Outboard motor security lock?

[biscuit]

I'm thinking of buying a 19 ft.daysailer. It will be on a pontoon mooring accesible by boating passers by, but not in a secure marina. It has a stern o/b bracket. I would like to leave the o/b attached if at all possible, but am concerned about security. Ideas very welcome please from anyone with a similar problem.

 

[RJJ]

I'm thinking of buying a 19 ft.daysailer. It will be on a pontoon mooring accesible by boating passers by, but not in a secure marina. It has a stern o/b bracket. I would like to leave the o/b attached if at all possible, but am concerned about security. Ideas very welcome please from anyone with a similar problem.

Something like this covers the toggles. There are several variants. If really determined they will use an angle grinder, but with an angle grinder they can just as easily cut the transom off your boat. And it takes time and noise, which are good deterrents.

Probably tougher is a bike D lock and a padeye, if the nuts to the latter can be in an interior compartment. Beware a bike lock needs protecting from salt water or it will seize very quickly.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SeaSense-5...16&hvtargid=pla-594939356314&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

 

[geem]

I'm thinking of buying a 19 ft.daysailer. It will be on a pontoon mooring accesible by boating passers by, but not in a secure marina. It has a stern o/b bracket. I would like to leave the o/b attached if at all possible, but am concerned about security. Ideas very welcome please from anyone with a similar problem.

Look at Motorloc. Robust unit.

 

[lustyd]

On my Vivacity 20 which was similar to your setup I used to just point the toggles together and put a padlock through them. The reality is that you're only stopping the most casual thefts, so a padlock is sufficient. Any more determined thefts won't be avoided, just the damage to surroundings goes up. Your outboard bracket won't be all that hard to remove/dismantle/cut, so why spend a fortune on securing the outboard to it?

 

[geem]

On my Vivacity 20 which was similar to your setup I used to just point the toggles together and put a padlock through them. The reality is that you're only stopping the most casual thefts, so a padlock is sufficient. Any more determined thefts won't be avoided, just the damage to surroundings goes up. Your outboard bracket won't be all that hard to remove/dismantle/cut, so why spend a fortune on securing the outboard to it?

Most insurance companies require a proprietary lock. A paddlock through the clamps doesn't meet this requirement. Buy a decent locking mechanism and discourage theft

 

[ltcom]

In addition to other posts ..... remove cowling and replace with a fabric cover when not onboard. It is silly to try to sell an outboard without the cowling because people suspect the ob as stolen

 

[lustyd]

That's never been a requirement on my insurance, just a lock. I'm sure large motorboat outboards may require something more specific. For reference, the working with GJW is

Anti-theft device – An appropriate device sold and
marketed as a secure method of preventing theft.

Which would seem to include padlocks

 

[geem]

That's never been a requirement on my insurance, just a lock. I'm sure large motorboat outboards may require something more specific. For reference, the working with GJW is


Which would seem to include padlocks

My Pantaneus policy say proprietary lock.
You can knock the clamp handles off an outboard incredibly easy. Why not lock it with something effective? The cost of a lock compared to the outboard is tiny. The inconvenience of losing the outboard can be huge. Ruin your day or holiday

 

[Sandy]

Is your pontoon mooring anywhere near a sailing club with a outboard store? I'd never leave an outboard on the boat.

 

[lustyd]

My Pantaneus policy say proprietary lock.
You can knock the clamp handles off an outboard incredibly easy. Why not lock it with something effective? The cost of a lock compared to the outboard is tiny. The inconvenience of losing the outboard can be huge. Ruin your day or holiday

Most proprietary locks use those same clamp handles, most outboards connect to a bit of ply which is connected to some thin GRP. If you want the illusion of security go for it. As I said though, outboard thefts generally fit two categories of opportunistic and organised. Opportunistic is defeated with a padlock, organised can't be defeated regardless and have been known to turn up with chainsaws and cranes for targetted thefts. I can only assume the OP isn't talking about a pristeen Yamaha 6HP Saildrive here, and wear and tear is also a good deterrant.

 

[geem]

Most proprietary locks use those same clamp handles, most outboards connect to a bit of ply which is connected to some thin GRP. If you want the illusion of security go for it. As I said though, outboard thefts generally fit two categories of opportunistic and organised. Opportunistic is defeated with a padlock, organised can't be defeated regardless and have been known to turn up with chainsaws and cranes for targetted thefts. I can only assume the OP isn't talking about a pristeen Yamaha 6HP Saildrive here, and wear and tear is also a good deterrant.

