Dennis Boothby, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 2 of 8

Sterling Silver and Turquoise Ring Lost in the Old Orchard Beach sand, Found With a Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

Recovery and Return #76, for The Ring Finders of Maine

As my wife and I were on a 13 mile bike ride, I saw I had a Facebook PM, from an hour earlier, from Jessie. It said
“Hi!! My bf lost a ring in the residential area of Old Orchard Beach, Maine (near puffin st). Could you help us located it please? It’s circled in Red”.
I asked her a few questions about the location of where the ring was lost and she replied,
“The ring was lost very close to the house (Puffin St) on the beach. Right near the walkway to the road”.
Jessie then told me she was at work and her boyfriend, Matt would be calling me with more information. Matt call a few minutes later and told me that the ring would be in front of his Uncles house, on Puffin St, just 10 to 20 yards, out on the beach, going towards the water. The previous day, Sunday, September 15th, Matt and his cousins were throwing a football around, on the beach and Matt felt the ring come off, after throwing the football . Everyone in the group searched, for the ring, but it was already under the sand and out of sight.
Matt then sent me a photo of the ring and a photo, with a circled area, in which Matt was confident the ring would be in. Matt wasn’t sure just how far the ring flew off his finger, but was sure, it would be in the circle. Matt asked me if I could get down there in the next two or three days and search for his ring, he would appreciate it. I told Matt that I wasn’t waiting and would be searching, within a 1/2 hour, after finishing talking with him. A ring lost on the beach, should be searched for asap and as it was now, a full day has passed. If the beach cleaning machine had cleaned the beach already, the ring was probably lost forever. Another possibility is that another metal detectorist may have found it already. I just needed to get there asap and search.
When I arrived at the location, I saw that the beach had not been cleaned, by the beach rake. That was a huge relief. I decided to start at mid beach and grid the area, south to north , working my way towards the house. This was decided as I was communicating with Matt. I was on the beach and sending Matt photos, of the area, to try and verify the area, as best as we could. Once Matt told me

“That’s the house and spot, though it won’t be far from that location. Perfect!!! It would be closer to the houses, than the water, but that should do the trick”.

Now with the location verified, I started the grid search. I was finding very few targets as I was going along. A few pull tabs, a piece of foil and 1 quarter. The beach was very clean. After 35-40 minutes of searching and as I worked my was towards the houses, I finally received a really good target, right in the area, Matt had been throwing the football around. A very loud high tone and a 12-45/46 on my Minelab CDX-3030 VDI screen. Absolutely in the Sterling Silver range or possibly another quarter. I pulled my pinpointer out and stuck it into the sand. As I was moving it back and forth, Matt’s Sterling Silver ring with a blue and a white turquoise stone popped up and became visible to me. I didn’t even need to dig it, as it was barely under the surface. Wow, I knew Matt would be extremely happy and I sent him a text saying, “How does it feel”? Matt replied “Pardon”? I then sent Matt a photo of his ring, still in the sand, exactly as I found it, with the pinpointer. Matt then replied

“OMG! You’re incredible!!!!!. My deepest and endless thanks my friend. WOW! You’re a legend, for real”.
I sent back two laughing emojis 🤣😂

We then made plans to meet at my house, the next night, as Matt was going to be in Saco, Maine anyways. When Matt did arrive he was so polite and thankful and to,d me the ring was very special because it was a gift, from his girlfriend, Jessie. I am just so happy to have been able to help him, in his time of need. Being retired gives me the flexibility to leave anytime and search. I was afraid of the beach rake getting the ring but it all worked out and Matt now has the ring back on his finger and a smile, ear to ear.
S

Tags:
Category:

Heirloom Japanese White Gold Wedding Ring Lost, In The Ogunquit Beach, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

As my wife and I were walking through Laurel Hill Cemetery Association today, 9/15/24, on a 5 mile walk, my phone rang. The caller identified himself as George and someone in his group, had just lost a White Gold Wedding Ring, with three small diamonds in it. George asked if I could come and search for it. I asked him where he was located and when the ring was lost. George stated the ring had been lost an hour ago and they were on Ogunquit Beach, in front of the Norseman Resort. I told George that I could absolutely help him out, I just needed to walk back home, first. I would leave to search for the ring, without even changing out of my sweaty workout clothing. After all, time is of the essence when an item is lost in a public place. The sooner I can get there, the better chance of a recovery.

