the key buoy
We’ve all dealt with the awful sense of finality that comes with dropping an important item into the water. Three-and-a-half decades after my cherished Swiss Army knife bounced once off the deck and went kerplunk into Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay, I can still remember the sinking feeling it left in the pit of my stomach when I realized I’d never see it again. We’ve all done it, and we’ve all kicked ourselves in the butt for doing it. Davis Instruments has introduced a new product that could make dropping small tools and key chains into the drink less disastrous and more entertaining-the Key Buoy. Resembling a remote control for a car alarm, the Key Buoy self-inflates a 14-inch long air tube in 30 seconds or less after hitting the water, and will support up to 4.2 ounces of whatever it’s attached to. Once on the surface, the bright orange air tube will keep your keys afloat for 40 minutes. (Recovering the key Buoy-supported item is also good for testing your man overboard abilities.) The Key Buoy is single-use, but at $6.99, it’s inexpensive enough for you to buy a few. www.davisnet.com
