Waterbuoy - does it work?

[longjohnsilver]

Just happened to be watching a re-run of dragons den tonight which featured the waterbuoy device. Not seen it before but it must be getting on for a year or so since the product was launched so presumably there are now some actual experiences as to whether it works or not.

My simple observation is that it seems to take an age for the balloon to activate which means that if you drop keys etc into deep water, say 30', then the lifting capacity is halved due to pressures (Boyles law or maybe henrys law, 30 years since I studied them on BSAC course). So the deeper the water the less the lifting capacity, unless I've missed some vital element.

So does it work?

 

[BrendanS]

I hope Gludy sees this!

 

[Goldie]

The one in my (dry) sailing bag seemed to work OK......

 

[seanfoster]

There's a review on yachting tv http://www.yachtingtv.co.uk/
You need to register but it's free and go to archives - sail - technology - floating gadgets test.
Lots of other good stuff too!

 

[Matt341]

On the rare day hot day this summer, we got on the boat, I put my keys on the shelf area under the sprayhood where I usually keep them while opening up the boat and then hang them in the cupboard once the boat is opened up.

Opened hatches etc. 5 mins later went to get my keys and the thing was open and an orange tube partially curled up.

Dont know what had happened but something had set it off. The area was completely dry but the keys were in the sun for a short time :-S

Ian.

 

[SAMYL]

Just happened to be watching a re-run of dragons den tonight which featured the waterbuoy device. Not seen it before but it must be getting on for a year or so since the product was launched so presumably there are now some actual experiences as to whether it works or not.

My simple observation is that it seems to take an age for the balloon to activate which means that if you drop keys etc into deep water, say 30', then the lifting capacity is halved due to pressures (Boyles law or maybe henrys law, 30 years since I studied them on BSAC course). So the deeper the water the less the lifting capacity, unless I've missed some vital element.

So does it work?

As an ex diver I was sceptical about the capabilities of this working in deep water for the reasons quoted above, logically it will not work. I may be proved wrong.

 

[BrianH]

I saw the original Dragons' Den programme when this device was presented and was so amused when Theo Paphitis failed to break it with his characteristic destruction test performance that I resolved to myself that if I ever saw it on sale I would buy one.

Then last summer in an Italian chandler I saw it on sale. The manager said he had accepted a small number to see how they sold. Despite what I thought was a rather high price of €37 (that's a euro sign) my bluff had been called and so I bought one.

Now this thread has me worried and wondering if I should re-arm my key ring with the monster foam form of a yacht under spinnaker again when I first arrive at the marina.

 

[Wunja]

Just happened to be watching a re-run of dragons den tonight which featured the waterbuoy device. Not seen it before but it must be getting on for a year or so since the product was launched so presumably there are now some actual experiences as to whether it works or not.

My simple observation is that it seems to take an age for the balloon to activate which means that if you drop keys etc into deep water, say 30', then the lifting capacity is halved due to pressures (Boyles law or maybe henrys law, 30 years since I studied them on BSAC course). So the deeper the water the less the lifting capacity, unless I've missed some vital element.

So does it work?

It is supposed to hold up a kilogram (2.2 lbs) on the surface, so at 10 meters (33 feets) it would be half a kilogram (1.1 lb).... thats still a lot of keys pulling your trousers down!

(BSAC have been metricified for at least 20 years!)

 

[longjohnsilver]

It is supposed to hold up a kilogram (2.2 lbs) on the surface, so at 10 meters (33 feets) it would be half a kilogram (1.1 lb).... thats still a lot of keys pulling your trousers down!

(BSAC have been metricified for at least 20 years!)

Yes but at 20m it.s now .25kg, less than Debs keys on her keyring!! If it activated immediately it would be a completely different matter, but 10 seconds is a long time and in deep water keys could be 30 metres plus down. (Note, I can also use metres ) )

 

[WindermereColvic]

Ours went off in a dry bag aswel. I have salviged the red flashing light though, that could be useful.

 

[Wunja]

Yes but at 20m it.s now .25kg, less than Debs keys on her keyring!! If it activated immediately it would be a completely different matter, but 10 seconds is a long time and in deep water keys could be 30 metres plus down. (Note, I can also use metres ) )

Maybe calculating the number floaty key rings needed should be added to the passage planning.