So, Cheryl and I went straight home, put my beach flops on and headed to Ogunquit, Maine. Since I had been on a search and recovery yesterday, in Eliot, Maine, all my equipment was still in my car. I wasn’t sure about the traffic on route one, since we are now in mid September. The summer traffic is horrendous when trying to drive route one in Wells and Ogunquit. The traffic turned out to be better than I thought and only added about 15 minutes to the drive, from our home, in Saco, Maine. Weekend summer traffic may add anywhere from 30-45 minutes, trying to get through the route one coastal traffic.
Once we arrived, I called George and let him know that we were there. George told me his son would be there in one minute and bring me back, to where the ring was lost. Once George’s son brought us to the area, there were a group of people and a young woman stepped right up and said that it was her ring, that was lost and her name is Sophia. Sophia told me that the ring is a heirloom wedding ring and is part of a set, that goes with a matching engagement ring. She then tells me the wedding and engagement rings were originally her late Grandmother’s and was just heartbroken that she had lost it in the very fine, soft sand. Sophia also told us the she and her mother were visiting Maine, from Japan. Wow, the pressure was on now, to find the ring. I couldn’t let Sophia go home to Japan, without her heirloom ring.
I asked Sophia to walk me through what happened, when the ring was lost. Sophia told me that after arriving at the location, on the beach, she proceeded to take off her footwear and socks. As she was taking her socks off, her grandmothers wedding ring, came off and flew into the sand and out of sight. The entire group had a good idea, of where the ring had landed and proceeded to visually and manually screen the sand. They would run their fingers through the sand and push the sand around, in the hopes of finding the ring. Once they realized this was not going to be fruitless, Sophia did a very smart thing. She took a beach blanket and laid it over the area she thought the ring had landed and that they had searched. The blanket provided protection, from people walking through the area, on this extremely busy beach day. Now, no one would step on the ring, pushing it deeper into the sand or even moving the ring out of the area.
Once Sophia removed the beach blanket, she gave me her grandmother’s engagement ring and I place it on top of the sand, ran my coil over it, so everyone in the group could see and hear how I find rings. It also helps me knowing what a matching ring will sound like and what I am looking for, on my detectors VDI screen. The engagement ring rang up with a very low sounding tone and a solid repeating 12-02 on the screen. I then threw a .925 Silver ring into the sand, so that the group could hear the different sound that the different metals make. They were impressed with how different the gold and silver ring sounded and I always like to show my clients, just how a metal detector works. It’s a win, win.
So, once the demonstration of the rings were concluded, I started the search for Sophia’s heirloom wedding ring. I had brought my CTX-3030 metal detector, with the 17” coil. This large coil covers a lot of beach and helps reduce the time needed to find the target. I started the search with my back to the dunes and I was facing the water. I started swinging my coil, side to side and not even 30 seconds had passed, when I received a beautiful sounding low tone, in my headphones. The VDI screen was reading 12-02, exactly as Sophia’s grandmother’s engagement ring. WOW, Same tone and VDI reading, to a matching ring, within 30 seconds, in the area the ring was lost. I turned to the group and told them “I think this is the ring”. I was that confident. I submerged my pin pointer into the sand and moved it around the area that my coil had detected the target. Once located, with the pin pointer, I grabbed a handful of sand, nothing. Grabbed another handful of sand and I felt a ring, held it up for everyone to see and all kinds of applause and clapping broke out, even from surrounding people, who didn’t even know Sophia or me. Sophia had a few tears running down her face and she was hugging her mother. She so emotionally relieved to have her grandmother’s ring back that I could see her trembling a little. Just a few moments earlier, Sophia wasn’t even sure if she would be going home to Japan, with the ring and now she has it back on her finger. It is so gratifying, to be able, to help such wonderful people like Sophia and her family reclaim such a precious piece of heirloom jewelry. No better feeling, in the world. Smiles on Cloud Nine, once again. 😁

Tags:
Category:

Gold Engagement and Wedding Rings Lost In The Leaves, Found With A Metal Detector, In Eliot, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

On Friday night, September 13, 2024, I received the following text,

“Hi Dennis, found you on the Ring Finders website. Would you be willing to travel to Eliot, ME for a service? About 45 minutes south of Saco”

I replied, “Hello, Yes I have and will travel to Elliot. What is the search for”?

She replied, “My wedding and engagement ring went into an area off the side of my house last night. It’s the edge of the property so it’s where the grass becomes a little woodsy, But I can pinpoint the general area”.

I replied, “Ok, I can certainly come and search for you. Is tomorrow morning a good time? I can be there around 8:00am”

She then replied that would be great and sent me her name, Bonnie, and her address, in Eliot, Maine. I then asked Bonnie a bunch of questions, so I could be prepared, for the search, first thing in the morning.

Bonnie then told me that her rings were White Gold and she had lost them, the night before, at approximately 6:00pm. Bonnie had been doing a little yard work and that included throwing many pine cones and downed branches, over the fence, into woodsy, marshy area. That is when they “went flying “, off her finger and into the above mentioned area. I had also asked if any mowing or mulching, had taken place, since she lost them and told her that I have seen rings, damaged by mowers, in the past. Bonnie replied

“There shouldn’t be any damage, the most difficult part is they landed in an area that is a little woodsy and has a lot of old marshy leaf buildup. Luckily the area is dry now and I can tell you the exact direction to look”.

This morning, I left for Bonnie’s house, at approximately 7:00am, arriving just before 8:00am. Bonnie immediately came out to greet me and proceeded to take me to the search area. The first thing I noticed was a metal fence, around the property. This dog fence may be a problem. It is very difficult to search, up against a metal fence. The detector could potentially go off, whenever it comes within 4-5 inches of the fence. If the rings were against the fence, the fence could “mask” the gold tone and I would never hear the ring, being detected. Thankfully, not knowing the exact terrain, I would need to search, I brought 3 of my detectors, with 3 different size coils. I brought my Minelab Manticore with an 8 inch coil, my Minelab E-Trac, with an 11 inch coil and my Minelab CTX-3030, with a 17 inch coil. Better to have them all and not need them, than need them and not have them.

