What to buy?

[trezurhunter]

Hello all, I just moved to New Smyrna Beach, Florida and want to hunt the beaches. I can't really see myself wading shoulder deep in the water so I'm asking if the Safari will handle knee deep water hunting? I just sold 5 different metal detectors using Kellyco's consignment plan and am ready to buy something. I am leaning really hard at the Safari. What do y'all think? Any suggestions? I'm also looking for a detecting partner in the area. Does anyone live near New Smyrna Beach area?

 

[KinTN]

Excal for the water.
The Safari isn't waterproof and if you get the control box wet, it will probably die. Not worth the risk of a rogue wave, a stumble, or lifting the coil too high one day.

I used to ankle deep hunt the beach with my Safari until the day I dropped it as a small wave washed up on me and I damn near had a heart attack. That was the last time the Safari hunted anything wetter than the swash zone. I cant/wont afford to toss away a grand.

 

[Goldstrike]

Ditto KinTN's remarks. I love my Safari and will use it in dry to wet sand but never ever near the water, especially salt water which will instantly short out the batteries and the board. I accidentally dropped my iphone one time into my salt water swimming pool and even though I retrieved it in about 5-7 seconds and did all the rice, hair dryer tricks, it was fried!! Investing $1000 or so in a Safari is not worth risking dropping it in water or getting it splashed. I have an ATPro to detect when I want to go into the water. The Pro was designed as an All Terrain machine including salt or fresh water but not the Safari. If you have the $$$$ and plan to get into water, the Excal is the ticket as was mentioned

 

[Sanderling]

No way I would take my Safari in knee deep Atlantic waters. I will go ankle deep if it is calm which is rare, but I am really, really careful around the water for the reasons stated above. I use the arm cuff and a sling too, but if you are not paying attention you can still get hit by a wave. If you want to get out knee deep go the extra $500 and get the Excalibur. I see a lot of guys in Daytona with these, but they still complain about getting beat up in the surf. I don't get to NSB much, but if you want to detect sometime in Daytona let me know. I try to get out there 2 or 3 times a week.

 

[trezurhunter]

Thanks all for the advice to keep the Safari out of the water.