Outboard motor security lock?

[ProDave]

and wear and tear is also a good deterrant.

I have a friend who after having one OB stolen (no lock) painted his replacement a hideous blotchy bright lime green colour, thinking nobody would want such a distinctive ugly motor.

 

[geem]

I have a friend who after having one OB stolen (no lock) painted his replacement a hideous blotchy bright lime green colour, thinking nobody would want such a distinctive ugly motor.

It's common in the Caribbean to 'personalise' the outboard to deter again theft. It amazes me that some people are happy to be a target for theft and simply rely on insurance. No wonder insurance costs so much. We make it a difficult as possible for the thief. Our outboard is engraved with the boat name as well.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

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.

For Europe (excluding Spain) where theft is rare and the worst case is a boat hacked with a chainsaw, I thoroughly agree. I can appreciate that things are different in the Caribbean (and Spain) where there is a lot of poverty and opportunistic petty theft.

Edit: Added Spain

 

[Stemar]

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.

Sad, but true.

Best security is to take it home, or store it out of sight in the cabin

Yep - I take loose stuff of any value off the boat when she's unattended. But then the buggers will break into your garage if they really want the outboard. Fortunately, the professional thief is more likely to go after a new 200HP OB than a scruffy 20HP.

Making a new OB look scruffy is one useful thing you can do. If it's chained up and doesn't look worth nicking, it's unlikely to get nicked. Also, maybe postcode it very visibly? Though it did no good when mine was nicked - plod just wanted to give me a crime number and get me off the line

 

[Graham376]

For Europe where theft is rare and the worst case is a boat hacked with a chainsaw, I thoroughly agree. I can appreciate that things are different in the Caribbean where there is a lot of poverty and opportunistic petty theft.

In which part of Europe is it rare? Spain certainly has a theft problem, we know of many thefts of outboards and/or dinghies, several of which were taken from boats at night with owners on board.

 

[geem]

In which part of Europe is it rare? Spain certainly has a theft problem, we know of many thefts of outboards and/or dinghies, several of which were taken from boats at night with owners on board.

It happened to us. In Northern Spain. Security is somewhat improved these days?

 

[[70521]]

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).

Would that policeman just be happen to be walking beside the boat?

I had to break into my last boat with a pair of bolt cutters, took about 5 seconds. Oddly, nobody walked over to ask who I was and what I was doing.

 

[westernman]

Would that policeman just be happen to be walking beside the boat?

I had to break into my last boat with a pair of bolt cutters, took about 5 seconds. Oddly, nobody walked over to ask who I was and what I was doing.

I once decided to take the radio out of the car (a long time ago when radios where all aftermarket). My car was parked on the street in downtown Munich and I decided to do this at 1am.

Soon enough there was a policeman there asking what I was doing.....

 

[KREW2]

The battery angle grinder has put paid to a lot of securing devices.

 

[geem]

The battery angle grinder has put paid to a lot of securing devices.

That's where the barking dog comes in handy?

 

[Refueler]

Sad, but true.



Yep - I take loose stuff of any value off the boat when she's unattended. But then the buggers will break into your garage if they really want the outboard. Fortunately, the professional thief is more likely to go after a new 200HP OB than a scruffy 20HP.

Making a new OB look scruffy is one useful thing you can do. If it's chained up and doesn't look worth nicking, it's unlikely to get nicked. Also, maybe postcode it very visibly? Though it did no good when mine was nicked - plod just wanted to give me a crime number and get me off the line

Farlington Marsh moorings.

Mobo with new 70HP O/bd ...... lasted about a week before it was stolen of the transom. It had through bolts to secure etc.

Boat was repaired and the previous 'tired' 50HP was put back onto the boat. The engine cover was hand painted .. engine was scruffy. Transom had a metal plate embedded into it along with bolts / locks etc.

Within a few days - the transom was sawn out and that scruffy engine gone as well.

Myself and others helped to salvage the boat .....

 

[northwind]

The battery angle grinder has put paid to a lot of securing devices.

So has the Lock Picking Laywer..

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lockpickinglawyer

 

[scozzy]

Why not have an old towel tucked away and when not in boat leave it down below? Assuming it's clean and well maintained(as it should be!?) you can just protect the floor with the towel,ba bungee or 2 to secure the motor from rocking about and no one is tempted by an outboard they can't see?

 

[KREW2]

When my boat was ashore in the winter I used to remove anything of value and leave it unlocked. I made this decision after another boat in the yard was broken into causing a lot of damage to the companion way, and wash boards, only to have a jigsaw puzzle stolen.