Bonnie pointed out the area she thought, one of the rings had landed, as she saw them go flying towards the fence and woodsy area. One ring went to the left and the other ring broke, to the right.  I would search for the one, that broke to the left, first. After searching for that one, I would search for the one that broke to the right. I decided to start with the 8” coil and get as close to the fence as possible. Even with my small coil, the fence was just to overwhelming and I didn’t hear anything, but the fence. I performed a grid of approximately 30’, along the fence, turned around and headed back to my starting point, after taking a 1/2 step over, towards the lawn. After a couple more back and forth’s and 1/2 steps, further onto the lawn, no ring was found. I decided to try my 11” coil, in the same area, starting out, on the lawn, working my way, to the fence. This way, I would have covered the area twice, with two different coils. I was now against the fence again and about 1/2 way down the fence, I heard just a slight “fluttering “ low tone, against the fence. I then swung the coil, over the area again and this time, a leaf moved and I could see a small sliver of silver. I moved the leaf, off of the target and saw Bonnie’s wedding ring. Phew, One ring down and one to go. I was now approaching 1 hour of searching and felt the Engagement Ring was in the area. Another sweep of the area, found nothing new. Just the same trash targets, I had found, with the 8” coil.

I then asked Bonnie if she had a rake, so we could rake all the leaves, away from the fence, and towards the lawn, where the metal fence wouldn’t interfere. Bonnie raked the leaves and I went on the other side of the fence and started searching the area, that Bonnie thought the engagement ring would be in. There were many more branches and limbs on that side of the fence and I started removing them and throwing them deeper, into the woods. I then took the rake from Bonnie and started raking the leaves, away from the fence, on the woodsy side. Another hour had passed and still nothing. I came back on the house side of the fence and searched the leaves that Bonnie had raked, away from the fence and still nothing.

I then asked Bonnie to go over the event of the losing the rings again. Bonnie said she saw one go towards the left and one went to the right. As I was talking to her, I decided to go back on the woodsy and marshy side of the fence. The ring certainly wasn’t on the house side of the fence, imho. I was also thinking that “What If”, the first ring I found was actually the ring that had broken, off to the right, and it wasn’t the ring Bonnie thought had broken to the left. That would mean the engagement ring may be much further to the left, than Bonnie thought. I went up into the area and again started throwing branches and larger tree limbs, aside. As I followed the metal fence about 25 feet, to the left of the found wedding ring, I was still unable to find it. I then took a 1/2 step, to my right and headed back to the area, where the first ring was found. I had gone maybe 10 feet when I received a solid 12-02 on my E-Trac. That is an extremely low conductive reading and certainly in the gold range, but it could also be aluminum foil or some other low conductive metal. After receiving the tone, I looked around the coil and couldn’t see anything. I then took the coil, located the target, under some leaves and moved the leaves, with my coil. THERE IT WAS, BONNIE’S ENGAGEMENT RING. I immediately looked over to Bonnie, on the other side of the fence and yelled “SUCCESS “. Bonnie came right over and I asked her if she could see the ring. She couldn’t, because I had covered it back up. I then ran my coil of the leaves and Bonnie could hear the target but couldn’t see it. I then removed the leaves and there it was for Bonnie to see. This ring, never would have been found visually. With more and more leaves dropping, it would only have been buried deeper, under the leaves.

So after 2 1/2 hours of searching Bonnie was just so happy to have her Wedding and Engagement Ring, back on her finger, where they belong. The many thank you’s, smiles and hug, I received from Bonnie just had me beaming 😁. Bonnie told me she was “forever grateful” and always will be, for me coming down asap, to find her rings. I also, will always be “forever grateful”, for being able to help people like Bonnie.

Tags:
Category:

Key Fob Lost In The Ocean Park, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

I received a phone call at 5:00pm and the caller identified himself as Bob. Bob had lost his key fob, on the beach, in Ocean Park, Maine, but wasn’t 100% sure, it was actually lost, on the beach.

