Spare keys and test your key float

[Nehalennia]

Ok, on our Weekend trip to Seattle, I witnessed our Moorage slip neighbor's Admiiral drop their only set of keys off the end of the dock.
Yes, the keys had the cute little sponge float on there, but alas....glug glug glug.

So these people had spares and I did not have my lock picks with me(I'm a locksmith. My spares are going aboard this week)
Unfortunately the spares were at home in Tacoma an easy $150 cab ride.

So out comes the diver for $225.00.

I told my admiral, I want to be an underwater locksmith now. This will only take him 30 second....sure enough.

So make sure you have spares and test your float in the sink not in 40 ft of water.

 

[billandamy]

Thanks for the tip...ya know, I wasnt even thinking to take care of that at all before we take the maiden voyage in a few weeks. Going to make some spares and test the floating thing immediately when I get home.

 

[RiverRat]

I always keep my spares in my documentation bag that gets carried on and off the boat...

 

[Dave S]

Good point.....I usually have a spare for the boat but not for the car.

And, whenever I am working around my boat at the dock, the first thing I do is take everything out of my pockets and put it in the cabin. That way if I fall in the drink I won't have to curse at myself for anything more than being a klutz. :smt043

Wet wallets and cell phones or anything else that might get lost or damaged while going for an impromptu swim then don't become an issue.:grin:

 

[NorCal Boater]

I agree with Dave, everything comes out of the pockets and goes in the cabin.

Several years ago while living in Las Vegas, we had just launched our 87 Sea Ray S-24 Sorrento at Lake Mead. We were waiting for our guests to arrive and I was walking back to the boat from parking the trailer. As I was walking down the dock with the boat keys in hand, the little chain broke. All 3 keys hit the dock and Murphy's (my last name....really) Law being in full effect, all 3 went through the little 1/4" space between the dock planks. The chain, of course, stayed on the dock and the key floatie thing bounced into the water and floated like a striped bobber at the end of a fishing line.

Not wanting to appear like a dufas for the first time guests, I rushed over to the marine store there on shore and bought a new padlock for the cabin and a new ignition switch. I'm sure the prices were double what even WM would charge. I finished the installation just as the guests arrived....late. (Their last invite)

The moral of the story is: "Well, why didn't you have the keys in your pocket?" "I don't know, dear. Just stupid I guess."

Remember....Murphy's Law seems to increase exponentially when in a marine environment.

 

[VTSeaRay]

Interesting coincidence, I just tested both sets of key floats this weekend in my sink! But, I was reading this, and thinking... When I go park my truck/trailer, my truck keys that I'm carrying back to the boat, doesn't have a floater, and in fact, the fob is black(as are most!) so, that'd be fun to find in 2'+ of water on the bottom with stones/weeds/etc! It's also electronic for my door locks/remote starter for the truck, so if it does get wet, I'll be setting off alarms, when I unlock it using the keys I'm sure! Hmmm, maybe I should put them in my floating/waterproof key/money wallet I got on my Caribbean cruise a yr ago... that sounds like a better idea!

-Garth

 

[dpvandy01]

I guess I'm a freak about keys, I have two sets of car keys for each vehicle, each set has a cabin key, dock box key, marina gate key, and boat engine key. I also have the regular boat set, and 3 entire spare sets as well. Not to mention that the cabin can be opened by the 1995 250DA, 2001 270DA and the 2003 280DA at my marina... My engine key also operates the 2003 280's engines but his wont turn mine. Oh yeah, my cabin key also opens all of the above plus my old 250DA. You'd think SeaRay would get another key combo or two :huh:

Most of the redundancy on my end is the result of the at least once per season call to the fire house from my wife who has driven to the marina for an overnight and forgotten the keys while I'm on duty for 24 hours:smt021... "check in your car baby, there's a spare set in there believe me"

 

[Nehalennia]

At My maiden voyage I had the kids and Admiral at the boat launch when I realized the PO still had the keys and the dealer used their "set".

Luckily (as stated I'm a locksmith) I was able to grab my lock picks out of my truck, pick the ignition on and still have a good day.

 

[Robski97]

I always hide a cabin key somewhere on the boat. I lost my keys last year. The KEy buoy i think its called inflated.... then sunk like a rock. Keys weighed less then the 4oz limit.


Rob

 

[Shining]

Ok, on our Weekend trip to Seattle, I witnessed our Moorage slip neighbor's Admiiral drop their only set of keys off the end of the dock.
Yes, the keys had the cute little sponge float on there, but alas....glug glug glug.

Damn...that water looks cold!!

 

[Nehalennia]

Damn...that water looks cold!!

I can see what you are saying, but it may be the picture. The water looks icy, which is what I assume you are refering to. Temps were in the mid 50's

 

[caymancanuck]

Well, I am happy with my float, last weekend I waded into the bar at Rum Point and when I was returning to the boat with hands full of Mudlsides, I hear this guy call out "Dude, are those your keys?" and they they were bobbing along with the little yellow float. I am sure the crystal clear Caribbean Sea helped out.

So the moral of the story is to send the girlfriend in to get the drinks or get a boat with a shallower draft.

 

[dpvandy01]

Well, I am happy with my float, last weekend I waded into the bar at Rum Point and when I was returning to the boat with hands full of Mudlsides, I hear this guy call out "Dude, are those your keys?" and they they were bobbing along with the little yellow float. I am sure the crystal clear Caribbean Sea helped out.

So the moral of the story is to send the girlfriend in to get the drinks or get a boat with a shallower draft.

I wadded through 15" mid-western snow to get to my shrink-wrapped boat today.... dropped keys with a float on them and they fell through the freakin' snow drift and I picked them up off the pavement. Almost the same... good luck with the mudslides Cman, my heart is breaking for you brother

 

[caymancanuck]

I feel your pain, I did my 30yrs of Montreal winters, then pulled the plug for warmer climes and tax free $$.

 

[Nehalennia]

I feel your pain, I did my 30yrs of Montreal winters, then pulled the plug for warmer climes and tax free $$.

You should have called yourself the
Grand Caymadian

Get that spare set my man, then even if you let the keys float away, you won't spill the mudslides and still have a way to start her up after you sober up.....

 

[Presentation]

I would have jumped in the water and got the keys for $220.





My wife and I are Wisconsin PADI divers w/cold water skin diving experience.