sounds like a good price for that back pack dredge, it would be handy for prospecting in remote areas

Thanks for the input!

I'm primarily recreational, nothing really production for me, but I understand the amount of material is significantly reduced. That was my biggest fear. 

I'm mostly interested in something inexpensive to see if I'll put a dredge to use at all, and sinking 2500-4000 isn't something I want to do without making sure I'll take advantage of it. Unfortunately, I also tend to be alone and don't have any help most of the time, so I need something I can cart around and move entirely with one person, if needed.  I'm so torn because the price seems right. I figured I can always get a 2" and see if I like it and re-sell it and probably reclaim most of my money spent. At least it's not a 1.5" dredge.

Ed

   That's cool, living where you can use a dredge. I saw a Gold fever video with Tom Massie and he had to make two trips down to the river. The gas motor looks like it was heavy, a bigger dredge sounds like it's even heavier. You need three guys to carry the dredge, the motor, and the Beer.

Well, I went and did it. I went to see the dredge in person and couldn't control my impulse to buy. Turns out the owner had modified it with Gold Hog mats (BONUS), and even threw in a bench stand and 3-wheel cart to be able to hike it to the creeks. It is a power jet model, but I'll see what it can do before thinking of upgrading to a suction nozzle setup. 

I've gotten very mixed information for various people on the capabilities of a 2" dredge, so I'm eager to see for myself. I've heard I'll only be able to process about a bucket of material per hour from some, and others have said just over a yard of material. Once I go out with it, I'll try and post some pics and results of my testing. First order of business is finding a replacement riser that holds the sluice to the pontoons. 2nd order of business is contacting Todd Martin to get a 2" classifier for the nozzle to help keep the rocks from clogging the hose.

Ed

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the person that told me a bucket did mean a 5-gallon bucket, but I would think more of a backhoe size bucket should be doable. If I can do about a yard (3'x3'x3') in an hour or close to it, I think I'll be better off than shoveling. Heck, if I can do more than 10 5-gallon buckets worth of material in a whole day, I'll be better off than my current track record .. I tend to be more social than die-hard .. lol   

Ed

My 2 1/2 has a 2 inch opening on the nozzle and on a 1 1/2 hour run I got through about a half yard or a little nmore of fairly loose stuff just long arming it. That was a first time out for running a dredge, and I wasn't going after it hard, and had a few issues to work on and bugs to try and solve in the field....had to wait till I got home for that.



I would figure generally about a half to 2/3 yard per hour, and probably on the lower end of that, depending on conditions.

Good luck and hunting with your new toy.  Let us know how she does for you.  Good size to get your feet wet and see if bigger is for you.

  Is the issue just that the smaller 2 1/2" hoses get jammed with rocks or is it that the bigger models are just really too big & heavy?

The difference is mainly that the bigger units, say a 4 inch, will move way more material than say a 2 or 2 1/2 incher (on the range of 3 times).  But along with that you require generally bigger engines, hoses, pumps, etc.  All adds weight and bulk to get it into where you want to go. 

As far as rock plugs, there are commercially made cones and tips to keep the bigger stuff out of the nozzle, or you can fab up your own.  That really helps with the plug-ups.