Padlock

PabloPicasso

PabloPicasso

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I have a small padlock on my washboard.

It needs a 5mm shackle bar or smaller.

Ideally I'd want three keyed alike padlocks (so I can lock the lockers) that will be able to be marine environment corrosion free. Is this a unicorn?

Those I've used so far are rubbish, and have rusted and failed amazingly quickly

Any recomendations?

(why do we call them lockers when they don't?)
 
Buy the best you can afford.

Do not buy Plastimo: they can be picked very easily than other padlocks as proven via many YouTube videos with purchases of picks and transparent padlocks that are easily available via online shopping sites.

I used Plastimo with alike keys on one of my boats and I lost a lot of equipment. The padlocks never corroded but afforded little protection.
 
PabloPicasso said:
I have a small padlock on my washboard.

It needs a 5mm shackle bar or smaller.

Ideally I'd want three keyed alike padlocks (so I can lock the lockers) that will be able to be marine environment corrosion free. Is this a unicorn?

Those I've used so far are rubbish, and have rusted and failed amazingly quickly

Any recomendations?

(why do we call them lockers when they don't?)
Click to expand...

Go to a proper locksmith, not a man and a van, find an established business with its own premises, Every decent sized town has one. They'll source things you've never even heard of.
 
Also go for ‘hardened’ (if that is the correct term) stainless ubolt bits; ones that will take so much elbow grease by the burglar with his bolt croppers that he gives up.
 
PabloPicasso said:
I have a small padlock on my washboard.

It needs a 5mm shackle bar or smaller.

Ideally I'd want three keyed alike padlocks (so I can lock the lockers) that will be able to be marine environment corrosion free. Is this a unicorn?

Those I've used so far are rubbish, and have rusted and failed amazingly quickly

Any recomendations?

(why do we call them lockers when they don't?)
Click to expand...
When you want to buy locks with the same keys they are called "Keys to Pass"
But be careful, in the UK there is a manufacturer of largish locks but they only make 12 keys, so if a burglar buys 13 locks the 13th lock will also have a key for one of the other locks, so in fact providing all the 12 locks he buys are all different he will have the keys for all that make of padlocks in the UK
 
Cerebus said:
Also go for ‘hardened’ (if that is the correct term) stainless ubolt bits; ones that will take so much elbow grease by the burglar with his bolt croppers that he gives up.
Click to expand...
A battery operated saw will cut around that in under a minute on any plastic boat. The more “secure” you make it the more damage is likely.
Thieves don’t care about damaging your property, and locks won’t be given a second thought.
 
PabloPicasso said:
I have a small padlock on my washboard.

It needs a 5mm shackle bar or smaller.

Ideally I'd want three keyed alike padlocks (so I can lock the lockers) that will be able to be marine environment corrosion free. Is this a unicorn?

Those I've used so far are rubbish, and have rusted and failed amazingly quickly

Any recomendations?

(why do we call them lockers when they don't?)
Click to expand...
Someone on here used to be a 'lock smith' with an online shop. Problem being I can't remember who !

Padlocks can only be a deterrent as @lustyd mentioned. Buy a brass type body padlock, hopefully with a s/s bolt bit. My boat had different keys for the cockpit locks and hatch, so each lock had a mark and the same mark on the key. On my locks it was a simple line, 2 lines for the second lock, etc. Never gave a thought about getting them keyed the same.
 
Right, I'm going a bit out there but hear me out. You're putting a padlock on a washboard. Made out of wood or plastic. If they want to get in a hardened lock will just cause them to wreck their way in and as many YouTube videos shown any padlock is easily picked by a motivated person. The way I see them is just to keep the boat locked up against the opportunist thief looking for a quick score.

The way I did it was buy a matching set of ABUS standard padlocks for my washboards and lockers. No marine version or anything and I just take a oil can with a little pump or seringe and fill it with motor oil and pump that through the lock making sure everything inside is drenched in oil. Then just wipe it off and leave it hanging on the inside or a bucket to let the surplus oil drip out, wipe off again and you're good to go.

I do this at the start of every season and the locks keep perfectly fine. Locks work smooth as butter. If you start noticing the lock not working smoothly, just repeat the lube process.
 
Daydream believer said:
My father always used to buy a little blue plastic policeman full of graphite for lubricating locks rather than oil.
Dunno if you can still get them but one must be able to get graphite for locks
Click to expand...

No problem getting Graphite, but it's basically a powder. Oil is better for preventing corrosion, it will spread everywhere and stick.

1758370337122.png
 
Daydream believer said:
My father always used to buy a little blue plastic policeman full of graphite for lubricating locks rather than oil.
Dunno if you can still get them but one must be able to get graphite for locks
Click to expand...

You can still get graphite lock lubricant - it's considered better than oil for locks as it doesn't degrade and gum up the mechanisms. Available online or from a locksmith. Available as powder, or in a liquid spray that evaporates after application.

E.g. (other manufacturers/suppliers available)
1758369850574.png

For my own part I was not impressed by the expensive 'outdoor' high security padlock I once bought. It is cheaper to buy a set of bog standard (though not cheapest of the cheap) general purpose 'same key' padlocks, and replace them from time to time if needed.

That said, I have two sets of ordinary brass(?)-bodied padlocks that have lasted donkeys years in boat and garden use and still giving satisfactory service (one set branded 'Kasp', the other brand name I've forgotten, but begins with a 'B'). The shackles are a bit surface-rusted but still serviceable. Over the years they've been lubricated with graphite, oil and WD40, according to what was to hand at the time, without ill effect.
 
I've used matched IFAM stainless steel padlocks for 10 years and still going strong, I use one to lock my tender so out in weather all year with no problems, drop of oil once a year
 
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