For the X70 and X50 guys info:

[John(Tx)]

been too busy, seems like I'm busier since I retired in 2002. Gonna start driving a school bus for the school district but only on special need buses and special activities, this coming week I will be going in for a colonsocopy, doctor says I am overdue for my physical, not looking forward to be violated by a camera...ha ha....Later...John

 

[Gary in Daytona]

I had to go back and re-read the manual too. It's strange to me that you have to be IN the GB mode before pushing it a second time to get the beach mode on/off. Can't get used to that idea.

 

[Tinfoil]

Some time this month or maybe first part of next month to see the kids. Depends on when the Blues Festival is. How does your machine work on the beach. Which pattern did you hunt in and what kind of Sen did you run. The beach mode I was told is preset and you don't have to G/B. Just put it in beach and go. Since it is raining I think I will go out to the truck and get it and play around in the garage a little bit with the beach mode. I got to go back and read some more on the tracking part. Whether you use track or not. I don't use the track on my MXT but once in a while to update the G/B while I am hunting. The MXT will track to the target if you have a real deep one and swing over it much and will track the target right out and you don't have a signal. Anyway just thought I would ask how you had your X70 set up for the beach. Where are you at over in Fl. anyway???? Later Jerry aka Tinfoil

 

[Gary in Daytona]

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?55,337934,339204#msg-339204
In addition to that, I ran in pattern 3, and would have run all-metal but our beach is a solid "2" so I have to at least block that out and it seemed to run more stable if I just use a pattern blocking all the adjacent numbers as well. I don't think you miss much with patt 3.
I did use the salt water beach mode, but I haven't run without it, so I can't tell how it would work in wet sand, but I'd guess not well. Dry sand would be fine. I only ground balance (auto) once when I arrive, and usually in the dry sand.
I can say the X70 is very stable no matter where you hunt IF you don't try to run the sensitivity too high. Iron falses can easily be determined by approaching the target from another angle. If it moves, it's 99% sure it's iron.
Tracking seemed to allow me to run with just a little higher sensitivity, but then the targets on Daytona have been very thin lately. Your mileage may vary. I did do as the manual suggested and turned off tracking while pinpointing. Not essential but made the pinpointing faster.
I think you're going to like it a lot on the beach. It's pretty much a great multi-function detector and seems to work great everywhere I've tried so far.

BTW, If you're referring to the Blue Crab Festival in Palatka, it's Memorial Day weekend. If not, I can't help...