Water Sports and Key Fobs

swiftyprius · 02-03-2008, 01:40 PM

Hi, I was wondering what any other surfers / kayakers do with keys. On my last session, I took the little key in the water with me, turned off the SKS, wrapped the Fob in foil, and hid it in the back.

Do I need to go to the trouble? Anybody get their Fob wet?

patsparks · 02-03-2008, 01:53 PM

Can you carry the fob in a small zip up plastic bag? I hear they are pretty well sealed. There are stories on PC of people putting them in water and working fine.

Betelgeuse · 02-03-2008, 03:15 PM

After examining the inside of the fob, I'd say that it's water-resistant rather than water-proof. There's a little O-ring that seals the battery compartment pretty well, but I'm not sure I'd trust it to be underwater for a long time.

You actually did not need to wrap your key fob in aluminum foil (or, since pat is apparently reading this thread, "aluminium foil"). With the SKS off, the car doesn't try to talk to the fob, so there's no danger that someone could steal the car unless they found the fob and put it in the slot. More importantly, you can lock the car with the fob in it if you turn of the SKS.

So, if I were you, I'd do the following: turn off the SKS, hide the fob in some reasonable place (i.e. in the center console, in the "smuggling compartment" in the cargo area) and take the metal key with you. The fob would probably be OK getting dunked a few times in the water, but I don't think it's worth the worry.

John CCP · 02-03-2008, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swiftyprius

Hi, I was wondering what any other surfers / kayakers do with keys. On my last session, I took the little key in the water with me, turned off the SKS, wrapped the Fob in foil, and hid it in the back.

Do I need to go to the trouble? Anybody get their Fob wet?

Mine went through a wash with a load of clothes. I expected it to never work again, however it still works perfectly.

RobH · 02-04-2008, 03:50 AM

When I go running, I only carry a mechanical key. Actually, it's a $2 copy of the keyfob mechanical key that I got duplicated at a hardware store. The keyfob is just too fragile and expensive to risk losing it while doing sports. I have several extra mechanical keys that are available to hand out to other people who are with me, so they have the option of getting into the car if they get back first.

The mechanical key gets me into the car, and then I use a transponder-only keyfob to start it. A transponder-only keyfob is any keyfob with the battery removed. Any Prius keyfob will do, including wrong year and black logo units. The keyfob has to be inserted into the keyslot in the dash to start the car. Since the battery has been removed, I don't have to play any of the aluminum foil or disable-switch games in order to leave the keyfob in the car.

Now, what I'd really like is a combination lock for the door, so I wouldn't have to even carry a key. Maybe a morse code recognizer for the lock button... And a fingerprint reader for the ignition...

tripp · 02-04-2008, 01:16 PM

Out sailing I got dumped in the drink, and like an idiot I had my keys in my pocket. I wasn't in the water for very long, but the keys were totally submerged for a number of seconds at least (maybe 30). I didn't experience any problems, but I also haven't made the same mistake twice. Defo not the kind of thing I'd go testing on a regular basis.

ashmason · 03-30-2008, 10:18 PM

Hey guys I have a useful fix. Buy a real estate type combination lock, I use a Master Access lock like this one:

Amazon.com: Master Lock Select Access Key Storage Box with Set-Your-Own Combination Lock #5400D: Home Improvement
Amazon.com: Master Lock Select Access Key Storage Box with Set-Your-Own Combination Lock #5400D: Home Improvement

patsparks · 03-31-2008, 12:28 AM

It may pay to slide the back off, just the slide off bit without undoing screws and dip it in fresh water a couple of times then dry before assembly if it was in salt water. This might save the heads of the screws.
Another way to protect the fob in your pocket is seal it in a good quality zip up plastic bag. It has a pretty good O ring seal.

edthefox5 · 04-10-2008, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John CCP

Mine went through a wash with a load of clothes. I expected it to never work again, however it still works perfectly.

