Preventing Theft

[BigNiner19]

Anyone have some good ideas to prevent or slow down a criminal from stealing a boat?

I have one of those coupler key locks already, but I feel that wont slow them down much.

Anyone ever used something like this through a wheel?

https://www.kryptonitelock.com/products/List.aspx?cid=1000&scid=1001

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Preventing Theft

Sure. You could use one of those, if you can pass it through a wheel. That might slow someone down a little more.

You could also chain it to a huge chunk of concrete or something, using hardened chain.

But, the bottom line is that if someone is determined to steal your boat, it's gone. The best prevention is to store it in a locked garage, out of sight.

Have insurance if you have an extremely valuable boat. There is no 100% effective solution.

Or, you could do like I do, and have a crappy old aluminum boat nobody would want.

 

[Bowser4x4]

Re: Preventing Theft

Sure. You could use one of those, if you can pass it through a wheel. That might slow someone down a little more.

.....Or, you could do like I do, and have a crappy old aluminum boat nobody would want.

The only boat that I ever had stolen was a "crappy old aluminum " that I thought no one else would want......guess what->someone did

The general rule is to make your boat {or whatever item} time consuming to steal. The longer it takes, the more likely they will go somewhere else. Main problem now is that the 18-36 volt battery cutoff tools will go thru just about anything extremely quickly. With this in mind, I try to lock mine in such a way that A) a grinder/cutoff can not be easily used and/or B) that I take a part that is needed to move the boat, IE coupler, wheel, tongue....

Woof
Bowser

 

[spktho]

Re: Preventing Theft

I know a couple of people who store their boats and trailers on blocks with their wheels locked up in the garage. A thief would have to carry around tires, wheels and lug nuts that fit the trailer.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Preventing Theft

I know a couple of people who store their boats and trailers on blocks with their wheels locked up in the garage. A thief would have to carry around tires, wheels and lug nuts that fit the trailer.

Depending on how much the boat is worth, I could see someone slapping a set of tires on it and dragging it away. I read a post where some thief unbolted the guys locked coupler, bolted on another one ($25) and hauled the boat away, and that was only a $3-5K aluminum bay boat.

I never gave much thought to theft as my old boats haven't been much to steal. But, I noticed most of the cover bungies on my 01 Crestliner were taken off one afternoon Luckily, the boat is a project and once they looked inside there wasn't anything to steal,,, and the boat wasn't worth stealing in it's current condition. After that I locked the swing tongue back, locked the coupler closed, locks through the swing tougue anchor pin holes, security cable through a tire/frame and put flat tire on the other side. Yeah, they could still steal it, but it's going to take them a while cutting off 6-7 locks and changing a flat tire

To the original question, I used something similar to that Kryptonite cable, but it's just a cable and separate lock. Cable through tire and trailer frame with the lock placed in a hard to reach area, hard to reach with a cutting tool.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Preventing Theft

Here's what I use:

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Preventing Theft

After spending over 30 years in the alarm and security business, I've seen a lot and learned a lot. Three things stand out and haven't changed over time:
----If they want it, they will get it
----Locks are for honest people
----The more you do to slow them down, the bigger the chance they will go elsewhere

 

[Bowser4x4]

Re: Preventing Theft

Here's what I use:

Bad news is that the Dewalt cordless cutoff can go thru something like that in less than 60 seconds. I have seen demos where they cut thru Knaack boxes like they are butter..

Woof
Bowser

 

[Expidia]

Re: Preventing Theft

Insurance is your best bet. Another site I frequent post stories of incidents Palm Beach and other places in FL is becoming the capital of boats being stolen.

They break into Marina's through their locked gates and steal your boat right off the rack.

You might be a little more specific on where you store your boat, do you trailer, what type of boat it is it etc . . . in order for some members to give you some tips on possibly slowing down thieves.

As an example they make devices that you can hide in the boat or inside a trailer frame to locate it to track it down.

I use a number of different techniques, but I trailer. I don't know what your specific situation is?

 

[BigNiner19]

Re: Preventing Theft

I trailer

Insurance is definitely an option. But I checked the majority of places Gieco, Progressive, etc...and their rates for a 12 month premium are rediculous for a boat. Boat US wasn't to bad. But still...there has to be a way to slow these guys down enough to make them not try and steal your boat.

I think DeWalt should be sued for making something like that. If those things get in the wrong hands...my goodness.

I already have one of those cheap Trailer coupler locks. I think those are great, but it wont slow anyone down that much. I need something more troublesome.

I would probably put that cable through both wheels/frame and I guess put it somewhere where it would be a nightmare to cut.

Keep the thoughts coming guys! Lets not let it happen to us!

Cory

 

[EARLS BOAT]

Re: Preventing Theft

In the state of Texas you can shoot people for stealing your property or breaking in your home. Would i shoot someone over my boat? dang right!!

