Both Kody and Jack suspected they were maybe of military use, perhaps a sort of location beacon or submersible electronic. Attempts to ascertain what the objects are haven’t yet provided any definitive answer, including the Coast Guard, who couldn’t confirm what they had found either. “They didn’t know what it is, but it’s definitely not an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)”, Jack said regarding the device used to alert search and rescue forces in case of an emergency at sea.

LONG BEACH PENINSULA — Life is a lot like beachcombing sometimes, you just never know what you’re gonna find.

Such was the case earlier this month, when two peninsula-based beachcombers stumbled across what they consider among their ‘best finds’ ever — though neither is quite sure what they found, at least not yet.

On Sunday, Jan. 14, Kody Martin and Jack Day, both of Ocean Park, made separate discoveries of two identical unknown objects had seemingly washed ashore, including one near the Cranberry Approach and another identical object north of Ocean Park, near the tip of the peninsula.

The cylindrical shaped containers — about the size of a full roll of toilet paper — featured elaborate electronics, sealed inside a translucent shell and with a triangle-shaped orange flag protruding from the top.

Both Kody and Jack initially suspected they were maybe of military use, perhaps a sort of location beacon or submersible electronic. However, attempts to ascertain what the objects are haven’t yet provided any definitive answer, including the Coast Guard, who couldn’t confirm what they had found either.

“They didn’t know what it is, but it’s definitely not an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon),” Jack said regarding the device used to alert search and rescue forces in case of an emergency at sea.

The electrical components inside the unknown instruments — including a six-volt lithium battery, motherboard and a series of circuits with a digital readout — only add to the intrigue. The only visible inscription is on the battery, labeled with the suspected manufacturer (Ultra Electronics), with a manufacturing date (April 2022).

“I think they’re some kind of military thing. If you look inside, the electronics are just fabulous,” Jack said.

Messages sent to Ultra Electronics have gone unanswered.

‘Once-in-a-lifetime’

Jack was beachcombing for glass floats and ‘other cool stuff’ near the tip of the peninsula on Sunday, Jan. 14 when he first found the strange object resting in the sand. Kody discovered his identical object further south, near the Cranberry Approach, a few hours later.

“We thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime find,” Jack said.

“It was weird we both found one. We couldn’t believe it.”

Kody and Jack are both members of the local 4×4 group and take daily drives on the beach, helping stranded motorists in need while searching for any interesting items that wash ashore in between.

The winter is considered the prime season for local beachcombers, a time when winter storms and shifting winds can bring things ashore that have been out at sea for decades, including antique glass fishing floats, often from Japan, where they were known as buoy balls.

Both Kody and Jack regularly find contemporary foam and plastic fishing floats, but the antique glass floats, commonly manufactured in the early 1900s, are rare and coveted.

A bulbous green 30” glass float among Kody’s favorite all-time beachcombing finds.

“Over the past four years, I’ve found seven glass floats,” Kody said.

“I’ve found one,” Jack added.

“But I think this is better than the glass floats.”