Outboard Security after Attempted Theft

J

Jaguar 25

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Someone had a go stealing my Honda 8 outboard over the last weekend. I had taken the boat out of the water at Fell Foot, Windermere and had to leave the outboard in position until Monday morning. T=It has security bolts/nuts attaching the outboard frame to the lifting bracket. Got there Monday morning, the outboard was still in place but the clamps were undone and one of the security bolts had been removed. Looks like they couldn't get the second one off so they tried to take the lifting bracket apart to remove this with the outboard. Only one of the locknuts was missing (found under the boat). The lifting handle on the lifting bracket prevents me from fitting the normal anti-thief cover for the mounting clamps.
Anyway,
I am going to replace all the locking nuts (that could be removed to allow the lifting bracket to be partially removed with the outboard) with shear nuts and possibly replace the security bolt/nuts (requiring adaptor to unscrew) but add a substantial chain as a further security measure.
How does this sound and are there any other suggestions (apart from never leaving the outboard on when on the hard!)?
 
I think all you can do is take reasonable measures to protect against theft, as you have. Ultimately, whatever you do, if someone wants to steal something, they will. Take photos of your security measures and make sure your insurance is up to date.
 
...and cover the outboard in a nasty old bit of tarpaulin (or similar), then it is less likely to catch the eye.
 
I would take it home for the winter as they "nearly" removed it they may come back with the correct tools.
Do the extra security next season.
 
I first had an outboard stolen about 50 years ago Since the I have taken precautions.
I started with a small hand engraving machine and engraved my name on things like Ship to Sure Radio, Echo Sounder etc. I took them home from my boat for safe keeping and they were stolen. Fortunately because they had been engraved when the Police searched the home of a local thief they were able to identify my stolen items and the thief went to jail.
Regarding Outboard Security, I had an outboard security lock which slid over the brackets and it was very strong, it was steel tube with a secure lock at one end. Its that sort of thing you need. Also how about trying to find a second hand cover and painting it a crap colour so it would be more difficult to sell. In addition when I sold saddles I could supply a small chip which could be inserted into the saddle and Police are supposed to scan stuff which is in possession of known thieves,
Also from Screwfix you can get a "stamp & die" set where you can stamp your Post Code on the outdrive leg,
inside the engine cowling etc.
 
Jim@sea said:
I first had an outboard stolen about 50 years ago Since the I have taken precautions.
I started with a small hand engraving machine and engraved my name on things like Ship to Sure Radio, Echo Sounder etc. I took them home from my boat for safe keeping and they were stolen. Fortunately because they had been engraved when the Police searched the home of a local thief they were able to identify my stolen items and the thief went to jail.
Regarding Outboard Security, I had an outboard security lock which slid over the brackets and it was very strong, it was steel tube with a secure lock at one end. Its that sort of thing you need. Also how about trying to find a second hand cover and painting it a crap colour so it would be more difficult to sell. In addition when I sold saddles I could supply a small chip which could be inserted into the saddle and Police are supposed to scan stuff which is in possession of known thieves,
Also from Screwfix you can get a "stamp & die" set where you can stamp your Post Code on the outdrive leg,
inside the engine cowling etc.
Click to expand...

As it happens, I cannot fot the security locks that go over the clamps as the lifting handle on the outboard bracket is in the way. Engraving sounds to be a good idea. I will do this when I get it back after it has been serviced.
 
I use a big chain and a big padlock to chain my outboards to the guardrail of the boat.

My dinghy outboard is also painted orange so it can be easy seen
 
Buy a Hangkai or other Chink outboard. If some idiot steals it, you at least will be left with a warm feeling he is being punished for his crime :-).
 
Problem is usually the strongpoint on the boat is the weak point, didn't some scrote once jigsaw out the transom? I have a cordless which would do it in short order, and there are cordless angle grinders.
 
mlines said:
A few instances on the Thames of a chainsaw /jigsaw around the transom, a worse situation than them simply taking the outboard
Click to expand...

It's a chainsaw normally. A jigsaw would be too slow. For that reason, I recently laminated some metal bars into my transom when I was doing some work on it. Still won't stop them, but might give them a surprise and a problem :D
 
jiris said:
Buy a Hangkai or other Chink outboard. If some idiot steals it, you at least will be left with a warm feeling he is being punished for his crime :-).
Click to expand...

I think he wants to use it before it is nicked! Unfortunatelypadlock and chain takes less than 30 seconds to chop off with a battery angle grinder (£35.00 from Lidl) . Virtually nothing is proof against those things, (as my son found recently with his bike. So make it undesireable/unsaleable by decorating it with your post code (not just on the hood!) and a distinctive paint job, which with luck will make them go on to the next more saleable one, or concealment with a well tied down cover. They wont want to risk hanging around undoing your knitting only to find a seagull or Chinese cheapo underneath. If they have had a go at it already, then get it off and home sharpish. They now know what tools they need to complete the job!

Think too of the possibility of damage to your boat removing it: its not unheard of for them to use a chainsaw to carve the whole shooting match off.
 
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Now thinking in terms of a substantial canvas cover that can be locked in position so, although they could cut through it they wouldn't know beforehand what was underneath. When on the mooring I used to cover it with a black bin bag. That wasn't a real security measure but at least they couldn't tell what outboard was underneath. Additionally I will engrave name, postcode and tel no. on it somewhere. As it happens my tender has this info from the previous owner.

Thanks for all the suggestions and I agree that if I made it too hard I could end up without a transom!
 
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