driPhone - essential for everyone on the water with a mobile phone

by Richard Gladwell on 24 Dec 2011 Having had an iPhone since they first became available, the only real downside was the constant worry about it getting wet, when taken on the water.

The obvious solution was - don't. But for most going on the water and being completely cut-off is not really acceptable - particularly if you need to be contactable for family or business reasons.

So having made the decision not to leave your phone in the car - how do you protect it?

One solution is to buy an Otterbox or similar - and while they keep the phone dry when closed, as soon as you open the box you are vulnerable to the inevitable wave or splash. Working as we often do from rubber boats for 8-10 hours a day sometimes, it is a real issue.

The driPhone solves all the obvious problems with iPhones on the water, and allows full functionality including the new use as an underwater camera.

Available to be purchased online, the innovation of the driPhone is that it has a very robust, waterproof case plus a soft membrane screen screen to allow the touch screen functions to be operated without opening the case.

As most iPhone users know - they don't really use Steve Jobs' brilliant device as a phone - it more messaging system, a music player, a pocket computer as well as offering full still camera and movie capability - all in your pocket.

If like us, you run a full chart package, wind forecasting from www.predictwind.com!Predictwind, and other applications that use the iPhone's GPS functionality - it is an essential device to have on board, and obviously a lot more cost effective than a myriad of instrument systems. So whether to take the iPhone on board is a no-brainer - the trick is how to keep it dry and usable - the driPhone does all that for you.

Obviously the driPhone will allow you to have the phone beside you, or in a rope bag in the cockpit - even on wet days. An attachment lanyard is available.

Since the product came on the market in May 2011, 4500 units have been sold online - the only way it is currently available and driPhone's Hayden Crowther reports that he has not had one returned because of fault, or issues with the soft membrane face which looks to be the obvious weak point of the device.

driPhones are available in a variety of colours - yellow, white and black, plus a new smoke colour for the iPhone 4S. It will work with other touch screen phones, approximately the same dimensions as the iPhone.

Small sponge packers can be inserted in the driPhone case to make a more snug fit for smaller phones.

But yours online for Christmas (delivery by first available courier) by http://www.driphone.co.nz/driphone-for-iphone.html!clicking_here.

The driPhone is an essential piece of kit for any sailor who want to go on the water and at $99 is a very cost effective investment.

Other similar covers are coming on the market including a lighter version, but with underwater capability of only a metre compared to the driPhone's six metre depth restriction. And also a iTab - geared towards the iPad and touch screen tablet devices allowing them to be used for chart and navigation work in wet environments.