I really like my 17. I mostly have water/beach hunted with mine. On the beach wet sand I was digging coin sized targets at 16" easy. This was Florida sand so no iron mineralization. I think I went down over two feet on a pocket of lead fishing weights resting in a pot hole on some rocks. I thought I had hit some Spanish silver for sure:cry:
In more mineralized (black sand) lake hunting I get coins at 8-12" but that is deeper than the stock coil on average which is 6-8" for the most part in this extremely mineralized ground (single digits on suggested sens). You are mostly running the machine below 10 on sens or it howls. Any way depth is difficult to estimate underwater but coins to 3-4 scoops deep are not uncommon with the 17 and the stealth scoop.
Noticeable drag with the 17" in the water. you have to push and pull it around and it will wear on you if you hunt all day. Out of the water and in I use a harness.
In more mineralized (black sand) lake hunting I get coins at 8-12" but that is deeper than the stock coil on average which is 6-8" for the most part in this extremely mineralized ground (single digits on suggested sens). You are mostly running the machine below 10 on sens or it howls. Any way depth is difficult to estimate underwater but coins to 3-4 scoops deep are not uncommon with the 17 and the stealth scoop.
Noticeable drag with the 17" in the water. you have to push and pull it around and it will wear on you if you hunt all day. Out of the water and in I use a harness.