Dingy Theft from the beach

[Westie]

Leaving your dingy on the beach is always risky. Any tried and true solutions / suggestions to reduce the chance of theft? I thought of using a simple "dog leash screw" that you thread into the sand, connect a length of "tc" chain to it, place the dingy over it and bring the chain over the sides of the dingy and padlock. Have to consider the tide situation etc. but sounds like it might work. Finding a padlock that is really difficult to cut may be the weakest link! Suggestions - thoughts?

[Boracay]

The best deterent that I have seen was an inspection hatch installed into a circular hole cut in the botom of the dinghy.

The owner kept the hatch with him and put a chain through the hole and around the dinghy, locking it to an iron ring bolt set into the side of the concrete footpath.

Most people round here seem to rely on a combination of old dinghy and chain.

I was silly enough to leave a new pair of oars and rowlocks in a boatyard and they walked.

The most trouble seems to come from a boat owner who needs to get to their boat and fails to return the dinghy.

The other advantage of the chain is that (under Ozzie law) breaking or cutting something to gain possession is a much more serious offence.

[cooper]

Chris is right , l too have seen this form of "asset protection". One of those plastic dingy bulkhead hatches of the screw in type, works brilliantly. Its big enough to loudly point out..."this boats gotsa bloody big ole in its bottom"......a warning sign that usually send shivers up the spine of even the dumbest of would be thives. The chain through the hole around the outside of the boat and a solid inanimate object is the "finger" pointing at the hole. Another little helper is one of those cheap door alarms. The battery powered type that go gang busters when they are moved. Turn dingy upside down and reach up under and turn thingy on.......The type that barks like a dog may not be so usefull !

[Intentional Drifter]

But I wonder if it might in places with fewer treacherous things laying about?

ID

[D.D.]

Originally Posted by Intentional Drifter

But I wonder if it might in places with fewer treacherous things laying about?

ID

[Topazken]

Stay out of the Caribbean and you should be OK. Seriously, I have left my tender on hundreds of beaches, never a problem until Porlamar where the thieves stole my inflatable. They swam out to the boat at night and cut it loose.

All of the Pacific is safe.