Got the Detech 13" Ultimate in the mail today that a forum member so generously offered me to try out since he can't get around to using it for several weeks yet. Took some pics of it with the stock 10" Tornado and SEF 12x10 for size comparison, overlaying them with each other so you can get a good judge of the sizes in comparison.
I picked up the package and my first initial impression was that it didn't really feel like anything was in the box! Man, I heard the coil was light but I didn't realize it felt this light, and that's still in the box with the packaging to protect it during shipping. Anxious removed it from the box and saw that it was the white version, as Detech is now making a black version too due to popular demand. Picked it up and WOW! This thing is light. I've got to throw it on a scale right now and see what we are talking about here...
I've got a good digital scale and with the coil cover still on and coil cable included on the scale it was a scant 22.2 ounces in total weight!
Removed the coil cover and weighed the coil again and it's now only 20.2 ounces! What did they put inside this thing, feathers?
Along with the pictures at the bottom of this post, you'll also see a picture of a coil weight chart I put together with it compared to others in it's class that will make it even more shocking when you realize we are talking about a 13" ROUND coil here!
I would expect a lighter than expected weight from SEF shaped coils, but not from a "conventional" round coil that is true to it's size in total diameter from any angle.
I like to ditch the coil cover on my coils and use spray on bed liner to protect the bottom and sides of the coil. Makes for less hassle with cleaning under covers, looks great, and even a few ounces saved makes all the difference when you are talking about that weight being at the end of your shaft after a long day's hunt. I've seen a WOT coil painted top and bottom with spray on liner and it looked great, just like a factory textured finish. I was never a fan of the orange color of the WOT so that's what I'd probably do if I owned one, and if I got a white version of the 13" Ultimate I would for sure paint it top and bottom too with bed liner. The stuff is indestructible and the looks would really give it the "wow" factor like the WOT I saw. 4 or 5 coats weigh next to nothing. Mere grams, and much lighter than any coil cover I every weighed.
This coil is of course a loaner so I'll be using the cover at all times. With the cover removed I can't say it was the must sturdy looking coil cover I've ever seen. It'll do the job for sure, but for one thing it doesn't go as far up the sides of the coil as a typical cover does. I guess that's to be expected because this is one thin coil from top to bottom. Not really an issue, just thought I'd point it out.
I next gave the coil a good once over and was impressed with it. I hear these coils are not rated waterproof so I'm guessing that means they aren't filled with epoxy, hence the super light weight. I've owned solid coils on other machines that weren't water proof and they were mushy if you used your thumb to squeeze the top of them. This coil is not mushy on top, so something else is going on here then just a hollow/soft casing. Happy with the quality of that. By the way, I have seen at least I think 2 Excalibur users using this coil in the water, but not being (I guess?) epoxy filled if there is one breach in the casing of a coil not filled with epoxy it could mean disaster. If you do decide to chance water hunting with it, make sure you read this next paragraph...
Next I checked the coil cable nut where the cable goes into the top of the cable. Sure enough it was very loose, just like many have reported with Detech's SEF coils when shipped. I'm not sure if they do that to take stress off the cable due to the potential of the top of the box pressing down on it, or as somebody suggested perhaps it's to equalize the pressure during cargo flights. Either way, not a big issue. Just tighten it down and give it a hair more of a turn with a wrench. Not too much or you might crack it. This one I only hand tightened since it's not my coil. My normal routine with all my coils is to put silicon or rubber cement on the nut threads and also under the rubber cable sleeve to seal them both before tightening the nut down.
Over all impression of the coil? It's sharp looking and unbelievable light. I only wish it was the black version, but if I like this coil and decide to buy my own I'll ask Kellyco if they've got any black models in stock. Failing that, 4 or 5 light coats of spray on bed liner top and bottom and I'll be good to go.
Next post will be the first field report on it. Taking it to one of my deepest coin spots. Fairly clean large mowed grass field that sits very low, so even with it's heavy clay soil it gets very swampy at times and has caused coins to sink very deep. I've pulled my two deepest coins at this site at around 11" deep with the 10" Tornado and I'm sure more lurk about the place just waiting to be found. I've only used the 12x10 there a few times and the soil was bone dry, although I did pop several 8 or 9" wheats that I think I passed over with the Tornado before yet due to the dry conditions I missed them with it while the 12x10 seems to give me that "easy" 8 or 9" depth even when the soil is bone dry. That might not sound too impressive but my soil tends to range from moderate to higher minerals, although I do have some sites where the mineralization is very low, but not at this spot. We'll see how the Ultimate does there.
Notice in the pictures below how the Ultimate makes the 10" Tornado look like the 8" Tornado in size almost. That's why I like seeing pictures like this with various coils laid over each other for size comparison, as it really gives you a good idea of what to expect and judge sizes by compared to your present coil when shopping for others.
Also included below is a coil weight chart I just put together with the Utlimate compared to our weighed weights of various other coils in it's size/class range for comparison...
Think I'm finally home after a lot of years searching for my particular needs. Custom 1.5 lb lighter 
Sovereign GT (easy to do by just "building" lighter shaft) & SEF 12x10 as everyday coil. 8" Tornado (actually 7.25") as super heavy trash coil (Very deep & separates better than typical 8/9" true size coils). 13" Ultimate for large fields/beaches on certain days I want to grid faster than even the 12x10's nice improvement over stock for that. Stock 10" Tornado stays on water rig (stock shaft). 
ProPointer. Owned 15x12 & SunRay S-5 (5.5") at one time. Loaned a prior 13" Ultimate & SunRay S-12 (12.5").
Some Oldest Silver- 1835 Bust Dime, 1842 "O" Seated Dime, 1855 Seated Quarter, 1858 3 Cent Piece, 1891 Seated Dime, & another Seated Quarter too damaged to read date. Highest Value- 3 Cent Piece, Seated Quarter, & now 1921 F-12 Standing Liberty. Oldest Coin? Got to give large cents a good look & see. 2013 so far- 1 Seated Quarter, 1 Barber Quarter, 1 Standing Liberty, 2 Washingtons, 1 Barber Dime, 9 Mercs, 3 Rosies. 1 War Nickel. 19 silvers in total, & 1 1872 key date Indian, 2 Bufallos, 1 man's 14K gold medium sized ring & 1 gold chain, with possibility of few 8"+ deep mystery coins being Indians after cleaning.
What matters in life is the journey and not the desitination. How you handle that journey determines if you were a success, not so much what you achieved if and when you finally get there, especially if you made it by stepping on people along the way...
In loving memory of my long haired (wooly) husky Sky. She taught me just how beautiful and pure a soul can be, human or not...Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2012 03:49PM by Critterhunter.
