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Waterproofing A Sovereign

C

Critterhunter

New member
My next project may be to pick up a used older Sovereign model for around $300 (or say just the box for even cheaper) and waterproof it. I
 
I didn't know you were looking for one. You missed a nice one by 1 day. I just sold my Elite control box.
 
I have been down the Ikelite road many times and the costs can add up in a hurry. There are cheaper sources for waterproof housings than Ikelite but they are not suitable for diving.
 
That was the rage about 2or 3 years ago I was going to try my self Im pretty sure they used a pellican clear plastic h2o proof box http://www.pelican-case.com/
 
This has worked fine for me so far. http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1092446,1092446#msg-1092446
 
fast and not to expensive
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OC11414.jpg

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exp II...........smaller box
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NEWSETUP1.jpg
 
Some nice designs. Yea, I wouldn't go the expensive box route since I don't want to dive with it. I only want the thing waterproof enough that should the box dip into the water it isn't going to leak. I'd probably still chest mount the thing or sling it around onto my back near the shoulders to keep it out of the water. Just want the added security of knowing it won't let water in with the occasional dunk. Then again, I might mount it high on the back of the shaft to keep it out of the water that way. Still thinking it over.

I just think doing something like this is a great way to build an Excalibur at a fraction of the cost. All you'd need is the control box of an older Sovereign, or along with a coil if you don't already have some laying around, and wouldn't need to buy any other hardware. A strong custom shaft can be made south of $20. Figure a older Sovereign box for $50 to $75, and another $125 if you wanted a used 10" coil or S-12, which I personaly don't want to go bigger than for water hunting to lesson the drag. Another $40 or so for some kind of waterproof box and you're in business for something well south of $300. I don't care how much money you can spend on a VLF water unit, it doesn't really get any better than an Excalibur or a Sovereign for the most part. I know Tesoros and such are more sensitivity to thin fine gold chains but I'd much rather have the depth and ground handing ability of a BBS machine and know I'm getting those rings.
 
A Sovereign GT in a water proof housing just like the Tesoro Tigershark design would be a huge seller.
 
I agree. Had the Tesoro VLF model (either Tiger or Sand Shark, always mix those two names up) and the box design on that thing was second to none. Hmmm....I can't remember how big that box was but maybe a Sovereign would fit in it, at least minus it's plastic case? Wonder how much those Tesoro boxes go for...
 
a Pelican or Otter case will do just fine. I put a Shadow X5 in a 1020 Pelican case with no problems.
 
Yes size does matter and the Whites Surfmaster is a good small lightweight design. The reason I used the TigerShark as an example was not just the excellent waterproof case but their ability to change coils with them. I haven't heard of to many failures with the case or the waterproof connections used with the different coils on the Shark.
 
Critterhunter, dont forget if you go the high on the shaft route one slip and its dead, for me the box is the way to go.
 
Yea, I'm saying high on the shaft with a waterproof box. It doesn't need to be dive proof, just waterproof at surface levels so a dunk won't make it leak. Those are some nice builds there! I take it the orange box is one of those emergency flare/aid waterproof boxes that people use on boats in case it sinks? If that's the case then thanks for the idea because I bet those things are cheap at say Walmart or something. I think I'd rather have a clear box though just for the cool factor and also so I can keep an eye out for any moisture getting in. You've got me thinking. Thanks for the info...
 
Just searched here, the mods forum, and the beach forum for any references to waterproofing a Sovereign. Sorry if I double listed any of these links as I only looked at some of them to make sure they weren't redundant listings. I just hit a local boat store (small) and a Harbor Tool & Freight to see if I could find any boxes locally first. The boat store did have a heavy plastic see through bag that is waterproof for $15 that should fit the GT control box. It features a locking plastic bracket at the top of the bag and isn't huge, but I have concerns about getting Shoe Goo to stick to the plastic for a good seal of the exit coil and headphone cables, so I think I'd rather opt for a plastic box. Preferably a see through one as well to monitor for any leaks while hunting. Anybody know of any stores that might be local to me who may have waterproof boxes? Still have to check a larger boat store nearby. I think somebody told me they have various ones. I don't want to spend say more than $30 for a piece of plastic that just seals good. Anything above that seems insane of a price to me. Come to think of it, I wonder if Walmart has any waterproof rubbermade containers or something. They might also have a flare kit box for boats in their small boat supplies section. Haven't read over all these threads yet but I saw a reference to using waterproof utility boxes as well.

I'll consider ordering a box online but I'd like to find the cheapest one in price that will still get the job done. If anybody has any links please post them. I have yet to read over all the below links because I need to get some paper so I can print them out. Can't stand sitting in front of the computer when reading this much material.

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?26,1140628,1141697#msg-1141697

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?26,1017425,1018200#msg-1018200

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,987041,987655#msg-987655

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?26,1001554,1001642#msg-1001642

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?26,979318,982258#msg-982258

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?26,817505,817811#msg-817811

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?26,371727,546928#msg-546928

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?22,743046,750100#msg-750100

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,95046,95074#msg-95074

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,168193,168706#msg-168706

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,164419,164635#msg-164635

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,424036,425674#msg-425674

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,532606,532606#msg-532606

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,580807,581093#msg-581093

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,560861,560861#msg-560861

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,646176,646176#msg-646176

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,1234196
 
Took my water hunting rig out for the first time this morning.. A picture of this is in the last link posted in the prior message and is on the second page. With the control box protected via a plastic bag and inside the Minelab chest/hip pouch I had the thing slinged around my neck and under my left arm, which kept the thing high enough so that I could hunt as deep as my belly button with still a good 4 or 5" of space between the bottom of the bag and the water. Could probably have hunted a bit deeper but didn't trust myself. This setup worked great but I still want to get a waterproof box for the GT so that I don't have to worry so much. Caught myself once or twice at my deepest point bending over a bit to scoop the target. A little more and it would have got wet. Kept telling myself to keep my back straight! Anyway, the Tornado 10" coil cut through the water with much less drag than the 15x12 and seemed perfect. The stock upper/lower rod was good and stiff despite cutting through the water and the custom hand grip (bike end bar and rubber grip) made for a nice comfortable hunt. Also using the stock arm cup on this rig and it all worked well together with no issues.

A friend and I were hunting a small local swimming beach (about 75 to 100 yards or so in length) on a small lake and we managed to grid the entire swimming area (which is roped off, your not allowed to go past the ropes) in about 4 hours time. This was gridding the entire swimming area right down to where the water meets the beach, so we covered it all. I got a total of 15 coins, including 4 quarters in one hole, two nickels, pennies and dimes, and the only item that you could call jewelry was a junk hair clip. Dug about 25 other junk items. My friend was using an Excalibur with 8" coil and he gridded the deeper areas, digging 15 coins as well including one silver Rosie which he said was very deep. The high light of the hunt was two rings he dug along with one of those ear "rings" that goes inside somebody's ear lobe. The thing was huge but junk metal. One of the rings looks like platinum but he's checking the markings. The other ring turned out to be a nice medium sized 14k gold ring with a small diamond. We've only had a good 3 weeks or so of good warm swimming weather around here so I'd expect the finds to increase over the summer months. This beach is only about 5 miles away from my house so I plan to hit it about every 2 weeks or maybe once a week when the swimmers get into full swing, such as around the 4th of July. Tomorrow we're heading to a beach on the nearby great lakes, about twenty miles away.
 
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