Bob explained that he had parked his vehicle, on Temple Ave, across from the store and then walked the streets and sidewalk, to Randall Ave. Bob remembered locking his vehicle, prior to walking, to Randall Ave and THINKS he put the key fob, in his beach chair. After a while, Bob, his wife Karen and their friend Anne had picked up all their belongings, chairs included and moved approximately 75-100 feet north, of their original position, on the beach. As the group were enjoying the last few days of their trip, to Ocean Park, Bob realized he couldn’t find his key fob. The three of them searched the area around the chairs and the area they had originally been sitting at. No key fob was found. Bob then called me to see if I could come down, to search for the key fob.
I arrived at Randall Ave, in Ocean Park, along with my wife Cheryl, at 5:50pm. We were met a few minutes later by Bob, Karen and Anne. I asked Bob to show me and explain to me, once again, what had happened, when he lost his keys. Bob walked me down to the first location, that the group had been sitting in. As I usually do, I demonstrated how my metal detector works, to the group. I took my key fob, placed it, on the beach and ran my Minelab Manticore’s coil, over the fob. This is to show the client that detector will pick up the signal and the sound I will hear, through my headphones.
I then told the group that I would perform a grid search, of the first area they had sat. If I didn’t find the key fob, in this area, I would then search the path they took, to the second area and then the second area, they had been sitting, would be searched.
As I gridded the first area, I was finding the usual beach trash. Pull tabs, bread ties, staples and foil, were the most found items, in the 1st section, but no key fob was found.
I then started searching the pathway, to the second sitting area and no key fob was found there either. I was grid searching the second sitting area and wasn’t finding much at all. As I was about to turn around and start my last grid line, in the area, I received a promising signal and found the target with my pinpointer. As I put my hand into the sand, I felt around and pulled out Bob’s key fob. I turned around, held the fob, up in the air and told the group, “I found it”.
Bob, Karen and Anne jumped off the bench, they were watching me from and made a beeline, to me. They were all so excited, happy and beaming ear to ear. The three of them told Cheryl and I that Karen and Anne were leaving the next day, going home to the Binghampton, NY area. Bob was going to be staying, in Ocean Park, for an extra two days or so, before heading home. If I hadn’t found the key fob, Karen and Anne were going to get the spare key fob, in Binghamton and somehow get it to Bob, in Ocean Park. In the interim, Bob would be without a vehicle and that was going to be a huge inconvenience. No they do not have to worry about this.
Thankfully, I was able to recover the key fob, in approximately 30 minutes and all three of the group, let out a big collective sigh. You could just see and feel the relief, on all three of them. All three of them were also in awe of me finding the fob and Bob said he couldn’t believe it. I am just so fortunate, to be able to help people like Bob, Karen and Anne. Seeing all those smiles will always be a very special feeling for me.

Tags:
Category:

Palladium Wedding Ring, Lost In The Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

On Wednesday August 28th, I received a phone call from Melissa, at approximately 6:45pm. Her husband had lost his wedding ring, on GooseRocks Beach in Kennebunkport, Maine. I asked Mellisa if her husband had lost the wedding ring, in the water of in the dry sand. She told me he had lost it in the dry sand and the entire family has been searching for it, but couldn’t find it. She asked me if I would be able to come and search for it tonight. I told Melissa I would load my equipment and head right there. I also asked her to text me the address where we could meet. As I was loading two of my metal detectors, the Minelab CTX-3030, Minelab Manticore , pinpointer and sand scoop, Melissa texted me the address.

Cheryl and I immediately left our home, in Saco, Maine and started the approximately 20 minute drive to Goose Rocks Beach, Maine. We arrived promptly at 7:15pm and with a 7:24pm sunset, I needed to find the ring quickly, so I wouldn’t have to search in the dark. To make matters worse, I forgot my headlamp, that would make the night search much easier.
We were promptly met by Melissa, her husband Matt and their three young children, Abigail, Lucy and William. As Abigail and Lucy led the way to the area, where they had been spending a beautiful summer day, on the beach, I asked Matt, if he could tell me, what had happened, when he lost the ring. Matt told me that earlier, in the day, he had taken the ring off and put it on his beach chair, so he could go swimming. He then completely forgot about the ring and at the end of the day, the family packed everything up and went back to his father’s house, across the street. It was then that Matt realized he didn’t have his wedding ring on. The family went back and searched for the ring but were unable to find it. That is when Melissa called me.
We arrived at the area, where they all had spent the day. I could see the disturbed sand, where they had been searching. They had made an approximate 10-15 foot circle around the area the ring most likely would be in. If I didn’t find it inside the circle, I would have to search the route they had walked, back to Matt’s parents home. With the sun setting fast, I was hoping for a quick recovery.
I decided to start on the left side of the circle and perform a grid search, from the beach, down towards the water, turn around and go from the water side of the grid, back up the beach, towards the road. First pass I had no targets. Second pass, still no targets. Third pass a received a low tone, but I knew it would most likely be a piece of aluminum and it was. I handed the aluminum to Abigail and continued on. Just a few steps later, I received a nice low tone and a reading of 12-17 on my CTX-3030. Definitely a non-ferrous target but it could be gold or a pull tab. As I looked down at the sand, I could see just a small piece of, of a pull tab. I also gave that to Abigail and continued on. As I arrived at the end of the circle m I received another really nice, repeatable low tone and with a VDI reading of 12-24, I just knew this had to be Matt’s ring. Cheryl passed me my pinpointer and I located the target, in the sand, at a depth of about 3 inches. I put my hand into the sand and pulled out Matt’s wedding ring. I showed it to Abigail and the turned to Matt and Lucy and showed them the ring. It was now 7:25pm. Thankfully, I had found the ring within 10 minutes of arriving at Goose Rocks Beach and there was still a little daylight left.
Smiles were ear to ear and everyone was just ecstatic, that Matt had his wedding ring back. I’m just thankful that I am able to just up and leave, when the call comes in. It’s such a privilege to be able to help people like Melissa and Matt, in their time of need.

