My First In the Water Beach Detecting

[alienbogey]

I recently had the chance to use my new water detecting rig on a Fort Lauderdale beach. I had my new Excal in a hip mount and 720i scoop with travel handle. I'd never tried detecting in the surf before. Observations/lessons learned:

The waves were about 3' and pretty much kicked my butt. It was hard to impossible to swing the detector against water rush, and going with the rush made my sweep too fast. Coil control was not really workable.

I found the 720i to be too big for me in the waves. The surge whipped it around so that when I wasn't struggling to control the coil I was struggling to control the scoop.

After a while I realized that where I needed to be (I think), was further out, outside the breaking waves, but I would have been waist-too-chest deep to do it, and on a 70 degree day (if that), with 20mph winds, I figured I'd get too dang cold.

So I moved to the wet sand and dry sand. There I realized that the 720i was still too big. I tried dragging it and it tended to partially fill with sand it became a real, ahem, drag. So I carried it but it was heavy. Then, when I scooped, it got REALLY heavy and it was difficult for me too shake it to filter the sand out.

The Excalibur worked great and I started to climb the learning curve. I dug pretty much everything in order to learn the tones and by the end I was predicting the target with reasonable accuracy for a first session. I found junk and 98 cents in clad.

I also had a good time.

BUT, I'm now in the market for a new water scoop. Requirements:

 

[Tin Fin]

alienbogey.

Sounds like you had some fun learning today! I can't make a recommendation for the scoop, as I haven't hunted the surf, but read up on the forum, most of those guys recommend a heavier one for IN the surf, and seem to use a different one for ON the beach. I have a Diamond Head scoop for my uses: I got that because I'm digging in heavy gravel/sand and it needs to be able to take the abuse. It's not light, but I don't mind that. If you check out the Detector Accessory Forum, you may find a good scoop for sale here. But also read the Modifications Forum - there are some good designs there that you might be able to make or have made for you. If nothing else, you will come away with a better idea of what is out there to look for.

Best of luck and HH,

 

[hershey1]

I like the RNG 6 inch scoop with the travel handle. It is not to heavy and does good in the water as well as on wet or dry sand. You can get a stainless lip but for sand the all aluminum does a good job for me. Check them out as many sponsers carry the RNG line. HH

 

[seeker41]

rtg aluminum with a stainless tip. your experiance was normal and it really does not get easier, you just get used to it!!!!
chuck.

 

[tvr]

alienbogey,
That scoop is listed as 5.5 pounds with the handle. That really is not bad at all. The scoops I use, I don't drag unless I'm doing a spiral in the wet sand and need to mark where I've been. It will collect enough sand to make it hard dragging so it gets emptied from time to time. In the really soupy wet sand and in the water, a scoop as big as you can handle is a plus. Sometimes you only get one chance to dig the target before it sinks deeper into a rapidly filling hole or you get knocked off the target.

In the surf, I tend to lean on the scoop, like leaning on a cane, for stability in the waves and concentrate on working the coil. With the added weight on it, the waves don't generally take it away from you. As you discovered, it is easier hunting if you are not right in the hard break of the wave!

A scoop full of packed wet sand does not sift well without water movement. When sifting wet sand, if in the water, it will sift great, if working the wet sand away from the water, dig the target and then dump the scoop out and spread the sand with your foot. Use the detector over the spread out sand to isolate the target. Spread the sand some more and use the point of the scoop to pick up the target. Watch the videos posted here; some of them capture that technique.

It takes some work and I find it an enjoyable exercise when I can get to the water. It is even more enjoyable when there is that glitter of gold that I can put into the pouch.
Cheers,
tvr

 

[ZOFCHAK]

Another vote for the RTG aluminum! For the wet/dry sand the Sunspot scoop is actually quite comfortable if you carry it over your shoulder with the scoop on top. When I had a 8" Classic Suspot that's the way I carried it.

I don't detect open beaches very often, but I think in your case it may just be a matter of picking a calmer day.

 

[MANDAD76]

I use the rtg 6" with the wire bottom - stainless lip - and t-handle....works for me!

 

[arclyt]

RTG 6" travel scoop with the grab handel-- zip tied screened inside bottom with a donut magnet- also comes in handy if you have to fend off any sharks--HH And always rinse in fresh water after use

 

[alienbogey]

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like I mainly need to get more experience and toughen up.

I just weighed the 720i without the handle: 3 pounds, 13 ounces.

The thing is, my opportunities to beach detect come on airline trips, so everything - detector, scoop, handle, etc - must fit into what is essentially carry on luggage. That limits me in both weight and bulk. So, among other things, I don't have the luxury of bringing a water scoop and a dry sand scoop.

I need a very light, compact scoop that is very light and takes big bites and comes with a travel handle.

I like the sound of the RTG aluminum, ss tipped scoop with travel handle, because it sounds like it might be a good all-around setup, but I think I'll give the 720i more of a chance. I have a trip to Hawaii this week and we'll see how it works out.

 

[tvr]

alienbogey,
For air travel, I have a RTG Pro Aluminum 6" Travel Water Scoop (#RTGBBtv6). It fits in a large checked bag along with two detectors, chargers, batteries, screw driver for the scoop handle, pouch and cloths. I can keep the weight under 50 pounds so I don't get over weight charges added. The cloths are the cushioning for the detectors.
Good luck on the Hawaii trip!
Cheers,
tvr

The aluminum scoop does not cut into the sand as well as a stainless steel scoop of similar size, but to keep under 50 total pounds, a pound or a little more on the scoop helps.

 

[Water wizard]

Good effort on your first hunt mate!

It's hard/impossible to hunt in sizeable surf, our the back is doable but can be dangerous.... Waist to chest deep is ok, wetsuit not waiters though! If you find a hole on the beach in waders you could drown easy in cold water.
I bought a full metal jacket scoop from the U S. it's served me well, found me lots of gold and money, splits in half and has never been Any problem.
Don't just lean back to dig with any scoop, you will bend any metal scoop with all the leverage. Wobble it and work in and out it as you scoop, a good one will last you for many years of hunting.
Good luck dude!