beancounter
Well-Known Member
Can anyone recommend a more substantial device for the washboard(s) than the typical, rather flimsy device (the sort that is merely a tongue of metal that turns up behind a lip on the main hatch)currently fitted?
Locking up the boat
- Thread starter beancounter
- Start date
mithril
Well-Known Member
Moody Spares do a "Cabin Lock" which seems to be the biz. I think its German made and Moody are the UK disty. Its about £80
duncan
Well-Known Member
Just remember that there is no point in exceeding the strength of your weakest link - you are just going to end up with more damage!
Cordless power tools and boltcroppers will remove any (almost any) padlock and a heavy boot will take on the washboards themselves - although most yachts are pretty strong here.
Cordless power tools and boltcroppers will remove any (almost any) padlock and a heavy boot will take on the washboards themselves - although most yachts are pretty strong here.
RupertW
Well-Known Member
I'd agree they're flimsy. I managed to break my key in the padlock earlier this season and with nobody in the harbour office or on nearby boats and with no available tools (all inside the cabin) it took me nearly five minutes to work out how to break in, then about 5 seconds to do it.
The locks that turn a lever into a groove in plexiglass hatches are a lot easier, if there's any give at all in the hatch or the track.
The locks that turn a lever into a groove in plexiglass hatches are a lot easier, if there's any give at all in the hatch or the track.
fireball
Well-Known Member
I look on the locks as a deterrant ... if someone wants to get into your boat they will ...
RupertW
Well-Known Member
Exactly - my boat looks locked and I can't do much more than that, without a lot of expense and a bit of ugliness.
Evadne
Well-Known Member
Me too. The more secure the hatch, the more damage it suffers when someone kicks it in. When the boat is on a mooring or ashore in a deserted boatyard, a thief has as much time as he or she needs to break in.
Dave99
Well-Known Member
Money spent on an alarm may be better. A couple of padlocks of reasonable size will suggest that you have taken some precautions.
alldownwind
Well-Known Member
I looked at one of these locks and decided as others have mentioned, that maybe it's better to let 'em break in easily and do less damage. Not a huge amount worth nicking anyway, apart from food!
Dyflin
Well-Known Member
I know of a couple of boats with a A4 size sign taped to the washboards saying (in big bold letters) Caution! Alarm Fitted.
I have no idea if there is an alarm or not, but I'm sure a thief would simply move onto the next boat to avoid causing a fuss.
Worth thinking about!
I have no idea if there is an alarm or not, but I'm sure a thief would simply move onto the next boat to avoid causing a fuss.
Worth thinking about!
G
Guest
Guest
Personally know of 3 boats broken into ....
1 of them mine ....
Entry via the fore-hatch - NOT the wash-board companionway. Once in they kicked through the main to forecabin door. Fore-hatch used to be shot-bolt and a lanyard down to eye on side of bunk. Lanyard cut, bolt hanging by single screw where they wrenched up.
Others were boats I inspected .... and 1 suffered horrendous damage to the surrounding structure. Why ? Owner had beefed up the companionway so that serious damage had to be done by the thieves to get through. Repairs were lengthy and very expensive. Boat never looked same again. Other boat was typical padlock and hasp ... limited damage and was repaired reasonably quickly and economically.
Both boats suffered loss of nearly everything not bolted down or secured. (Same as my boat !! where even the sails went - believed more interest was the large sail bag to cart away the swag).
IMHO - sensible levels of security are good and possibly alarm ... but beefing up the structure and making it real hard - can lead to the serious thief seriously damaging your pride and joy ....
Again IMHO .... based on inspections and my own boat ....
I forgot to mention that another boat - not broken into but lost its 70HP outboard. 2 weeks prior it had been fitted to the MOBO with stainless steel through bolts, peened over nuts and all sorts of fittings - even to the stainless steel plate inserted into transom. The thieves simply chainsawed the transom out of the boat fittings an 'all ....
1 of them mine ....
Entry via the fore-hatch - NOT the wash-board companionway. Once in they kicked through the main to forecabin door. Fore-hatch used to be shot-bolt and a lanyard down to eye on side of bunk. Lanyard cut, bolt hanging by single screw where they wrenched up.
Others were boats I inspected .... and 1 suffered horrendous damage to the surrounding structure. Why ? Owner had beefed up the companionway so that serious damage had to be done by the thieves to get through. Repairs were lengthy and very expensive. Boat never looked same again. Other boat was typical padlock and hasp ... limited damage and was repaired reasonably quickly and economically.