Tags:
Category:

Engagement Ring Lost, When Thrown Out A Car Window, Found In Saco, Maine, Visually, While Searching With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

On Sunday morning, August 25th, 2024, I noticed I had a missed call and a voicemail, from just a few minutes earlier. The transcription is as follows

“Hello, my name is Wendy. I lost my engagement ring, literally in the most smallest area of yard and. My grandson has thrown it, and I can’t find it And I’m a wreck because of it and it was somebody gave me your information so I really hope that there’s some way you can help me My number is 207- ???-????  thank you…”

I immediately called Wendy back and she told me she had recently become engaged and while, in the car, her 4 1/2 year old grandson had asked, to see her new ring. As he was looking at the ring, he threw it out the window, of the moving vehicle. Wendy told me the area that the ring had been thrown out of the window, was a very small lawn area and some shrubbery. She also told me it was just 2-3 houses down, from her home. Wendy told me her address and I  knew the area well, as it is literally less than 1 1/2 miles, from my home, in Saco, Maine. I told Wendy I could be there in 5 minutes. After I hung up, I couldn’t help but think of the anguish, that I could hear, coming from Wendy’s voice. She was really upset and I needed to help her find her recently received Engagement Ring.

I arrived at Wendy’s home a few minutes later and was met by Wendy and Wendy’s mother. Wendy and her mother, walked me down the street, to the area, they thought the ring had been thrown into. It was a very small grass lawn area and some shrubbery, as Wendy had described. Wendy and her mother proceeded to tell me that they had searched the area, last night, with flashlights and again this morning, in daylight. No ring was to be found and they thought the ring would be found, in the shrubbery.

Wendy then told me that she had to leave and her mother would stay with me and continue to search. After Wendy left, I showed her mother how my detector works and demonstrated the detector, with a Gold test ring. I then told Wendy’s mother that I would search the small grass area first and either find the ring or eliminate that area as a possible hiding spot, for the ring. As I searched the area, Wendy’s mother kept visually searching, under the bushes, with my pinpointer, that I had shown her how to use. When I didn’t find the Engagement Ring, on the lawn, I focused my attention to the bushes. As I was searching the bushes, Wendy’s fiancée, Justin,  drove up and asked if we had any luck, in locating the ring. Unfortunately no, I replied. Justin also thought the ring would be somewhere, in the thick shrubbery and started looking in the bushes, pulling leaves out , etc. I then gave Justin the pinpointer, to see if he could reach some areas, that hadn’t been searched yet. After 5 – 10 minutes of searching the bushes, still no ring. I then started asking Justin some questions, such as , “Were you in the vehicle, when the ring was thrown, out the window? He replied “Yes”. Could the ring possibly have been thrown, but hit the inside of the vehicle and was still in the vehicle? Justin replied that Wendy had searched the vehicle and it wasn’t in the car. I then was thinking out loud, as I was asking questions and told them that if the ring had ended up on the sidewalk, any walker by, could have found it last night. I was told that they had searched the sidewalk, last night and this morning. I then said that the ring could have hit the curb and bounced, to another area. Justin and Wendy’s mother agreed and then I heard Justin loudly proclaim, “I see it, I got it”. As I turned around, I saw Justin walking out into the street and then he reached down and picked up Wendy’s Engagement Ring. The Engagement Ring had been in the street, all night and it wasn’t damaged. Amazing. As Justin was walking back towards us, he said that because of my questions, about the ring possibly hitting something and bouncing or ricocheting to another area, he decided to look, into the street. Just unbelievable.

Wendy’s mother had called Wendy, to report the good news and I could see Wendy hurriedly coming down the sidewalk. You could see the stress and strain of the situation immediately subsided and everyone was just so happy and relieved.

I may not have found the ring with my metal detector, but assisted the Team effort by asking questions and possibilities of what could have happened, one the ring, was thrown, by a 4 1/2 year old. It doesn’t matter, how the ring ended up in the street. Allen that matters is that as a group, we found the ring and Wendy will sleep much better tonight.

Tags:
Category:

Two Underwater Helical Anchors, Lost In The Saco River, Found With A Metal Detector, In Camp Ellis, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

Back in the spring, I received a phone call, from Joanne. She and her husband, John were looking to find two helical anchor’s, that had once held their floating dock, in place. Approximately 8 years ago, they had the floating dock removed from the water, at the Camp Ellis, Saco, Maine property, on the Saco River. The property was near the mouth of the Saco River and was is a tidal river. The helical anchors would only be able to be found, by me and my metal detector, at low tide. Joanne and John wanted to know if I could find the anchors. I told them as long as the anchors were no more than 5 feet deep, I would absolutely give it my best shot. Joanne told me that at low tide, we should be no more than 3-4 feet deep, in the river water.

We’re the anchors now to deep, in the river mud and silt, after 8 years of just sitting, on the river bed? We wouldn’t know, until we tried. Joanne also told me that the search, would have to happen, sometime in the summer, as she and John would be returning to Florida. We agreed that they would call me when they returned to Maine and we would set up a date, to search, that would also be a negative low tide.

Fast forward to August, when John called me and we set up a date, to search for the helical anchors. The date we set was August 23rd, 2024, at 7:30am. This was approximately an hour before a negative -0.09 low tide. This would be perfect for what we need to do in the Saco River.

