What to do with car keys when swimming

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

What to do with car keys when swimming

Possum3 · Guru

A rock key safe hider is just one way you can hide a spare key outside. From a key hiding rock, to a fake sprinkler, to outdoor safe key boxes with combinations. Here are 17 different key hiders you can choose from to find the best way to hide a key outside your home.
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Spin · Member

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.

watsea · Guru

Spin wrote:
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.

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.

Teo · Senior Member

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!

Blues Man · Guru

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

Whenarewethere · Guru

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

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.

Are We Lost · Guru

A few months ago at home, when emptying the washing machine I found my keys lying in the bottom of the tub. Oh oh, I thought, this is going to cost me. But no, not a problem. So at least, Ford Ranger keys can stand being tumbled around in warm soapy water for close to an hour. But I still would not want to take them swimming.

I have no doubt a waterproof bag would keep them dry but I would be too worried about losing the bag in the surf.

I like Spin's idea of a non electronic key to physically open the door, while the original key stays inside. Gets a bit harder if the car senses the presence of the key inside and won't lock.

Sheba · Guru

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

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

Thanks for your suggestions

Stewart · Senior Member

Ford Territory keys actually separate from the fob with a quick twist. Even the dealer didn't know this Cheers Stewart

watsea · Guru

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

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

Brodie Allen · Guru

Teo wrote:
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!

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.

msg · Guru

9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/gold-coast-surfers-insurance-warning-after-van-stolen-despite-using-electronic-key-lock/5927f9c1-6c1a-4fd2-840e-82f9a5ca78cf

Dougwe · Chief one feather

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 biggrin biggrin ). Could be safer than on your car. Just a thought.

Keep Safe out there.

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

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

Are We Lost · Guru

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.

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Friday 1st of October 2021 04:51:53 PM

watsea · Guru

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

-- Edited by watsea on Friday 1st of October 2021 09:38:25 PM

HunnyBunny · Senior Member

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

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

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

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.

67HR · Senior Member

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

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

I've bought a small dry bag but not had the opportunity to use it yet but will let you know how it goes

KJB · Guru

67HR wrote:
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

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

SoloMC · Senior Member

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

Cupie · Guru

SoloMC wrote:
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

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?

Bow · Veteran Member

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

Land Rover have a history with gaskets.

Land Rover invented the oil lea.

Mike Harding · Guru

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

watsea · Guru

Don't it kill just yet.

Bow wrote:
Whenarewethere wrote:
watsea wrote:
A friend with a recent Landrover Discovery has more trouble, as she cannot deactivate the electronic fob.
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.

Land Rover have a history with gaskets.
Land Rover invented the oil lea.

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 biggrin .

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.

-- Edited by watsea on Tuesday 4th of January 2022 03:32:13 PM