Freeze brakes to avoid trailer theft?

[DBreskin]

I was thinking about ways to discourage boat thieves. I have both a hitch lock and coupler lock on my trailer, but I know a determined thief can get past those devices easily.

Since my boat is winterized for a few months, I was thinking about removing the breakaway cable so the disc brakes would be activated, inhibiting a thief's ability to tow away my boat and trailer. My breakaway cable is a type that is non-destructive; I can re-insert the cable to re-arm the system. I don't know how long the surge brake system will hold pressure, nor do I know what detrimental effect such long term activation might have on the brake system.

Comments anyone?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Freeze brakes to avoid trailer theft?

just insure it... locking the brakes long term can lead to problems with master cylinder, wheel cylinders/calipers and of course brakes rusted in the applied position for the guys with drums

Also that's another easily defeated thing....
pair of dykes, snip the brake line and roll

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Freeze brakes to avoid trailer theft?

Also that's another easily defeated thing....
pair of dykes, snip the brake line and roll

Agreed, the most effective measures are the theft DETERRENT steps you can take. (visual things the thief can see before ever touching your stuff) If you try and make it hard after they are already hooked up, its quicker to drag it out of your view and snip the brake lines than unhook it.

From your profile, you have an older boat (20 years old)... Statistically, your boat isn't likely to be stolen whole. Its far more likely someone is going to slash the tarp and rummage through looking for fishing equipment/electronics, steal the prop (or entire outdrive), or siphon the gas.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Freeze brakes to avoid trailer theft?

I would not lock the brakes, as noted they will freeze up with corrosion over the damp winter...One thing I do is remove the outdrive, they do get stolen from boats in storage all the time, takes 15 min and 6 nuts on the transom mount and 2 for the trim rams...
Get a beefy chain, link it round the frame and thru the holes in the wheel....or....take off the wheels and leave it on jack stands....hard to move it then, LOL unless they got wheels too....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Freeze brakes to avoid trailer theft?

Get a beefy chain, link it round the frame and thru the holes in the wheel....or....take off the wheels and leave it on jack stands....hard to move it then, LOL unless they got wheels too....

Ayuh,... Agreed,... Store the tires where the boat ain't...

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Freeze brakes to avoid trailer theft?

Ayuh,... Agreed,... Store the tires where the boat ain't...

Bondo - What does Ayuh mean and how is it pronounced? Just curious, I see it on the beginning of all of your post.

LK

 

[Bridar]

Re: Freeze brakes to avoid trailer theft?

It's an old New Englander's word (worth the read): http://dialectblog.com/2011/04/14/ayuh-americas-oddest-yes/

(...or the video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J44dWOPZFGY