I'm wondering what solo travellers do with electronic car keys when swimming. I'm fine with leaving my keys with my towel at the pool, but I did not go swimming at Ellery Creek (outside of Alice) which was a shame.  I've not been solo on a coastal trip yet but when I do I will definitely want to go swimming.

I've read mixed reviews online about key safes and not sure if dry bags are good enough for electronic key's. 

I would welcome any suggestions 

Not that I'm going anywhere at the moment, but planning/dreaming helps with the waiting.

Spin wrote:

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Have a key cut but not programmed. Then you can lock your proper key in the car and take the fake one swimming. When done unlock the car the old school way.

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 We have done the same. Our is a keyless push button start, I hate it, but fortunately Toyota have a method to deactivate the electronic key fob from the push button starter, then use a steeel key to unlock the doors. Breakage of windows and someone finding the key fob and knowing out to reactivate is a risk though. 

A friend with a recent Landrover Discovery has more trouble, as she cannot deactivate the electronic fob.  Fob goes in a foil envelop then into a lockbox somewhere attached to the car.  

Unfortunately, at locations, some thieves use battery powered cutting wheels.  Surfers' vehicles have been targeted where I go in the water.

Buy a magnetised key safe and put under the car somewhere ,and don't forget where you put it

I had one for the motor home bit i never had to use it

watsea wrote:

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A friend with a recent Landrover Discovery has more trouble, as she cannot deactivate the electronic fob.  

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 The Land Rover key fob has a gasket, you see it if you open it to replace the battery, so in theory it is waterproof.

Why not just use a safety-pin, and pin them to the inside of your bathers ?

Whenarewethere wrote:

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watsea wrote:

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A friend with a recent Landrover Discovery has more trouble, as she cannot deactivate the electronic fob.  

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 The Land Rover key fob has a gasket, you see it if you open it to replace the battery, so in theory it is waterproof.

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Didn't realise that.  Usually divers don't trust that sort of thing as water pressure at depth tends to push past ordinary seals/gaskets. She doesn't.

 I have purchased something like this, see below, for keeping keys of rentacars if I happen to be using one while on a diving holiday.

https://www.scubadoctor.com.au/diveshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=442_220_224&products_id=1928&zenid=7f243cc7b95245cdd58bf6caf1dc1249

Teo wrote:

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Check out surf shops or maybe fishing tackle shops. Ive seen some god looking combination locks that hold a key.

Good old days. Hide your keys on top of the cars tyre. Whole car park would have keys hidden in the same place!

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 Been doing this for 50 years.

Best idea ever. The little safe is combination protected and has a clamp to go onto tow-bar or the like.

I saw that story on ACA last night and someone mentioned putting a coded lock on a fence as the car would not be known. I got thinking about that, not a safe thing for me to do but anyway did. I thought surf clubs or councils could rig up a safe and secure fixture that you could put your coded lock onto. You could have a form of ID on the lock so you know yours (i.e. your car rego ). Could be safer than on your car. Just a thought.

Keep Safe out there.

I'm going to look at the guaranteed water proof phone 'dry bags' as I have to swim with a life jacket these days anyway (I can attach bag to life jacket). It's  only for if I'm travelling and I fancy a dip say for instance Ellery Creek Big Hole Campground Alice. I also want to go ISUPing Rapid Bay S.A.

I thought I would try it at home with non essential items first

I'm sure it will be waterproof.

The problem is that in use it may get bumped with a stick or something and get a tiny pinhole. I have one that used to be waterproof but now had just such a pinhole. No idea how it happend. Also, the surf is a rough environment and it's possible that in the rush of a wave passing it gets ripped away from you, or the closing mechanism accidentally opened.

But I'm sure there will be bags available that are designed to survive rough treatment. Perhaps look around on adventure sites and pay a bit more.

Let us know if you find a robust solution.

From my earlier post. These don't leak if they are properly tightened. Tightening is easy. I use one.

www.scubadoctor.com.au/diveshop/index.php

-- Edited by watsea on Friday 1st of October 2021 09:37:58 PM

HunnyBunny wrote:

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I use dry bags when I'm kayaking for my keys. phone, e.t.c. I have never had any problems! :)

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 I also use sea bags when kayaking but wouldn't they be the obvious thing to steal from the beach? All the valuables would be pre-packaged in a quick and easily identifiable bag. 

As  a retired locksmith, here's the simple solution I've done for customers over many years.

Take your vehicle key to a Locksmith that does vehicle keys. Get them to duplicate the emergency key in the fob or the one that flicks out of the fob onto a std "metal blank"(brass or nickel silver). 

You can then use this "swimmer key" to lock your expensive key somewhere safe inside your vehicle. put it on a cord arounf you neck or in your pocket.

I don't recommend magnetic key boxs as the can get knocked off easily with your $300-600 fob key inside.

Hope this helps 

67HR wrote:

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As  a retired locksmith, here's the simple solution I've done for customers over many years.

Take your vehicle key to a Locksmith that does vehicle keys. Get them to duplicate the emergency key in the fob or the one that flicks out of the fob onto a std "metal blank"(brass or nickel silver). 

You can then use this "swimmer key" to lock your expensive key somewhere safe inside your vehicle. put it on a cord arounf you neck or in your pocket.

I don't recommend magnetic key boxs as the can get knocked off easily with your $300-600 fob key inside.

 

Hope this helps 

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 Simple , inexpensive , Common Sense  solution.......    KB

SoloMC wrote:

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sorry to buck the trend but never put your keys on the tyres.
Thats the first place crims check when they are searching for a vehicle.
Get a key lock box and secure it to the underside of your vehicle. the magnetic ones have ben known to fall off

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 For the last 20 years when parked up at home I have always put the van keys on the top of the FRONT annex side tyre.  Absolutely no problems, except that SWMBO, after using them, ALWAYS puts them on the REAR annex side tyre! Why is that?

When kayaking, I carry keys & phones inside double zip lock bags which are then put into a screwtop (eg peanut paste) jar which in turn is secured in a screw top hatch. Phone has a wrist strap so that I don't drop it overboard.  Can't hear incoming calls though .. perhaps a good thing while getting away from it all in the Yak.

When swimming I can put my GQ Patrol keys in my pocket  .. no electronics. 

Solution is .. dump the fancy 4WD full of electronics & get a good old 'analogue' ish Patrol or perhaps give up swimming.  LOL

ps. sorry about the usual off topic ramble.. function of age perhaps?

Whenarewethere wrote:

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watsea wrote:

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A friend with a recent Landrover Discovery has more trouble, as she cannot deactivate the electronic fob.  

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 The Land Rover key fob has a gasket, you see it if you open it to replace the battery, so in theory it is waterproof.

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Land Rover have a history with gaskets.

Land Rover invented the oil lea.

This thread just won't lie down and die: I think it should be shot, out of kindness....

Don't it kill just yet.

Bow wrote:

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Whenarewethere wrote:

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watsea wrote:

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A friend with a recent Landrover Discovery has more trouble, as she cannot deactivate the electronic fob.  

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 The Land Rover key fob has a gasket, you see it if you open it to replace the battery, so in theory it is waterproof.

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Land Rover have a history with gaskets.

Land Rover invented the oil lea.

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 In theory, a Landrover fob might be waterproof but maybe not against underwater pressure while scuba diving. Certainly a test for something that is normally at the surface. I note your remark about the inventor of the oil leak.

The friend now leaves her replacement key fob locked inside our Toyota or inside a lockbox that she tries to hide.

If I have to take a key fob, I use a 40m water depth rated canister.