 

[PFalcon]

Re: Preventing Theft

In the state of Texas you can shoot people for stealing your property or breaking in your home. Would i shoot someone over my boat? dang right!!

Amen! Now get your CHL and you can even protect others! (within the law)

 

[Expidia]

Re: Preventing Theft

Since I trailer too and usually get off the water late when there are few trailers left in the launch area and I also leave the rig in motel parking lots over night I take the following precautions.

1. Insurance coverage (the cost of insurance is dirt cheap against the cost of buying another rig)

2. The T-Rex transom saver (has a prop lock)

3. I use the Tire Claw on one of the wheels.
my worst fear is coming back late to find my trailer gone on like a Sunday night. The boats in the water and who do you call? You sleep with the boat and the mosquitoes until a marina with a trailer opens up monday AM

4. I don't keep anything of value on the boat overnight either in my driveway or at a motel. I use a folding cart and take my electronics etc into the motel.

5. I have any accessories on the trailer spot welded

6. If I'm in a restaurant, its one where I can park the boat where I can see it from my table.

7. Like I said earlier, they make lojack type devices that are installed inside your boat or frame to protect a more expensive rig than mine.

Still the #1 protection is insurance. If you can't afford the insurance than you probably shouldn't be in boating game! If they steal your rig and you don't have insurance you probably will be knocked out of boating anyway.

Lastly, your quote of "I think DeWalt should be sued for making something like that. If those things get in the wrong hands...my goodness."

You could say the same thing about "guns". Since we can't stop people from ilegal guns or stealing boats all we can do is take a few minor precautions so they hopefully move on to the easier pickens rig . . .

The cost is higher for insurance in FL because so many boats are stolen there each year, especially the go fast type boats.

My rigs a 2007 and I have about 20k invested in it including all the accessories. My insurance is about $200 a year for the boat, motor and trailer. I'd probably have to claim accesories under my homeowners policy.

But that's upstate NY with very low crime! Now you can see what the real cost of sunshine is in FL. Everythings a trade off

Miami had the highest crime rate in the USA a few years ago. Not the place I'd want to have my boat floating behind my house without insurance. I think St Louis took the top spot last year for the highest crime rate.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Preventing Theft

They are welcome to come and "try" to take anything I got. In fact sometimes I "forget" to put my door down and sit in the dark in the back waiting for some excitement.There will be! I want to do a good deed for our community.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Preventing Theft

I aagree with Jeep Man. "A lock just keeps an honest person out".

Post a NO TRESSPASSING sign. (That makes it legal). THEN if the thief is apprehended, your yard is marked.

(I'd like to tell you to just shoot the sob, but, well, you know !!!!!!!!!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Preventing Theft

You can only delay them. If they want it they will take it.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Preventing Theft

Oh God . . . here it comes . . .

These types of steal my boat threads always brings out all the chest beating, rooster crowing Yahoos . . .

The ones "if you try and steal my boat types, I'm gonna git my big gun and shoot you"

Happens every time

This is why only criminal should be allowed to have guns

 

[sportsmanphil]

Re: Preventing Theft

^^^This is just going to **** people off and cause an issue^^^

People work hard for their property and IMO a dirty rotten thief should get some buckshot in their arse, if not to protect your property but the next victim on the thief's list.

*******

Some might already know but I work as an Insurance Adjuster (commercial and residential property) so theft is a huge part of my business.

This is the trailer lock I use.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200172024_200172024

But the best security for my boat is the 4 legged version that sleeps under it. Dont know if he would bite someone but I know for a fact that he has the ability to scense when something is wrong and thats when the hair on his back stands up and the barking starts. He is a Belgian Malinois and looks like he will take your leg off at 100 yards. If he dont run a thief off he will get the attention of me or my neighbors.

Motion activated lights are great.

If you run a cable through the wheel to the frame, make sure to install a locking lugnut. They do make tools to remove those and on a trailer with exposed lugs, their easily removed with vise grips,,,,,,but some thiefs dont carry every tool in the shed with them.



If a thief wants your boat, there going to get it. But all these measures just makes the neighbors boat easier

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Preventing Theft

Oh God . . . here it comes . . .

These types of steal my boat threads always brings out all the chest beating, rooster crowing Yahoos . . .

The ones "if you try and steal my boat types, I'm gonna git my big gun and shoot you"

Happens every time

This is why only criminal should be allowed to have guns

My house is in walking distance from Joe Horn (look him up if you dont know what he did). Theft is low IMO due to that incident. Personally I would not kill anybody for stealing something of mine.
My boat is fenced inside my yard with my dogs (Boxers). I do own many firearms including two beutiful AR15's. If I did catch you in my property I could kill you and just say I felt in danger (which Im sure I would). This is 100% ok in the Lone Star State. This is a great deterrent to all the rif raf out there.
No fancy locks needed around my boat.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Preventing Theft

Invisibility is the best followed by ugly.