Both boats suffered loss of nearly everything not bolted down or secured. (Same as my boat !! where even the sails went - believed more interest was the large sail bag to cart away the swag).
IMHO - sensible levels of security are good and possibly alarm ... but beefing up the structure and making it real hard - can lead to the serious thief seriously damaging your pride and joy ....
Again IMHO .... based on inspections and my own boat ....
I forgot to mention that another boat - not broken into but lost its 70HP outboard. 2 weeks prior it had been fitted to the MOBO with stainless steel through bolts, peened over nuts and all sorts of fittings - even to the stainless steel plate inserted into transom. The thieves simply chainsawed the transom out of the boat fittings an 'all ....
rich
Well-Known Member
Re: Personally know of 3 boats broken into ....
For years I have left my cabin door unlocked, it was built in the 60s, beautiful mahogany panelled and varnished, This season I locked it, the boat was broken into, the door smashed to pieces
£900 to make a new one the same.
For years I have left my cabin door unlocked, it was built in the 60s, beautiful mahogany panelled and varnished, This season I locked it, the boat was broken into, the door smashed to pieces
£900 to make a new one the same.
Gin
Well-Known Member
Look at Hatch Latch of Osprey Marine:-http://www.ospreymarine.co.uk/
Great piece of kit but I have teamed it up with a sophisticated alarm, warning sign and flashing LED. Also a Rotalock padlock which cannot be frozen,picked,drilled or wrenched off due to its revolving body.
All a bit OTT, but I agree with others that the defence is no greater than the weakest link so my equipment(at a considerable cost) is designed to make the thief "go next door"
Great piece of kit but I have teamed it up with a sophisticated alarm, warning sign and flashing LED. Also a Rotalock padlock which cannot be frozen,picked,drilled or wrenched off due to its revolving body.
All a bit OTT, but I agree with others that the defence is no greater than the weakest link so my equipment(at a considerable cost) is designed to make the thief "go next door"
Stork_III
Well-Known Member
I've got one ina its box, my dining room, never fitted, due to my laziness. £40 + PP if anyone interested.
kengill
Well-Known Member
I use two padlocks on traditional Tongue and Hasp for the companionway. The Liferaft, outboard, dinghy and cockpit all share the same key as the companionway.
But the easiest way to get into most boats is with a'''''' hey what am I saying there could be a theif reading this post!
A determined theif will get in whatever you do. We can at best deter the opportunist and make them go on to easier prey.
Ken
But the easiest way to get into most boats is with a'''''' hey what am I saying there could be a theif reading this post!
A determined theif will get in whatever you do. We can at best deter the opportunist and make them go on to easier prey.
Ken
beancounter
Well-Known Member
Thanks all..
..sounds like we need to find the middle road between Fort Knox & downright flimsy. We'll investigate the Moody kit, I think.
..sounds like we need to find the middle road between Fort Knox & downright flimsy. We'll investigate the Moody kit, I think.
jerryat
Well-Known Member
Detailing your boat's protection is not very sensible I agree. I think a good quality alarm system is a far better deterrent than massive locks that invite substantial damage.
Sure the thief may get as far as breaking open the locks, but it takes an extremely calm type to stay on board once a couple of painfully loud sirens go off, accompanied by flashing nav lights etc!
Pal of mine reckons the best deterrent, is the prominant display of 'Alarm Fitted' signs. He may well be right!
Sure the thief may get as far as breaking open the locks, but it takes an extremely calm type to stay on board once a couple of painfully loud sirens go off, accompanied by flashing nav lights etc!
Pal of mine reckons the best deterrent, is the prominant display of 'Alarm Fitted' signs. He may well be right!
G
Guest
Guest
My idea ....
having had to re-fashion interior door surround, refit hatch etc. on the previous boat after break-in ... one thing I make sure nopw is that interior door is left on its hook ajar ... not closed - that way, I don't have to spend out again on door-frame etc.
having had to re-fashion interior door surround, refit hatch etc. on the previous boat after break-in ... one thing I make sure nopw is that interior door is left on its hook ajar ... not closed - that way, I don't have to spend out again on door-frame etc.
Dave99
Well-Known Member
Flashing LEDs on your washboard may do the trick
waterboy
Well-Known Member
I lock my boat up as a sop to the insurers. An unlocked outboard, liferaft or companion way hatch is surely a bona fide excuse to avoid payout when Mr T-leaf pays a visit.