So it's ok with you for it to be stolen? Yes a determined thief will use a chainsaw but risk getting caught due to the noise. You need power tools to remove a decent Motorloc. They make noise. A screwdriver twisted in a paddlock will break the clamps on an outboard. Easy pickings

 

[lustyd]

So it's ok with you for it to be stolen?

No, but it's a fact of life. Yes, a padlock can be broken, but an outboard bracket can be unscrewed. How useful is your Motorlok then? Burglars don't pick locks, they break a window with a brick. Doesn't stop the gullible buying pick proof locks

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Most insurance companies require a proprietary lock. A paddlock through the clamps doesn't meet this requirement. Buy a decent locking mechanism and discourage theft

My insurer, Craftinsure only covers my o/b if it is protected by a purpose made lock.

 

[westernman]

Whatever kind of lock you use, keep it oiled otherwise it will seize and it will be you cutting it off with an angle grinder (and explaining to the policeman what you are doing).

 

[lustyd]

I've cut several locks off of my old boat in "secure" marinas and can assure you nobody bats an eyelid. Actual thieves are smart enough to wear hi vis tops so it looks like they're on official business, but it's rarely necessary

 

[QBhoy]

Always a damned if you do or don’t thing, I think. The worry is that whatever you lock it to, might the the target of unreliable damage and not at easily replaced as the engine itself, I’ve wondered.

 

[andsarkit]

I managed to pick up a spare cowling at a boat jumble. Painted with any old assorted paints I had lying around it should make the engine easily indentifiable and difficult to sell. It also looks old and scruffy and undesirable to steal. The original cover will remain pristine and unscratched for when I come to sell the engine.

 

[Refueler]

On my Vivacity 20 which was similar to your setup I used to just point the toggles together and put a padlock through them. The reality is that you're only stopping the most casual thefts, so a padlock is sufficient. Any more determined thefts won't be avoided, just the damage to surroundings goes up. Your outboard bracket won't be all that hard to remove/dismantle/cut, so why spend a fortune on securing the outboard to it?

Yep .... I've seen too many boats seriously damaged by owners installing anti-theft setups that just made the 'serious' thief use drastic means to steal.
MoBo's with transoms chainsawed out ..... hatchways where surrounding GRP / woodframe smashed to gain entry ..... forward hatches kicked in ...

It may sound daft - but my opinion is that sufficient steps installed to satisfy Insurance and to deter casual thief. But not so much that theft means significant damage to the boat. Better to lose the item and still have a boat in reasonable condition, Insurance claim to replace.

Final bit ..... many years ago Yachting Monthly or PBO ... can never remember which one it was ..... carried a short article with a picture of a guy carrying an outboard along a marina pontoon. The caption read something like : Do you know this person ?
Basically the article was highlighting the fact that in many marinas - unlike club moorings - many people don't actually know many of the other owners of boats around them. That a thief could easily casually carry of items ......

Makes you think !!

 

[geem]

In the Caribbean thief's don't have much money or tools of a UK burglar. They are opportunistic thefts on the whole. Take a dinghy dock full of dinghies. The one with no lock will be stolen. The one with a paddlock through the the clamps might be stolen. The one with security chains, Motorloc, custom engine paint job is at the bottom of the list. There are easier and better targets

 

[Fantasie 19]

Had mine stolen a couple of years ago, so here's my experience...

• The thieves came middle of the night, the engine was secured with an agreed (with insurance company) padlock through the eyes of the toggles and also a cable bike lock - they went through both with a pir of heavy duty bolt croppers like they were made of butter...
• Insurance (in my case Craft Insure) paid up no quibbles, but the depreciation they use is (from memory) something like 10% of the new price per year over 3 years old (cumulative).. throw in your excess, and you'll get nowhere near the replacement cost of a similar condition/age engine
• For the new one I considered lifting it and storing it in the cabin - but it's aheavy lump and I'm too old.. so I have left it on the mount, BUT, I now have a Fulton outboard lock that completely secures/covers the toggles, and as Itcom mentioned above I also take the cowling home with me and use a Ducksback cloth/waterproof cover - so far so good..
• Best security is to take it home, or store it out of sight in the cabin