Understanding outboard theft vs. dinghy theft

[waterman46]

Anyone have a brand name recommendation for a cable and lock that cannot be cut with any hand tools?

[Tillerjockey]

Get an outboard motor lock. They seem to deter theft. Several outboards were stolen from a marina I was staying at. They tried to get mine off but couldn't due to the lock. Highly recommended. The locking mechanism is prone to corrosion so I coat it with vaseline which solved the problem.

[sailorboy1]

for the "professional" thieves - they want the 15+HP outboards

for the "cruiser" thieves - they will steal anything they believe they can sell to some other cruiser who isn't asking any questions

[WaveDancer2]

Would think noise would be a problem with an angle grinder.

[scallowayuk]

Hi three years ago a friends donghy was ztolen in falmouth harbour antigua.a few dsys later we found the dinghy but no outboard.

[PuttingDoctor]

Locks can and do slow down the thieves but only so much. I started a thread regarding geo tracking of assets recently. I am ready to give Spot Trace a go on my dinghy as I know it would have to be moved in order to remove the motor or be resold.
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...es-215216.html

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by waterman46

Anyone have a brand name recommendation for a cable and lock that cannot be cut with any hand tools?

Look around Youtube and elsewhere on "cutting bike locks", and also for "lock lawyer". Basically, just about any reasonably-priced commercial lock can be picked or cut. One video shows a guy with a battery-powered grinder going through a Kryponite "Fuggedaboudit" bike lock in about 2 minutes.


Long story short - any reasonable lock or chain can be cut or defeated by a professional thief. Reality check: a decent lock will deter the casual thief looking for an easy score, and if your bike (or dinghy or outboard) are just average, or well-marked, and wouldn't bring that much money when resold, the pro-thief won't be interested.

Originally Posted by WaveDancer2

Would think noise would be a problem with an angle grinder.

At a dinghy dock? Just start an outboard and rev it. Problem solved.

[CptCrunchie]

A little trick I have used, is to run a double twisted wire into the motor cowl, then through the stern and into a small locked box I mounted on the transom. Make it look like the motor was tampered with, and they will likely pass it by.

I also did that to the kicker on my fishing boat. Then I bolted it to the mount. We've had kickers disappear from where my boat is stored, but my kicker - even though newer than most - has been passed by.

[misfits]

Locks only stop honest people from borrowing things.

[CptCrunchie]

Originally Posted by misfits

Locks only stop honest people from borrowing things.

^5 on that one!

[Pelagic]

There is only one solution and that is to not leave the dingy unattended.
For me the biggest benefit of a 3 person crew is that 2 people go ashore, driven by the 3rd who remains on anchor watch.

[boatman61]

I can remember years back when some guys were going round Poole Harbour cutting out the sterns of boats on their moorings with chain saws and taking the brackets and the engines.. deal with the locks at leisure.
The next season folks were stowing them down below.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

for the "professional" thieves - they want the 15+HP outboards

for the "cruiser" thieves - they will steal anything they believe they can sell to some other cruiser who isn't asking any questions

I think your right on the 15+ motors.
This is what I did for that, and you know in a few years no one has figured out the HP label is incorrect? I’ve had one or two comments on that sure is a strong 6 HP, but even with the big three blade SS prop, no one has figured out it’s not a 6 HP motor
Of course at the dinghy dock the motor is always down so they don’t see the prop

[jmschmidt]

In a few places, when moored or anchored at night and we were on board (or even not on board) I would rig an old Vietnam style tripwire from several feet of monofilament line stretched loosley across the deck with an empty beer can tied on it about every three of four feet. The other end of the line was tied to the dinghy an not visible in the dark. If someone swam up, or came on a surfboaed, to cut the dinghy painter and float off, the sound of the beer cans dragging across the deck would alert anyone on board.

No, I didn't attach the Claymores to the tripwire.

[Alita49DS]

My son having achieved getting the dingy and outboard stolen whilst on shore in Ibiza, I am extremely sensitive to the issue. Not to say the cost.

Small petrol outboards have a standard safety cord anyone can buy for a few €. No security at all.

What I have done is to buy a Torqeedo electric outboard. Not only for security, but it has a major security advantage. When I leave the dingy ashore I now:

a. take the control handle. It is very light and fits into a rucksack. Without out it the unit is useless to anyone
b. take the handle of each of the aluminium oars. Which also fit into the rucksack.

No deterrent is absolute but I am hoping that is enough to put off most thieves.

Oh, and on the boat I was always taught to never rely on a single line. I use a clove hitch on each and then tie a bowline with the bitter end. So in practice four points of contact with the pushpit.