Smallish dry bag, with a zip rather than a roll-top?

prv

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Nov 2009
Messages
37,358
Location
Southampton
Visit site
It's looking like I might end up going on a ZapCat from time to time in future. Not racing, just generally zooming about. A "cruising ZapCat" if such an idea is even possible.

I'm looking for a waterproof bag in which to put my wallet, phone, car keys, and various other small items that need to stay reliably 100% dry in the face of high-speed spray, or indeed solid water hitting it at speed. I have a vision in my head of something flat, roughly A4 sort of size, made of similar heavy material to an inflatable dinghy, and with a tough drysuit zip across the middle and webbing or D-rings at the edges to strap it to the boat. But I can't find any such item with a quick google.

Overboard make a waterproof bum-bag which comes close, but I'd prefer a zip or other closure rather than a roll-top, and they also only rate it as "Class 3 - brief immersion". I'm not sure I'd trust that with my iPhone on a ZapCat crashing through waves.

Anyone got any pointers to this sort of thing?

(Please don't post to tell me about standard roll-top canoe sacks, clamp-shut mobile phone bags, and other common items found in every chandlery - thanks.)

Pete
 
It's looking like I might end up going on a ZapCat from time to time in future. Not racing, just generally zooming about. A "cruising ZapCat" if such an idea is even possible.

I'm looking for a waterproof bag in which to put my wallet, phone, car keys, and various other small items that need to stay reliably 100% dry in the face of high-speed spray, or indeed solid water hitting it at speed. I have a vision in my head of something flat, roughly A4 sort of size, made of similar heavy material to an inflatable dinghy, and with a tough drysuit zip across the middle and webbing or D-rings at the edges to strap it to the boat. But I can't find any such item with a quick google.

Overboard make a waterproof bum-bag which comes close, but I'd prefer a zip or other closure rather than a roll-top, and they also only rate it as "Class 3 - brief immersion". I'm not sure I'd trust that with my iPhone on a ZapCat crashing through waves.

Anyone got any pointers to this sort of thing?

(Please don't post to tell me about standard roll-top canoe sacks, clamp-shut mobile phone bags, and other common items found in every chandlery - thanks.)

Pete

The belt bag is the exact type of thing. Dry suit zip and hypalon and seems the size you are after.
http://www.avon-workboats.com/page/waterproofbags

I have the rucksack and the weapons bag (absolutely massive) and they are the bees knees
 
Why not try contacting aquatekdrysuits.co.uk I've had dry suits made by them before: they are a small company who are often up for a one off project. Andy, who runs the company, is usually happy to deal with customers direct rather than through dealers, so you may be able to get a one off bag made for you.

The limitation you may find is that dry suit zips come in a small number of set lengths. The shortest ones I've encountered are 'comfort' zips sewn into a suit to let you have a pee. They're about 10 inches long IIRC.
 
Why not try contacting aquatekdrysuits.co.uk I've had dry suits made by them before: they are a small company who are often up for a one off project. Andy, who runs the company, is usually happy to deal with customers direct rather than through dealers, so you may be able to get a one off bag made for you.

The limitation you may find is that dry suit zips come in a small number of set lengths. The shortest ones I've encountered are 'comfort' zips sewn into a suit to let you have a pee. They're about 10 inches long IIRC.

The idea of a custom job did occur to me - I make lots of my own pouches and bags in acrylic canvas but of course I'm not set up for waterproof :). Thanks for suggesting the right people to ask.

However, I'm going to see if I can find something off the shelf first.

(A pee zip would probably be about the right length for a phone-and-wallet bag)

Pete
 
The pee zips on my dry suits are not waterproof (the suit relies upon the material inside folding in same manner as the roll top dry bags).
Maybe other people's dry suits have drysuit zips?
 
The pee zips on my dry suits are not waterproof (the suit relies upon the material inside folding in same manner as the roll top dry bags).
Maybe other people's dry suits have drysuit zips?

I used to dive, and the relief zip on mine was waterproof. No folding fabric, just a simple horizontal zip.

Pete
 
I used to dive, and the relief zip on mine was waterproof. No folding fabric, just a simple horizontal zip.

Pete

Yup, different dry suits then; yours was obviously a better suit than mine.

If you ever do go the DIY route (piece of hypalon and glue and zip), I am about to take out a long damaged zip from one of my drysuits and you could have that zip FOC (they can be cut down to shorter lengths and sealed - only one end is missing a few teeth). Just shout. It will be going in my overflowing spares drawer otherwise.
 
I pad etc. surely at less risk left in the car. Keys may be an issue but if your car came with a plain (non-electronic ) spare door key as mine did then lock everything else in the car and let the old fashioned key get wet.
The car might not be alarmed if you do this but I have always been sceptical about the value of car alarms anyway.
 
Who mentioned an iPad?

I don't go anywhere without my wallet, keys, and phone (and a cotton hanky :) ).

Pete

I acknowledge the need for a dry hanky, but the rest is just being a slave to modern trappings rather than technology being your servant.
 
Top