Oh no, I've done a Jimmy!

Well we finally got home at 11pm after arriving back at the boat at 3pm.

BMW Emergency were pretty useless, their best offer was a hire car that we could use to drive home, collect the keys, return to Hythe then drive home again. Strangely enough, a 300 mile / 6 hour drive isn't my ideal end to a weekend.

Lex Leasing were equally useless. As their assistance line is shut on a Sunday, all their calls are diverted to the AA who are only authorised to do a 50 mile recovery.

Fortunately I have AA breakdown cover with my bank account. They sent a patrol man who very quickly came to the conclusion that the only way the car was going to get back to Cheltenham was on the back of a recovery truck. We then had to wait three hours for the truck to come before we were on our way.

Moral of the story is, do what your wife tells you and put a float on a spare set of car keys and take these down to the boat! Alternatively keep the keys in your pocket and don't let your dozy wife start jumping off boats when them at the top of an unzipped handbag.

I'm now facing a load of hassle trying to get a new set of keys authorised by Lex / BMW / my employer.

Glad you got it sorted to get home at least.

From the thread title I assumed you had a little accident :encouragement:
 
Well we finally got home at 11pm after arriving back at the boat at 3pm.

BMW Emergency were pretty useless, their best offer was a hire car that we could use to drive home, collect the keys, return to Hythe then drive home again. Strangely enough, a 300 mile / 6 hour drive isn't my ideal end to a weekend.

Lex Leasing were equally useless. As their assistance line is shut on a Sunday, all their calls are diverted to the AA who are only authorised to do a 50 mile recovery.

Moral of story is , If you had a passerelle wifey would not have to jump!
Fortunately I have AA breakdown cover with my bank account. They sent a patrol man who very quickly came to the conclusion that the only way the car was going to get back to Cheltenham was on the back of a recovery truck. We then had to wait three hours for the truck to come before we were on our way.

Moral of the story is, do what your wife tells you and put a float on a spare set of car keys and take these down to the boat! Alternatively keep the keys in your pocket and don't let your dozy wife start jumping off boats when them at the top of an unzipped handbag.

I'm now facing a load of hassle trying to get a new set of keys authorised by Lex / BMW / my employer.
 
I doubt a modern electronic key would work after a dunking ... I once had one that gave up after a rainstorm in a plastic mac pocket. Those floaty keyfobs are good though it would still get soaked. I wonder if they can be prized apart and dried? Both my BMW and Jag keys have all sorts of trickery to tie them in to the specific car so doubt taking them apart would do any good! When I was working I kept a spare key in a magnetic box up under the back bumper which was a good idea ... having managed to lock the keys in the car twice it never happened again when I got the magnetic box!
I think with these latest keys you can't lock them in the car but I'm not going to test it ... nothing to stop you losing them overboard though!
 
Oh yes, you CAN lock them in the car!
Open boot/tailgate with remote, hurl keys on boot floor, slam tailgate shut!
Mr Mercedes assistance was excellent, better than Beemers.

On the OP, I managed a 'Jimmy' a couple of weeks ago, yes , one of the side uprights from the canopy frame. One neat bounce on the side deck followed by a graceful pirouette into the water alongside.
Stainless tubing so magnet no use. Luckily(?) in the marina berth as we were putting the canopy up.
Nothing for it but to get the scuba gear on and go feeling in the mud. Couldnt see a thing the silt was so cloudy but luckily after about 15 mins feeling around I found it.
Marina guy wandered past and just nodded (lots of notices forbidding diving in the marina)
Now securely fastened so a happy ending.
 
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To be fair, that can lift 64kgs and not 18kgs. Mind you, I don't think the Governors keys at Wormwood Scrubs would need that lifting capacity.
 
As others have said I can't see a proximity key working after its had a dunk. The skeleton bit might get me into the car but I don't believe it would start the engine.

not familiar with the key you're talking about, but most keys simply have an RFID chip, that wont be affected by water.
Of course it wont open/close the doors/boot, but if you physically fit the key to a keyhole in the steering column and you turn it, it should work (that's how my 9yo X3 works)
If it's the squarish things you just stick in a hole and press a start button, dunno it may not work...

V.
 
I'm a bit wary of magnets on board, particularly if it's co-owned. All it takes is someone to move it and you can find that your compasses are all way out.

Read the description of the sea searcher Pete, it's not a bad bit of kit to have.
 
I'm a bit wary of magnets on board, particularly if it's co-owned. All it takes is someone to move it and you can find that your compasses are all way out.

If they are responsible enough to drive a boat I am sure they will understand what a magnet will do. I suspect it would need to be very close to make a difference. Also to be honest when was the last time you looked at the compass as opposed to cog on the plotter ?
 
If they are responsible enough to drive a boat I am sure they will understand what a magnet will do. I suspect it would need to be very close to make a difference. Also to be honest when was the last time you looked at the compass as opposed to cog on the plotter ?

I was thinking more of the fluxgate compass / autopilot. I've actually no idea where that compass is located so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that someone could put a magnet close to it. Of course, could be a total non issue!
 
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