Tornado vs. stock excal 8" (help)

[McDyver]

I've only used an excal (10 yrs) with stock coils 10" & 8", is it worth buying another coil? is the tornado that much better? Thanks.

 

[Critterhunter]

The old BBS versions of the 8 and 10" coils do not get as deep as the newer 8 and 10" Tornado coils. They were also much heavier. Beyond that, many water hunters like the WOT, S-12, or perhaps the 12x10 for more depth. I found the 15x12 to be too much drag in the water for my tastes, but haven't used the 12x10 in the water to see how it compares to my 10" Tornado.

 

[Gulf Hunter]

I have 2 Excal 800s(not Excal IIs). One has a BBS and the other a Tornado. The Tornado is lighter and thinner and slices through the water easier. Other than that I cannot say definitively if one is superior to the other. They have both performed excellent.

 

[tomcatpl]

i have a s-8 on my excal 800 great coil

 

[tomcatpl]

plus it's full 8"

 

[Ron from Michigan]

A few year ago I got a bunch of coils off of Ebay that needed connectors.I noticed the very oldest BBS 800 coils had a wire for the six pin probably off an older Sovereign.Anyway I had other coils that came off Excals had high serial numbers and only had four wires to pin like the newer Tornado coils.I think the Excals used newer BBS coils while the Elite started using the Tornado coils.I searched sites in Virginia with a BBS 800 and my brother used a 800 Tornado, performance wise close.I currently use a Tornado 800 and it is more stable,better depth and a little lighter. I would go with the newer Tornado coil.A sale of the older BBS coil would help keep the cost down. HH Ron

 

[McDyver]

Thanks for the help! think I'll pick up a tornado at some point and the next time I send the 800 in for service I'll have minelab hard wire it in for me and then sell the BBS 8.