Gold rings sometimes slip off wet, cold fingers. Necklaces can come unclasped
when people lose their inhibitions and frolic in the waves. Clothes, discarded
in heaps on the beach, contain coins that can easily spill into the sand. Some
may view combing the beaches for this booty a predatory sport but, hey, someone
needs to liberate it from its tomb of sand; and it might as well be you. You
will want the tool for your hunt to be highly effective and lightweight
because, despite the pleasure detectorists get from their hobby, it can be
gruelling work. Slow sweep speeds and heavy machinery can make it a tedious,
backbreaking process. Fortunately, a Surfmaster P.I. Deep Diver may make
sleuthing a little easier.
P.I. doesn't stand for private investigator (although it has a nice ring to it)
but is actually an acronym for pulse induction; the operating system that
allows the Surfmaster to detect metal in mineralized ground and salt water,
which are conductive and can give a false reading to induction balance (VLF;
very low frequency) metal detectors. VLF does have its advantages, though; a
fast sweep speed, high sensitivity, stability and ease of use; and White's
Electronics set out to include these in the design of its pulse induction metal
detector.
When I took the Surfmaster from its box, my initial impression was of its well
balanced, lightweight configuration. Constructed of aluminum Lexan, graphite
and electronic components, it is only four pounds, eight ounces (virtually
neutral in salt water) with the nine and a half inch weighted loop, making it
one of the lightest metal detectors SKIN DIVER has featured in the past year.
It is also available with a lightweight beach loop or Deep Diver set, each a
few ounces lighter than the weighted loop. When I began to investigate further
into the Surfmaster's features and benefits, I found much more to impress me.
More than 10 years' research and development resulted in the Surfmaster P.I.
Its fast target response allows an optimum sweep speed of three to five feet
per second and its fully automatic tuning (SAT; self-adjusting threshold) gives
it a high degree of stability and sensitivity. And, with rare coins, medals and
gold and silver jewelery being the lure of most detectorists, it was designed
to be more sensitive to gold and copper-nickel alloys than to other metals. The
user can also tune out some types of non-ferrous trash, such as aluminum foil,
with the pulse delay control, which also turns the Surfmaster on and off. This
knob is next to the tuner control on the top side of the control box. The tuner
lets the operator adjust the speed of the background rhythm or threshold. The
tuner is also used to test the condition of the battery pack.
The Deep Diver utilizes a unique vibrator rhythm that is easier to hear
underwater. When the loop passes over a metal target, the rhythm speeds up. The
center of the loop is the most sensitive area. If the loop is held still over a
target, the SAT system will tune out its transmission and return the detector
to threshold level. Therefore, the Surfmaster must be kept in constant motion.
The signal is heard through a pair of adjustable, waterproof headphones. The
headphones are connected to the O-ring sealed control box, which is
conveniently placed on the diver rod between the cushioned arm cup and handle.
The control box is the brain and powerhouse of the Surfmaster. It contains
eight AA penlight batteries. Alkaline batteries are recommended and should
provide 25 to 35 hours of continuous operation.
Think of the booty scattered by people that have come in droves to oceans and
lakes throughout the years. Or, imagine the shipwrecks awaiting exploration,
with brass fittings and copper portholes buried under layers of sand. Whatever
the focus of your search, you will need the assistance of a metal detector.
Surfmaster P.I. Deep Diver will take you from dry land, to the water's edge and
into the water to 100 feet. It requires a small investment of $00 and, if
you're diligent, you could make that back in a short time. White's Electronics'
can be reached at 1011 Pleasant Valley Road, Sweet Home, Oregon 97386; (541)
367-6121, fax (541) 367-2968. Call soon and get started fulfilling your dream
of uncovering buried treasure.
USER COMMENTS
Comfort: 'The Surfmaster is lightweight and incredibly well balanced. The
armrest, earphones and handgrip are well padded and comfortable.'
Ease of use: 'The detector was fairly easy to adjust and tune. The manual is
concise and full of good tips for operation.'
Volume: 'The signal comes through the headphones incredibly loud; the volume is
set very high by the manufacturer for use underwater.'