Not all water blasters do the same thing. Some blasters do a consistent stream over a long distance. Others try to make a spray or mist of water at close range. Then you have the Tsunami Drencher – it elects to dump a giant amount of water (mostly) all at once. However, the design also sacrifices endurance. If you have steady aim (and pull the handle all the way back), then it’s a force to be reckoned with in the backyard. Just be aware of the limitations!
More Manageable
The reservoir holds a little more than the advertised 30 fl.oz.
Looking Under the Hood
When you open up the blaster, there are two things that really catch the eye. First, the plunger tube is huge, displacing roughly 160mL of water in each shot. Second, the tube has a door in front that opens and closes. It’s hooked to a mechanical linkage, which is moved by protrusions on the plunger rod.
The end result is that, when pulling, the flap presses against the outlet, with the vacuum pulled by the user doing the rest of the work to seal the tube. Only water from the reservoir can get sucked in. At the end of the stroke, the orange mechanism in the back is moved by a tab, opening the flap. Moving the plunger forward quickly launches all that water out of the wide nozzle (if it can be called a nozzle). At the end of the forward stroke, another tab moves the orange mechanism, closing the flap for refilling the plunger tube.
As a result, you have to move the plunger the entire distance every time. Not doing so can result in things like trying to fire when the flap is still being held closed. In that case, you just end up leaking water everywhere instead of firing it. It’s not a bad thing, per se, but it is a limitation in the design you have to be aware of.
Performance
Two things should be noted here. Even with perfect operation, the user will still inevitably dribble some water at the end of the shot. It will, of course, drain out, but be aware of it. Also, wet hands will find the forward handle…annoying, due to how smooth it is. You can squeeze the sides of the blaster fairly tight to compensate, but the lack of “grip” on the grip is disappointing. Although its placement is ideal for balancing the weight of the blaster.
Final Thoughts
The Tsunami Drencher isn’t the perfect soaker. It’s visually pleasing and quite potent, but it also demands specific care in its operation. It’s also on the short end when it comes to endurance. Nevertheless, if you desire to dump large amounts of water quickly on your opponents, it’s a great choice – and won’t be too heavy for younger kids.