 

[Eygthene]

I got one for Christmas. I think they are a one-use item - like a flare, so I will not find out if it works until I accidentally drop the keys in the water. Hopefully, that is most likely to happen when the water is shallow enough for Boyle's law not to prevent it floating back up.

If/when that happens, I will post a report.

 

[seanfoster]

I suppose you are most likely to lose your keys when you are doing thing like getting into the boat from the dingy etc? If you're in a marina or harbor will the water be that deep?

 

[mikehibb]

14m deep at our pontoon and I do have a waterbuoy, gift from dear old mother.

I just added it to the boat key ring that already has a big orange floaty foam thing. Spare set also have orange floaty thing.

House keys are also on an foam floating key ring.(blue) Both sets.
Keys to rental apartment too (burgundy) Both sets.

Like to have them all colour coded.

Car keys are not, but they go straight into a zipped up pocket.

At the local West Marine dealer they also had another make on sale, looked more like a car remote control, sorry can not remember the name of it.

 

[Humblebee]

Waterbuoys

My son gave me one a year or so back. I put it on the boat key ring, then a bit later was washing the boat, forgetting the keys were still in the ignition. The waterbuoy went off OK when the hose hit it and was still flashing - faintly - three days later.

 

[longjohnsilver]

So lots of reports of it being accidentally activated but so far none when keys dropped overboard. Do we actually need it?

 

[prv]

So lots of reports of it being accidentally activated but so far none when keys dropped overboard.

None of keys *being* dropped overboard, float or no.

My boat keys are on my main keyring that also has my car, house, parents' house, various sheds etc on it (never know when I might want to visit the boat on my way through town). I'm not going to fit any kind of float to the ring, but then (famous last words!) I can't really imagine losing it. It lives in my pocket unless being actively used to unlock something, apart from on boats where once on board I immediately stow it safely away below. When I get round to KS's fancy chart table rebuild, I might well add a special cubbyhole just for keys, as I plan to for phones.

Pete

 

[Gludy]

"It is supposed to hold up a kilogram (2.2 lbs) on the surface, so at 10 meters (33 feets) it would be half a kilogram (1.1 lb).... thats still a lot of keys pulling your trousers down!"

The weight they used for the kilo was a huge low density weight with a lot of buoyancy.
It is a totally misleading test because it does not have the lifting power of a kilo.

One kilo of a foam like substance with an SG of 0.98 only needs 2 grams of bouyancy to lift it even if it does weigh a kilo.

A kilo of steel with an SG of 7.8 requites almost about 872 grams of lifting power to lift it.

They way this company provides totally misleading information implying that the debice has a kilo of lifting power is frankly misleading and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Further the time to activation is critical because when the keys sink in deep water they are deep before the balloon activates and so the volume and hence lifting power of the balloon is much reduced.

I hope nobody really trusts their keys to one of these devices marketed on the assumption that nobody understands basic physics.

 

[longjohnsilver]

"It is supposed to hold up a kilogram (2.2 lbs) on the surface, so at 10 meters (33 feets) it would be half a kilogram (1.1 lb).... thats still a lot of keys pulling your trousers down!"

The weight they used for the kilo was a huge low density weight with a lot of buoyancy.
It is a totally misleading test because it does not have a the lifting of a kilo.

One kilo of a foam like substance with an SG of 0.98 only needs 2 grams of bouyancy to lift it even if it does weigh a kilo.

A kilo of steel with an SG of 7.8 requites almost about 872 grams of lifting power to lift it.

They way this company provides totally misleading information implying that the debice has a kilo of lifting power is frankly misleading and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Further the time to activation is critical because when the keys sink in deep water they are deep before the balloon activates and so the volume and hence lifting power of the balloon is much reduced.

I hope nobody really trusts their keys to one of these devices marketed on the assumption that nobody understands basic physics.

Hi Gludy, I know there was a mega thread on this some time ago but I didn't follow it. What you say above seems to sum up my thoughts pretty well. Activation time seems to be the real (negative) issue.

Anyone know how the company is doing?

 

[scottie]

ours went of on a wet day whilst in the ignition switch
didnt notice any lift at the stern but red blinker worked for som time