Salt/Fresh Water Detector Advice

[Bernie]

I currently have a Garrett GTI 2500 and ACE 250 which I am happy with for general detecting. I would like to get a detector for beach, salt and fresh water detecting, but not spend a fortune as I only get to the beach 6 or 7 times a year. I am looking at a Tesero Tiger Shark, a Detecterpro Wader and a Garrett Sea Hunter II. I know that a lot of you guys swear by your Excals, but that is way over my budget at this point. I am hoping to find something used. Thanks in advance for all the comments and advice.

 

[therover]

Bernie,

I would try to get a used Wader. If you are only going 6-7 times a year, these detectors are simple, light and can hunt. Waterproof in the sense that if it rains or if you are wading and accidently get splashed by a big wave, you are safe.

I have one with the 8 inch coil. It can hunt very well in the salt water, can sniff out targets in nail ridden sites, and it's really hot on silver. I have not found any gold with it yet, but continually find silver coins, rings and chains with it. I am sure the gold will come.

With my shoulder and elbow acting up, it's one of the first I reach for. Plus, as it gets cold out, I can wear gloves and hunt all day without worrying about re-ground balancing or adjusting knobs. I set the sensitivity to 9, discrim at 2 ( for my site ) and volume at a comfortable level. I am then set to hunt all day long.

I also have an Excal 1000, BHID 300, DFX, Troy X5, CZ6a....but when I know I will have to hunt in nasty weather all day and don't want my arm to fall off it's the WADER !

JC

 

[tvr]

Bernie,
My water proof detectors are a CZ20 and Sandshark, both bought used. Either one does what I really need at the beach. I think you are on the right track if you spend some time shopping for a good price on a good shape used detector. Just make sure you don't do an "as is" purchase on a detector you can't fully check out first.
tvr

 

[Lowjiber]

Bernie,

I would try to get a used Wader. If you are only going 6-7 times a year, these detectors are simple, light and can hunt. Waterproof in the sense that if it rains or if you are wading and accidently get splashed by a big wave, you are safe.

I have one with the 8 inch coil. It can hunt very well in the salt water, can sniff out targets in nail ridden sites, and it's really hot on silver. I have not found any gold with it yet, but continually find silver coins, rings and chains with it. I am sure the gold will come.

With my shoulder and elbow acting up, it's one of the first I reach for. Plus, as it gets cold out, I can wear gloves and hunt all day without worrying about re-ground balancing or adjusting knobs. I set the sensitivity to 9, discrim at 2 ( for my site ) and volume at a comfortable level. I am then set to hunt all day long.

I also have an Excal 1000, BHID 300, DFX, Troy X5, CZ6a....but when I know I will have to hunt in nasty weather all day and don't want my arm to fall off it's the WADER !

JC

I have a DP Wader and agree with JC. Here on California beaches, we are "blessed" with highly mineralized wet sand. The DPW is great.

Like JC, I've yet to find gold with it. It's a matter of LUCK, but the operating frequency of the DPW is pretty low as well.

 

[Bernie]

Thanks for all the advice. I have also looked at the Detecterpro Pirate which costs a lot less than the Wader. It looks like it is not completely water proof as the Wader is, but is able to take some moisture short of complete immersion. I don't know very much about PI detectors, but it is not clear to me that it is a PI machine.. Any comments on the Pirate? Thanks.

 

[Grumpy (Texas)]

Bernie,

The DP Pirate is a VLF (2.4 khz) full range Disc unit. Contrary to what some of the people say about 2.4 khz is to low for gold. I find a lot of gold with my Waders and Pirate. I prefer the Wader over the Pirate due to the fact I water hunt all the time and the wader has a sens controll the Pirate does not. this helps alot in bad areas In "mild" ground they perform the same (DEPTH) in bad or trashy ground I prefer the wader as you can turn down the Sens and smooth it out.

Grumpy (TX)

 

[Bernie]

Thnaks for the comments. I bought a NEW Wader on ebay for $215.00. I can't wait to try it out. With winter setting in here in Vermont, I might have to head south to check it out.