I arrived promptly at 7:30am and was met by Joanne and John. They showed me the area, we would be searching and if found, we would tie a couple of bouys, to the anchors, to mark their location. I then was told that there were large metal chains, that were attached to the anchors and if I could find the chains, under all the mud and silt, we could just pull the chains up and out of the muck and they would lead us, directly to the anchors. John even brought a long handle Cultivator Rake along, to rake the muck and silt, hoping to snag the metal chain, once found with my metal detector.

As John and I entered the river, we were pleasantly surprised to find the water to be very warm. I started searching the bottom of the river and within a few minutes, I received a very loud signal, in my headphones. The target wasn’t anywhere near where the helical anchors should be and John came over with the rake. He started raking, into the muck and soon snagged a large chain. This chain should lead us to the anchor. John and I started lifting the chain, out of the river bottom and followed it out, until it stopped. John reached down and found the chain was hooked to one of the anchor’s. WOW, that was easy, I thought to myself. The anchor lined up almost perfectly with the piling, on the right side of the pier, as we faced it, while standing in the river. John thought the other anchor should be to the left of this anchor and lined up with the other piling. So, I moved over to the other piling and searched back and forth, without any targets being found. After about 10 minutes of searching, I couldn’t find the anchor or the other chain. As Joanne, now in the river with us, started tying the buoy to the anchor we had just found, she came upon a chain that we thought was the same chain, I had found a few minutes earlier. We all thought that I should start searching to the right, of the found anchor, and not the left side, where I was searching . Within a few minutes of searching I received a strong signal and as John reached down, into the water and muck, he let us know that he could feel the helical and a chain. Awesome, we found both of the helical anchors. After Joanne finished tying the second buoy to the second anchor, we measured the distance of the anchors, from the pilings, just in case the buoys don’t hold up, through the  winter.

We then exited the river, with all the tools and detector, to rinse the muck off of ourselves. As we were standing around talking about what we just accomplished, I asked John what the cost would have been, to have two new helical anchors, in place, if we hadn’t found the two anchors, already there. John told me he wasn’t sure of the exact cost but they would be at least $1,000.00 each or $2,000.00 minimum for the pair. Thankfully John and Joanne won’t need to do that, now that the anchors have been found.

So, it’s not always jewelry, that I find. I have found water shutoff valves and property markers in the past and now I can add helical anchors, to the list. I’m just so thankful that I am able to help people like Joanne and John and save them some of their hard earned money.

Tags:
Category:

Family Heirloom Gold Ring Lost In The Surf at Fortunes Rocks, Biddeford, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

I received a call from Michelle, at approximately 11:10am, on Thursday August 22, 2024. Within the last half hour, her Grandson, Alex, had lost a passed down Gold Ring, from his deceased Grandfather. Michelle told me that Alex had been in the water at Fortunes Rocks, in Biddeford, Maine and was in the section of beach known as Middle Beach. Michelle asked if I could come right then and search for the ring. I told Michelle that by the time I loaded my equipment up and drove there, the incoming tide would most likely would make the search very difficult, if not impossible. I suggested that I come search for the ring, in the afternoon, when the tide would be receding and I would have plenty of time, searching the exposed sand. Michelle thought the incoming tide wouldn’t be that bad and I could hear the anxiousness in her voice. This ring really meant something to her and her family. I told Michelle that I would get changed,  load up and get there as quickly as I could. Once I got in the car, I texted Michelle and told her I was on my way. My text read

“Hi Michelle, Dennis Boothby, the RingFinders I am on my way. GPS estimated time of arrival is 11:35. Thank you”.

The time was now 11:23am and Fortunes Rocks is approximately 8 miles, from my home in Saco. My concern was the summer traffic, on Route 1 , from Saco, going into Biddeford. The traffic could be backed up by not only the summer traffic, but also the Amtrak Train, which crossed Route 1 and if stopped for passenger drop off and  pick up , could add another 15-20 minutes to my drive, into Biddeford. Time I didn’t have with the tide still coming in.

Thankfully, the traffic wasn’t bad and I arrived at Fortunes Rocks Beach at 11:40am and Michelle was there to greet me and show me the way, to where her family was sitting on the beach. I then met Alex and he showed me the area, of the now deeper water, of where he was when he lost his ring, when he was hit by a large wave. I immediately fired up my Minelab Excalibur ll metal detector and entered the water, with Alex. Alex had gone directly into the water, from where he was sitting on the beach and he said he went no more than 20-25 feet, to the left of where they were sitting. Alex also told me he was no deeper than his knees, when he was hit by the wave and lost his ring. Unfortunately, knee deep an hour ago, was about waist deep now and the waves were big and strong. I was trying to grid the area, with Alex in the water with me and guiding me to where he was. The waves were unrelenting and we kept getting knocked around. I would have to stop, jump up a little, let the wave pass, search a few feet, jump, let another wave pass and keep repeating this process, until the waves just became to much. Alex agreed that the area he was in was now just too deep to search, but only because the waves were too big. I have searched waist deep water and deeper but when the waves are too big, I just can’t risk it, especially with the rip currents that have been very prevalent, this summer. Once back on the beach, Michelle and the rest of her family wholeheartedly agreed that it was just to dangerous to continue and I made plans to return at 5:00pm, when the tide would be receding and I could search the exposed, wet sand, without having to worry about the water and waves.

