list.php?44

If this is indeed true then props to you. That is amazing and odds were against you.
Maybe it floated downstream? I wonder what happened to the owner.....

 

[Des D]

Nope. Don't buy it either?

 

[sprchng]

When I used to do a lot of bass fishing and spent alot of time busting through brush with my boat , i lost (and found) more than one high dollar rod and reel that were scraped or plucked right off the deck of the boat by passing branches while I was looking the other way. Unfortunately the ones I found had been in the water so long they were no longer salvageable. I can imagine a number of scenarios a CTX could have gotten dunked and , once hidden even in shallow water , it would be difficult to find when the disappearance is discovered.

I have gotten in touch with Minelab to verify warranties a couple of times and they have always been very responsive when I gave them the serial number , so no help from them is a little strange. How long has it been since you notified them?

 

[Dan(NM)]

I didn't find it, I'm not selling it, it's a listing on E-bay, I just thought it was a little entertaining. Notice what I said in the heading "This guy found a CTX3030"

 

[GKMan]

How much was it bidding at Dan? Definitely something fishy. He should turn it in to the police department. I think they would keep it for a period of time and then return it if no one claims it... However, it would stink if they held it for a year...

 

[Jason in Enid]

I don't buy his story either. The CTX floats, it wouldn't have been submerged.

Edit - OK, well I am more inclined to believe his story after reading the ebay listing. He even lists the serial numbers of the components, if you could prove it's yours, it would be easy enough. From the pics, I would bet he meant the water where they found it was a few feet deep, not that it was on the bottom 3 feet deep.

The bad part is that the idiot completely disassembled it, and now whoever buys it needs to send it back to minelab to be re-sealed.

 

[GKMan]

Well, that's good (that it is more legit)... And bad that he disassembled it...

 

[Dan(NM)]

It's up to 1100 bucks right now.

 

[Rick(ND)]

Interesting story and the person that found it should have contacted Minelab with the serial number to see who it is registered to, maybe it is stolen or maybe not a Minelab and a knock off of a CTX which is being done. I sure would have checked this out before putting it on the auction so a person wouldn't get charged with selling stolen property or fraud as it may not be a real CTX and Minelab can verify that.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Interesting story and the person that found it should have contacted Minelab with the serial number to see who it is registered to, maybe it is stolen or maybe not a Minelab and a knock off of a CTX which is being done. I sure would have checked this out before putting it on the auction so a person wouldn't get charged with selling stolen property or fraud as it may not be a real CTX and Minelab can verify that.

Apparently you didn't bother to find the listing and read the story.