Outboard security

[catalac08]

Hi
Due to the common incidence of outboard engine theft i am a bit concerned about a glossy new outboard sitting on the back of my boat particularly over long,dark winter nights and I am wondering about ways of making it less obviously attractive to thieves. The obvious easy way is to spray paint the outboard also with my postcode painted on and so that the make/type is not apparent, will not look as new and sale value much, much less. However i am loath to do this as it will immediately make my little asset worth less and it would be defaced in the event I wanted to sell it myself.
I will of course bolt it on with security bolts but any of these things including outboard locks are easily sorted with a disc cutter.
Any other bright ideas?

 

[titian]

Could you buy a shaggy old engine hood & keep the shiney one at home?
Spray on dirt perhaps?
Big motor-cycle type security chain might persuade them to nick some other poor soda outboard?

 

[Boomshanka]

Perhaps a spray of SmartWater (http://www.smartwater.com/Personal.aspx)... or fit one of those orange smoke cannisters in security boxes under the hood... or just wire it direct to the shorepower when you're not onboard... okay maybe I'm going too far there

Whilst prevention is the way to go... what resources are there in place to catch the theiving bar stewards and, disrupt the onward sale (where do all these stolen outboards go?)

 

[PaulGooch]

If they want it, they'll take it. Make the one next door look more attractive. A manky cowl, brush painted with Dulux might help. An aerosol of cellulose paint on the rest should (note should) wash off with thinners at a later date.

 

[catalac08]

Thanks spray on dirt is perhaps not such a silly idea - perhaps a coating of waxoil would soon have dirt and **** adhering and the outboard would look superficially quite old but this could then be cleaned off easily when desired. I will try this out on my current outboard and see how that goes!

 

[crazy4557]

Why don't you take it home or lock it inside the boat?

 

[Major Catastrophe]

Why don't you take it home or lock it inside the boat?

Not easy to do when it is bolted to the transom and hard wired to the steering wheel and remote....I expect.

The only answer is to fit insurance company recommended bolts locks - photograph them as proof - and claim once the noise of the chain saw has died down.

Scruffing up an engine to make it look old is not going to do much for your pride or resale value, and outboards thieves are not that stupid.

I have those microdots on my engine.