Cheryl and I left our home at 4:30pm and arrived back at Fortunes Rocks at 4:45pm. We went back down to the beach and the family was still there. I could see Alex’s mother down by the water, walking back and forth, looking for the ring. I immediately went down and showed her how I would grid the area and I also demonstrated, with a test gold ring, how the metal detector works and what Alex’s ring would sound like, when my coil passed over the ring. I usually do this with all my clients and not only do they enjoy the demonstration, it seems to relax or relieve them a little bit.

My plan was to perform a horizontal grid search, to the beach and water from where the family was sitting, on the beach, to about 60-75 feet to the north. This would put the area of where Alex lost the ring, right in the middle of the search area. If the surf and waves had moved the ring a little bit, I would still have enough area to compensate, for the movement. It is my experience that once a Gold Ring enters the water, it really doesn’t move to much from where it entered the water, although there are exceptions to this,  that I won’t get into at this time. As I started my grid search, I was confident, the ring would be within the area I was about to grid. I hoped so because Cheryl and the entire family were watching me from up on the beach and I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. The pressure was on.

I made my first grid pass from south to north, with no targets. Took a 1/2 step and headed south for my second grid pass, still no targets. On my 3rd grid pass, going north again, I received a target and after digging it , it was just a small piece of aluminum or tin, just trash. Fourth grid pass, going south again, nothing. Fifth grid pass heading north once again and BANG, I received a nice solid low tone, that I had been hoping for. The VDI screen, on my Minelab CTX-3030 was showing 12-27. This was a definite gold range reading. I put the scoop into the sand two times and threw removed sand, up onto the surface. I removed my pinpointer as started searching the pile of sand for my target. I finally saw the very small outline of a Gold Ring. I motioned to everyone up on the beach to come on down because I had found the ring. Alex and his brother ran down and I asked them If they could see ring, in the sand, they couldn’t see it and I pointed it out, to them. The rest of the group arrived and I showed them the very small piece of the exposed ring and they were all very amazed, happy, excited and stunned that the ring was found. We all chatted for a few minutes about how great it was to have this passed down family ring, back on Alex’s finger, where it belongs. Family heirloom’s are more than just a piece of jewelry. They are memories, of the family, that never leave the piece of jewelry, no matter who it now belongs to.

I absolutely love it when I am able to return a lost ring, to the owner and see nothing but smiles, all around. Another photo for my “Book of Smiles”. There is no better feeling and I am once again, on cloud nine.

 

Tags:
Category:

White Gold Wedding Ring, Lost In The Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

As I was contemplating mowing our lawn, I received the following text, at 12:02pm, on Saturday August 17th.

“HI! We are on goose rocks beach and lost a wedding ring :(“
I replied
“So sorry. Were you in the water or on the Beach (Dry Sand)?”
The reply came back
“Dry Sand. My husband feels like he knows the general area”
I replied
“Ok, Are you there now? Is the area he lost it, packed with people or will I be able to search now?”
She replied
“You can search now. I think it’s pretty open. I’m going to have him call you.”

I then received a call from Scott and he told me they were on the beach, across from The Tides Beach Club, on Goose Rocks Beach, Maine, in Kennebunkport Maine. Scott was curious as to how quickly I could get there. I told him within 30 minutes, depending on traffic, from my home, in Saco, Maine. I told him I just needed to get my equipment, in the vehicle and I would be on my way. I can usually get to Goose Rocks Beach, in just under 20 minutes, but today there was a Festival going on in Biddeford, Maine and I knew that the traffic would slow me down a bit.
Cheryl and I loaded the equipment and left for Goose Rocks Beach. We arrived approximately 25 minutes later and found a parking spot, just down, from The Tides Beach Club. As we walked onto the beach, a couple of women saw us with the metal detecting equipment and told us that they were with the group, that Scott was with. The women yelled over the group and Scott started walking towards us. While walking to the area, I asked Scott how he came to lose his ring. He told us that they had just finished having lunch, on the beach and they were standing around talking. Scott told us he was just standing there and while talking, he was fidgeting and spinning his wedding ring around his finger. All of a sudden, the ring slipped off his finger and he saw it fall into the sand. He searched the sand, along with others, in the group but they couldn’t find it. Now, I know what you’re thinking, but trust me when I tell you, it is not easy, visually finding a ring, while in the sand. Afraid of pushing the ring, deeper into the sand, the group stopped searching, for the wedding ring. Scott’s wife had known of my service and that’s when she texted me.
Scott showed us the area where they had been searching, for his ring, and I could see the disturbed sand, where the searching had taken place. I turned the Minelab CTX-3030 on and knowing this should be a fairly quick search, I didn’t extend my detector shaft, to full length, nor did I put my headphones on. I slowly swung the detector for about 30 seconds, when I heard the low tone I was hoping to hear and I told the trot that I believed the ring has been found c I pulled my pinpointer out and located the target, in the sand. It took me 3-4 attempts to actually pull Scott’s ring out of the sand, even though my pinpointer had located it. The group broke out in applause, as they saw the ring, in my hand.
Thankfully, I am able to help people out in their time of need. The ring had been pushed down to approximately 4 inches, under the sand and Scott would never have found it, visually searching. Thankfully, the group also stopped searching as they may have kept pushing the ring deeper or even outside the original search area. I was found an Engagement Ring, that was moved 10-12 feet outside the search area, because of all the walking, the searchers had done, in the area.
Scott is extremely pleased tonight and he is once again wearing his wedding ring. Me, I am also very pleased, for helping Scott and I got out of mowing the lawn, at least for today😉

Tags:
Category:

Prescription Ray Ban Glasses Lost In The Old Orchard Beach, Maine Ocean, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

Monday evening, August 12th, I received the following text

“Hey my name is Meaghan ****, I lost my glasses at Old Orchard Beach. Would your metal detector be able to detect glasses?

