Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Hey guys just a quick question I haven't been to the beach in about 10 years this summer I'm near a each again.
I wanna start open water swimming or stand up paddle boarding, But what's the best way to keep valuables key's phone etc... safe. before I used to always go with someone now I wanna go by myself especially in the early mornings.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Depending on what style car key you have. If it's a key with a separate remote you can leave the remote and valuables in the car and a lot of board shorts have a tether to attach a key to to then keep in the pocket. Some wet suits have a zipped pocket. If it's an integrated key/remote then depending on the car you can get a straight door key cut. My mums car has a prox key however it has a slide out real key to open the door if the battery dies. That would be the one to lock the car and hit the water with.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

You could get one of those waterproof underwater pouch's for about $10 on eBay.
Most are IPX8 certified and can be submerged up to 20 feet underwater continuously.

Some come as an arm band, others can be attached to your wetsuit.

Ideal for key remote and phone.

Link here as example: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Waterproo...Swohax14_FIgCg

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

These are very popular, I use one with no issues. http://www.surflock.com.au/

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

^^^^ This, used one for years.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

slip them in your boot

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Chuck it between ya thongs and towel, no-one will ever know...

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Hide it in the sand.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

How does that go with proximity keys though ... most you can just open the door as it is still nearby ... and start the car and drive.

Might be fine with the older style remote and key setup though.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Nobody will look there

:wink2

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

I think but unsure that most cars have some sort of override for this.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

It would be pretty cool if it functioned as a Faraday Cage.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

I always get a plain door key cut and use the key tether on my boardshorts or pocket in wetsuit and leg rope.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

That thing just screams "smash me off with a rock" to a crim!

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

First post nails it.

Leave your phone at home, enjoy yourself, the world can wait.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

So do you just leave the ignition key in the car then?

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Yeah hide it in the boot

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Not a bad idea mate.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

One of the potential issues of leaving your keys in or on your car is: will the insurance company pay a claim if the car is stolen?

I’ve used a Surflock in the past but I stopped using it a couple of years ago after the local paper reported that a few surfers and swimmers had had their cars stolen. I used to attach it to the suspension spring so that it wasn’t visible to anyone walking by, but I’ve seen quite a few attached to the tow bar, which just seems to me to be tempting thieves. The other thing with the surflock is that it has only 10,000 possible combinations. Most surfers are away from their car for at least an hour, and assuming that a thief could try one combination per second, he has a 36% chance of cracking the combination while you’re away. Although if he has bolt cutters and it’s on your tow bar, it could be cut off in a few seconds.

I moved on to taking the key with me. I got a key cut for my Territory that opened the door and started the engine without needing a fob. Mr Minute cut it for about $80 from memory. I attached it to the loop in my board shorts pocket and then slipped it into one of those small vinyl cases that hold a few business cards. The idea was just to stop it moving around in the pocket and to keep the point of the key from poking through. It worked well and there was never an issue and it was good to know that the key was out of reach of thieves.

Unfortunately, my new car doesn’t have the option of using a key to start the engine so I’m looking to take the electronic fob into the water in a small waterproof bag. I’ve bought one of these: https://aquapac.net/store/shop/dryba...of-bag-wallet/

I think I’ll get a spare fob first and try it out the first time while my wife is minding the spare on the beach.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Dont take any valuables full stop. if you have to take keys, double bag in ziplock & keep in lifejacket pocket etc. Beach theft is massive as scum sit on the wall, watch the cars pull up, load up their bits & pieces & go to the sand. Once your in the water, old mate strips off, walks over to your pile & picks up everything like his going home for the day. He know has you id, car keys & can be in your house before you realise the extent of whats happened. The only way to beat these types is to out smart theme & don't play in to their hands. Seriously, if you cant go to the beach without a $1000 phone, you have some issues imo. Towel, thongs, ziplock bag for cash. That is all you need.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Sounds like someone could turn this into a business venture.

Tray truck parked at a busy beach in summer.

Two rows of cube lockers stacked 5 high x 10, installed back to back = 100 lockers rented out at $5 per day.... Portable steps from the ground to tray.

On the front of the tray, two mounted portable changing rooms.

$5 fee includes locker key and free use of changing rooms.

Back of tray has storage for rental of beach umbrellas, small beach shades, surfboards. (Security deposit is taken in case of non-return).

Also sell suntan lotion, insect repellant, and other personal items.

Cool way for someone to make $500 to $1000 per day. :yummy:

Hmm... The franchise opportunities.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

I'm in!

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

That's not a silly idea at all.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Ssshhh. Jim might me listening in.:lol There is already 6x4 trailers with 20 'school size' coin operated lockers like railway stations etc, getting around. Its only a matter of time & the amount of beaches in Australia that could take one of these is almost endless.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

I used to use a nylon bumbag with a waterproof bag when I was on a surf ski or kayak, looks like you can get them all in one these days.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Zonad...gAAOSwTuJYm-t6

I think you can get the slimline life vests that also have pockets in them.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Well, you'd need to get there early to park in a good spot, accessible to anyone heading to the beach (eg. near the surf club) and I think the council might have something to say about a tray truck parked there all day. But good luck, there would be demand.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Would work anywhere except Geelong, our council doesn’t like smart ideas.

Re: Keeping valuables safe at the beach
 

Unfortunately, the Geelong council is not unique in that department. We have some doozies in Sydney that are Gold Medal winners in corruption & laziness and straight out stupidity. Like the moron following the other moron spraying round up around with a backpack blower at the Rose garden near my house. They took out 4 of 12 beds, killing roughly 40-50 individual plants, that were donated by people decades ago. Laziness & greed is ruining this country.