Anyone ever use any GPX on a salt water beach?

testing123

Bronze Member
Mar 29, 2009
2,359
1,986
United States
Detector(s) used
CTX 3030, TDI SL
I have used the GPX 5000 on a saltwater beach. After you dig a few 30+ inch holes for Matchbox cars or bottle caps, you'll go back to to your 3030 as fast as I went back to my Tesoro Sand Shark! :thumbsup:
 

Me, I would try it and if you have access to one..

I have a few spots deep in the water I know it would kill because the trash to good target ratio is just about Zero.. But they are not water proof and I'm not sure if I could retrieve all the targets due to the digging depth.
 

The tough part is I'd have to buy one. And at the depth most of the stuff is coming out now, there are virtually no bottle caps. I just know there are barbers and seated silvers at this place. Even pulled out a large cent with the CTX, so there's potential for other stuff. Just don't know if it's overkill. Not sure of any other way than taking heavy machinery, but that's a sure way to get arrested.

Would a 4000, 4500 or 4800 get less depth than a 5000? I'm just starting the search process, so not too familiar with these machines yet. Are they stable in salt water?
 

...Would a 4000, 4500 or 4800 get less depth than a 5000? I'm just starting the search process, so not too familiar with these machines yet. Are they stable in salt water?

You'll be fine with a GPX 4000. On Wet sand very stable when set up correctly. They cost too much to put in the water!
 

There comes a time when all the deep holes to find more trash digs into the fun part of the hobby. It's not that important to take a chance on ruining an $$$$$ detector.:BangHead:
 

There comes a time when all the deep holes to find more trash digs into the fun part of the hobby. It's not that important to take a chance on ruining an $$$$$ detector.:BangHead:

That's what I'm worried about... finding scraps of aluminum after digging down 18 inches. I remember a youtube video where the guy, probably in England was using a similar machine in the field. He got a signal that took probably 5 minutes or more, and it was a huge hole. He seemed disappointed to dig over a foot for his find, which was some kind of Roman scrappy.
 

I have extensive time on the GPX series, and for the conditions you are describing any of the GPX series will work just fine, whether it be the 4000, 4500, 4800, or 5000. The differences in the newer models are refinements that help prospectors.

If you want to try one - now is the time to grab one of the 4800s that are on closeout! There never will be a better time to buy a GPX, as they are a fraction of the price they were just a few months back. But you should hurry, as they are selling out fast everywhere!
 

I have extensive time on the GPX series, and for the conditions you are describing any of the GPX series will work just fine, whether it be the 4000, 4500, 4800, or 5000. The differences in the newer models are refinements that help prospectors.

If you want to try one - now is the time to grab one of the 4800s that are on closeout! There never will be a better time to buy a GPX, as they are a fraction of the price they were just a few months back. But you should hurry, as they are selling out fast everywhere!


Are the coils submergible?
 

Unfortunately not, except for the Coiltek 12x8 "Platypus". The rest - either Minelab Commander or Coiltek - are water resistant, but can't be submerged.
 

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I used a 4800 once but found using a Dual Field is just as effective because you can hit targets at 15-24" with it and digging any deeper has been all but impossible in my experience not to mention worrying about getting the GPX wet. I did try it up in dry sand just to see how deep I could hit targets. After several 24" + deep pieces of clad I got tired of digging gigantic holes to get down that far.
Obn, no the coils are not submersible.
 

As FBD said only the Coiktek is....
 

I have used my GP Extreme in So CA beaches. It does go very deep and worked ok even in wet black sand areas. I think I looked like a black ops guy looking for land mines though. I have a CTX and see no need to go deeper than it does. >2 feet for nickels...
 

Anyone know what minelab 4800 best configuration for beach and wet sand is...

Vol Limit: ?
- GB Type: ?
- Special: ?
- Manual tune: ?
- Motion: ?
- Rx Gain: ?
- Audio: ?
- Audio Tone: ?
- Stabilizer: ?
- Signal: ?
- Target Vol: ?
- Response: ?
- Tracking: ?
- Iron Reject: ?
 

Anyone know what minelab 4800 best configuration for beach and wet sand is...

Vol Limit: ?
- GB Type: ?
- Special: ?
- Manual tune: ?
- Motion: ?
- Rx Gain: ?
- Audio: ?
- Audio Tone: ?
- Stabilizer: ?
- Signal: ?
- Target Vol: ?
- Response: ?
- Tracking: ?
- Iron Reject: ?
Since nobody replied to Erte's question about the Minelab 4800 configuration settings for beach and wet sand, i'm bring his question back to life. Anybody have any experience to share for these settings?
 

Keep in mind it is a pulse detector, beaches with a lot of iron will have a lot of useless iron targets.

Here is link on using GPX 5000, setting should be same.

 

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