I immediately replied back

“Hi Meaghan, So sorry to hear this. I am actually in Raymond, Maine at the moment and if I do search for the glasses, it would have to be, first thing in the morning. But a few questions

1) When did you lose them?

2) Where exactly , did you lose them?

3) I have detected glasses, in the past, that have metal on them. Do these have metal on them?

Also, just to be up front, I do not charge for my Time or my Metal Detecting Service. I do however, require a Transportation Fee of just $10.00 to Old Orchard Beach. This is to cover my gas, tolls, wear and tear, etc..”

Meaghan replied back with,

“I lost them today at 3pm in the water right next to the pier on the left side, they do have metal. I have a picture of my sunglasses that are the same exact frame as my regular prescription glasses. I live in New Hampshire and had to go back down for the night but I can come back up to OOB in the morning to meet up with you.

I replied with, “

Ok, in the water means I need to figure out the tides, etc.. if I get a good description of the area, I can go down by myself, tomorrow morning.

I also want to let you know that once glasses are in the water, sand and surf, they are very, very unlikely to be wearable again. I have been metal detecting for almost 25 years and the glasses that have been in the water, sand and surf will  have scratches on the lenses and possibly bent frames. Just so you know. Not trying to discourage you from trying to find them but just want you to be aware of the strong possibility of the glasses not being any good”.

Meaghan replied with, “I kind of figured they would be unwearable, when I first get them back, if they are found. I did get insurance on them so I can get the lenses and frame replaced, Unfortunately the insurance I got does not cover loss.”

I told Meaghan that the insurance changes everything and I would absolutely attempt to find them. Meaghan told me the prescription glasses were in excess of $600.00 to replace but only if she can get her missing glasses back, because they weren’t insured for “loss”. She has replacement insurance for accidental damage but only if she still has the glasses. I just need to find them and save Meaghan, over $600.00.

I sent Meaghan a photo of the Old Orchard Beach Pier area, in which I made square areas and numbered them. I then asked Meaghan if one of the numbered sections, were the area she had lost her glasses. She replied

“I was knee high in the water when a nice wave took me out and then another took me under, so I wasn’t too far in. I was not even 100 ft from the pier on the left side of it. And I would not expect anyone to go in the water if it’s not safe conditions. It was section 8.”

I told Meaghan that the heavy wave action and rip currents, may keep me from going out into the water but that would be determined, in the morning, when I arrived, at the beach to search. I told her my plan was to arrive, at the Pier area about 9:30am, for an 11:38am low tide. I would search the slope , down to the water and if the glasses were not found, on the slope, I would enter the water and continue to search.

I did arrive, just prior to 9:30am and the beach was fairly empty. I immediately got to the top of the slope and searched horizontally, to the water. I was searching the slope, from the OOB Pier, to Surf 6, back and forth, back and forth, finding nothing but a few coins. I had been keeping Meaghan updated with the search and had sent some photos. She agreed that I was in the correct area and that the glasses shouldn’t be too far out, in the water. I entered the water and continued the back and forth, horizontal search. I went up to Surf 6, turned around, came back to the pier, turned around and headed back towards Surf 6. Maybe 50-75 feet from the pier, I received a broken up signal, in my headphones. Loud, but not a sold tone and definitely broken up and scratchy. I have heard this signal before and thought this just may be Meaghan’s glasses. I was now, knee deep in the water and though the waves were much calmer than they have been recently, I still had to watch the rolling waves, so I wasn’t surprised and get knocked around. I plunged my scoop, into the water and sand, pulled it up and nothing. I rechecked the hole, I had just dug and the target was still there. I took another scoop of sand and I saw the glasses fall out of the scoop, as I pulled the scoop, out of the water. I reached down as quickly as I could and grabbed the glasses, on the sandy, ocean floor. I then walked out of the water and took a few photos and sent them to Meaghan. She replied

“Omg thank you so much! I have to get gas and I will be on my way to grab them!”

Meaghan, who lives in the Manchester, NH area, told me she would be arriving approximately 12:45pm. I told her that I would be available to meet her, just let me know when she was close. When Meaghan arrived at the Hannaford’s, in Saco, I returned her glasses and she was so excited and happy, to have them back. She said she was heading right to the Optometrist and getting a new pair of glasses. I am so happy to have helped Meaghan save in excess of $600.00. I absolutely love helping people with my Emergency Metal Detecting Services and now, I have a new addition, to my “Book of Smiles”.

As with all clients, I will honor their wishes of not have their photos, published on social media. Meaghan has asked me not to use her photo and I will honor her wish.

Tags:
Category: