2 words that should never be used in the same sentence - Cheap and Water Hunting

[bdahunter]

Okay, that was 3 words but you get my point. The marine environment is hard on equipment, it fries electronics, corrodes stainless steel and break welded aluminium. This is not a place to go cheap and yet we constantly read posts with titles like 'What's the best cheap underwater detector'? or 'I have a limited budget, what can I get for the beach - under $300'?
The correct answer is don't waste your time or mine. You are going to be hard pressed to get into this end of the hobby for under a G-Note, that's pretty much the minimum and anything less will mean nothing but frustration.
Nobodyin their right mind would expect to successfully hunt relics with a coin shooter but they expect results in a marine environment which is even more demanding. In a pristine environment you can use an ACE250 and get so so results but when you are hitting the more popular beaches the bar is much higher and a starter, land machine just isn't going to cut it, neither will Made in China JUNK! So Please, stop asking the question, seriously - please stop.

 

[seeker41]

very good points!!! i have had great luck buying used!!!!! for 300 or 400 or a little more, you can get a well known brand!

 

[Ron Brown]

Yeah, it had to be said and ya finally did it.

Amen!

 

[bdahunter]

very good points!!! i have had great luck buying used!!!!! for 300 or 400 or a little more, you can get a well known brand!

Used is a good option, you`re still getting quality gear that is up to the job. Most of these posts aren`t interested in used equipment, probably because they don`t know good from bad or indifferent. I`ve bought used myself and with good results.

 

[bcoop]

I don't want a 1,000 detector and a 40.00 scoop, nor do I buy a 1,000 dollar rifle and put 40.00 optics on it. Cheap equipment equals cheap results and High frustration. There is a market for less expensive equipment and if that is what a person can afford to purchase there is nothing wrong with that. But there is a big difference between affordable and Cheap/Junk.

 

[bdahunter]

Water hunting is the toughest environment you can detect. The salt messes up most detectors right out of the gate and the combination of water, salt and sun will burn up any equipment you can throw at it, especially cheaper gear.
A beach can be hunted with low budget equipment but the results will be lack lustre at best and really frustrating at best. It will also be more expensive replacing cheap gear that is not up to the job than using good gear that will not only do the job but last for years.
I'm not trying to be snobby about this, just realistic. I swing an ACE250 at the beach ocassionally, just for fun - it's a great little machine and I even find stuff with it but put it head to head with my Excal, CZ-21 or Whites DF and it is no contest.

 

[John(Tx)]

I tried buying used to no avail, soooo, my new Excal was $1000 and my RTG Scoop was $182 shipped but I've got good equipment. HH

 

[briley59]

I understand as I got into and read a little nit before and made a decision based on what was available when I was ready to buy, It was and Excal or a Whites 300 beach ID. The excal was on antional backorder and I was ready so I purchased the 300 and have learned a lot and hopefully will continue to do so. I do have the question and no cost os not involved. If you were to get another machine for in and out of water what one would most get. I am leaning to excal as I have white or the white pulse machine. I know each will have dofferent thoughts but really would like to know your thought BDA on this decision as you appear to do for mare than fun. I want to know what you think is the deeper and most positive repsonse machine in your arsenal. What is your go to machine.Other please respond but be objective to thoughts not because you own one or another.

 

[Xmarks]

What are your thoughts about the Fisher 1280x Argonaut? This one runs around $600.00 & $700.00. I guess its not quite a grand but, $700.00 is not cheap in my book either. lol. Anyone use this one?
Thanks,
Xmarks

 

[bdahunter]

What are your thoughts about the Fisher 1280x Argonaut? This one runs around $600.00 & $700.00. I guess its not quite a grand but, $700.00 is not cheap in my book either. lol. Anyone use this one?
Thanks,
Xmarks

Not in salt water.

 

[briley59]

What are your thoughts about the Fisher 1280x Argonaut? This one runs around $600.00 & $700.00. I guess its not quite a grand but, $700.00 is not cheap in my book either. lol. Anyone use this one?
Thanks,
Xmarks

Not in salt water.

Which of yours is your go to machine BDA?

 

[bcoop]

Like I said Cheap Equipment Equals Cheap Results and High Frustration. I would rather spend 3 times the money and have it for years to come than to waste the money on junk and have it last one season or less and have to start over. Buy the right tool for the job the first time and you don't have to look back.

 

[bdahunter]

Like I said Cheap Equipment Equals Cheap Results and High Frustration. I would rather spend 3 times the money and have it for years to come than to waste the money on junk and have it last one season or less and have to start over. Buy the right tool for the job the first time and you don't have to look back.

That's the voice of experience talking. I do this in my life and in my business, never buy a cheap tool that you will just have to replace and it won't do the job efficiently either.

 

[bdahunter]

To be completely honest it depends upon the conditions, sometimes it is sanded in and I want the Whites DF, sometimes I just want to have fun with a lightweight machine with a VID so I swing my ACE250, sometimes I want the discrimination of the CZ-21 but generally I want the excellent feedback of the Excal 1000.

 

[briley59]

So you like the whites in sanded areas which is a problem here so far and to the point I do not know if it matters what you swing. Is it for depth you like the whites. I really have been considering the Excal But Have heard so much about the CZ and the new Pulsing whites machine and really am confused on whihc one will better serve me for the area I am in. Treasure Coats area. It is like everything else the more you know the harder it gets. I Know Bcoop is loooking for and new machine and he has what I thought I wanted and now he's looking for a different one also. really confused is what I am now.

 

[bcoop]

The E-Trac is a killer on the beach, I dug coins over 12 inches consistently and as much as 18. The buddy I hunt with owns an Excalibur and he does not use it, he uses his SE PRO. I am getting an Excalibur so I can get in the water at home in Missouri in the fresh water lake beaches and so I can wade while at the beach if I want to. Even though the E-Trac is awesome on the beach, all it takes is one mistake by dropping it in the water or a rogue wave and your out of business. I will still use my E-Trac on the beach but an Excalibur is going to be with me too. My son has taken over my GTI 2500 and thinks he is going to latch on to my E-Trac when I'm using the Excalibur. You have to decide which is going to be your main detecting, If it is going to be beach and water, Excalibur. If your going to hunt land,dry and wet sand the E-Trac will get it all too. You just have to be mindful of the potential risk of getting it wet with salt water, and you know what happens after that. DUMPSTER.

BCOOP

 

[bdahunter]

You really want to investigate what your local conditions are and which machine is best suited to those conditions. I hunt in a low mineralization area so I like the Excal for the feedback that BBS gives me. From a practical standpoint I get to choose which target to dig which makes me more productive in that low tide window, I also just like to know and that makes it fun. When treasurehunting stops being fun then it becomes a job - which defeats the whole purpose of treasurehunting in the first place, at least for me.

 

[Micheal_R]

Cheapness does not cut it in these conditions..

[attachment 154504 scoop-006.jpg]

Made the holes 3/8 so small items are less likely to go through..

Fair winds

Micheal

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

to quote mr dennis:


" Time is the only thing you never get back, why

waste time using a cheap machine when you can have

more fun and recover more with a better detector. "

 

[EZrider]

One other over looked problem is the salt water "Air". Non sealed land units will still take a beating even if not put into the water. Add wind and that fine blowing sand in there too.