Me too. Wife washed hers. Only through the washer not the dryer and works perfect. Pretty good seal on it. Now salt water is a whole other problem. If salted it should be taken apart immed. and cleaned.

neon tetra · 04-17-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobH

The mechanical key gets me into the car, and then I use a transponder-only keyfob to start it. A transponder-only keyfob is any keyfob with the battery removed. Any Prius keyfob will do, including wrong year and black logo units. The keyfob has to be inserted into the keyslot in the dash to start the car. Since the battery has been removed, I don't have to play any of the aluminum foil or disable-switch games in order to leave the keyfob in the car.

Wait a min... are you saying that someone else's Prius keyfob could start my car?

02-03-2008, 01:40 PM	#1
swiftyprius Me Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 10 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Water Sports and Key Fobs Hi, I was wondering what any other surfers / kayakers do with keys. On my last session, I took the little key in the water with me, turned off the SKS, wrapped the Fob in foil, and hid it in the back. Do I need to go to the trouble? Anybody get their Fob wet?

02-03-2008, 01:53 PM	#2
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,189 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 120 Thanked 179 Times in 137 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Water Sports and Key Fobs Can you carry the fob in a small zip up plastic bag? I hear they are pretty well sealed. There are stories on PC of people putting them in water and working fine.

02-03-2008, 03:15 PM	#3
Betelgeuse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northampton, MA, USA Posts: 1,457 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 2 Thanked 16 Times in 9 Posts Friends: 1	Re: Water Sports and Key Fobs After examining the inside of the fob, I'd say that it's water-resistant rather than water-proof. There's a little O-ring that seals the battery compartment pretty well, but I'm not sure I'd trust it to be underwater for a long time. You actually did not need to wrap your key fob in aluminum foil (or, since pat is apparently reading this thread, "aluminium foil"). With the SKS off, the car doesn't try to talk to the fob, so there's no danger that someone could steal the car unless they found the fob and put it in the slot. More importantly, you can lock the car with the fob in it if you turn of the SKS. So, if I were you, I'd do the following: turn off the SKS, hide the fob in some reasonable place (i.e. in the center console, in the "smuggling compartment" in the cargo area) and take the metal key with you. The fob would probably be OK getting dunked a few times in the water, but I don't think it's worth the worry.

02-04-2008, 01:16 PM	#6
tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it? Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,323 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 6	Re: Water Sports and Key Fobs Out sailing I got dumped in the drink, and like an idiot I had my keys in my pocket. I wasn't in the water for very long, but the keys were totally submerged for a number of seconds at least (maybe 30). I didn't experience any problems, but I also haven't made the same mistake twice. Defo not the kind of thing I'd go testing on a regular basis.

03-31-2008, 12:28 AM	#8
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,189 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 120 Thanked 179 Times in 137 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Water Sports and Key Fobs It may pay to slide the back off, just the slide off bit without undoing screws and dip it in fresh water a couple of times then dry before assembly if it was in salt water. This might save the heads of the screws. Another way to protect the fob in your pocket is seal it in a good quality zip up plastic bag. It has a pretty good O ring seal.

02-04-2008, 03:50 AM	#5
RobH Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sunnyvale, California Posts: 674 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 23 Thanked 46 Times in 29 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Water Sports and Key Fobs When I go running, I only carry a mechanical key. Actually, it's a $2 copy of the keyfob mechanical key that I got duplicated at a hardware store. The keyfob is just too fragile and expensive to risk losing it while doing sports. I have several extra mechanical keys that are available to hand out to other people who are with me, so they have the option of getting into the car if they get back first. The mechanical key gets me into the car, and then I use a transponder-only keyfob to start it. A transponder-only keyfob is any keyfob with the battery removed. Any Prius keyfob will do, including wrong year and black logo units. The keyfob has to be inserted into the keyslot in the dash to start the car. Since the battery has been removed, I don't have to play any of the aluminum foil or disable-switch games in order to leave the keyfob in the car. Now, what I'd really like is a combination lock for the door, so I wouldn't have to even carry a key. Maybe a morse code recognizer for the lock button... And a fingerprint reader for the ignition... Last edited by RobH; 02-04-2008 at 03:52 AM.