How best is it to lock up your Mini and then go surfing/sailing/canoeing?

One thought is to lock the electronic key inside the car with the plastic emergency key and take that with me. If so, how robust is the plastic key, can I use it repeatedly, and can it cope with salt water week in-week out.?

I used to leave the key under one of the wheel arches - but that was before I was driving such a desirable motor!

 

I had a similar problem in a previous car and did exactly what you're proposing with great success. However, I took the precaution of pre-ordering spare plastic keys as they do wear out if you intend to make a habit of this. I do not live near the water so it wasn't a daily-type thing. You can tell when you're taking a chance with the wear so just change keys before you leave home.

P.S. - you may want to consider drilling a hole in the key so it can tie around your neck or be secured to the inside of your pocket as I once had mine float out and had to walk home.

 

When I go surfing I just stash the key in the secret spot under the MINI.

 

When I go surfing I just stash the key in the secret spot under the MINI.

 

This key mod might work for you.

Make the Key Smaller

 

>>When I go surfing I just stash the key in the secret spot under the MINI.


Not very safe, though for prolonged periods if people know where the "secret" stash place is.

 

hide key under the car.......on the tire, on the suspension, in the exhaust pipe

 

Sometimes when I run I put the key in the secret spot but it does make me nervous that someone may know about it or see me put the key there. Maybe you can find a small watertight bag or wallet in a camping store or someplace like EMS.

You could always bury it in the sand and mark it with a stick like in Fargo.

 

>>When I go surfing I just stash the key in the secret spot under the MINI.

hmm, where do you go surfing?

 

no way you can do this hawaii. i do believe that car thefts are a huge problem here, enough to rank up there nationally. i've heard of all kinds of car rip-offs cause of guys leaving their key under the car, in the tire well, on the suspension, in the exhaust, etc. somebody is always watching. i highly recommend against this method.

i stick a key ring thru the plastic key and stick that key ring on my surf short's key loop. pretty much all surf trunk's have some sort of key ring holder. do not just throw the key in your velcro pocket! even if it's a double velcro enclosure. i've lost several keys this way when i first started surfing before realizing that wasn't the way to go.

the key ring holder is basically a loop of string that is stitched into the shorts pocket. attach the key ring with your plastic key to the loop. then swing the loop and key into your pocket. then close the velcro. that's it. never lost one key yet that way in over 8 years. the only possible way i could see losing my key is if i lose my shorts.

and i haven't had problems smashing the key against my board and dinging it. so i don't think i'll have a problem damaging my plastic key either.

 

Your key could be in trouble if you are surfing in the big waves -more than 12 feet can give you a wallop if you are not careful. Or loosing your shorts and keys might not be the only thing you loose if a tiger shark gets too friendly with your body parts. The other day the surf was 10 to 12 feet on the south shore of Oahu near Waikiki and the life guards had about 400+ rescues in a day. They spent the whole day warning people and doing rescues. Sorta like firemen at an explosives party on the 4th of July.

If I want to stash my key I can get a big safety pin and attach it to the inside waist of my shorts or a hat if I wear one and clip my key into the pin. I have never lost a key in this way after 14 years of running marathons.

 

One thing that no one's exactly addressed is whether it's safe for the key to fully immerse it in salt water for prolonged periods. I doubt that it is. Certainly not for the "full function" key. Either of the other keys (valet or plastic) would be better, although do remember that all MINI keys have a chip in them. My guess would be that the plastic, temporary, one has the chip best sealed and thus would be safest...although if you use this key all of the time it will eventually break off in the ignition/door lock and that no-doubt will be expensive to fix.

It seems like the best bet would be to find someplace to actually check/locker your keys (and then swim with the check token or locker key)...or if that's not possible, then go with the waterproof pouch idea. Carry your valet key in that. If THAT's not possible, then use the temp key...but don't do it too often.

 

you know...i have heard of some product, i believe made in hawaii, that sticks to your board like a deck pad. similar material and just as sticky that goes either way on the tail or way on the nose. it has some sorta pocket that closes and is perfectly suited for stashing your key and possibly some $$ for bus or whatevers. haven't seen too many guys using it though.

then, of course, there is the old method of sticking the key inside of your leash. some leash companies have a pocket inside the ankle cuff. unfortunately, it's kinda cumbersome when it's wrapped tight around your ankle and your board is getting sucked over the falls. then for those who don't wear leashes, this method doesn't quite work that well.

i really think the best way is to hook your key ring thru the loop in your board short's velcro pocket. personally, i like the side pocket style rather than the rear end style cause it can get uncomfortable when sitting waiting for the sets. plus it's kinda hard to reach around behind and try to string the key ring thru the loop.

all in all i think the key loop-in-the-pocket method is pretty bomb proof. my keys have remained thru 4 foot makapuu and sandy's shorebreak, 6-10 feet outside three's and pop's, and the 4-5 story waterslide drop at hawaiian waters adventure park which includes the wedgey-stop at the end. all of this is relative to hawaii, of course. and includes the over-the-falls, skimming-down-the-wave-face, and going-thru-the washer moves that we all inevitably perform.

btw...not to change the subject...but for those who use their mini for water-related recreation, what kind of racks do you use? i've read some threads on sarin. right now they seem to be the best bet. yakima doesn't seem too guaranteed as their racks have a limit of 75 lbs and not meant to stay on 24/7 as it may warp the black plastic trim/rainguards.

 

As usual, duct tape offers a solution here. You can simply seal your key in duct tape and bring it with you into the water. Put one loop of tape, sticky side facing out, around the key, and wrap a bunch more duct tape around it. You'd end up with a small bundle not much larger than the key. I've only done this in fresh water, though. I don't know if salt water would somehow be more apt to peel the tape off of itself.

 

Your dealer can order a regular nonremote key for such occasions - about $20.00. I wouldn't trust the plastic key for regular repeated use myself.

 

>>>>When I go surfing I just stash the key in the secret spot under the MINI.
>>
>>hmm, where do you go surfing?

The Jersey shore.

 

>>btw...not to change the subject...but for those who use their mini for water-related recreation, what kind of racks do you use? i've read some threads on sarin. right now they seem to be the best bet. yakima doesn't seem too guaranteed as their racks have a limit of 75 lbs and not meant to stay on 24/7 as it may warp the black plastic trim/rainguards.
>>

did you mean saris? I have a saris rack, and its wonderful the shape of the roof bars really fits nice with the body shape of our MINIs.

as for the plastic key, I've gone surfing on average 3 times a week all summer, and haven't had any problem with the key degrading.

I put the key in the loop that is inside my velcro pocket. as for the pants w/o the loop, I simply bought some elastic string, and sewed a similar loop in the pocket.
*note- be sure to over do the sewing if and when you add the loop in! What I did was I looked at the board shorts I have with the loop, and copied the sewing technique.

feel free to PM me if you want pics or have questions...