Targa 40 Tender Garage Lock / Security

[danieleither]

I like to keep paddleboards and various items of value in my tender garage, however I am anxious that it does not lock and is therefore susceptible to opportunist thieves... I am curious therefore, if there is an aftermarket handle / locking system available (I've searched Google to no avail), or alternatively can anyone recommend someone that may be able to do a custom job to make it lockable (ideally Southampton area)?

 

[bluetooth]

I like to keep paddleboards and various items of value in my tender garage, however I am anxious that it does not lock and is therefore susceptible to opportunist thieves... I am curious therefore, if there is an aftermarket handle / locking system available (I've searched Google to no avail), or alternatively can anyone recommend someone that may be able to do a custom job to make it lockable (ideally Southampton area)?

Interesting thought which could apply to any tender garage setup i suppose. You say opportunist thief but opening a garage door isn't that opportunist compared to a cockpit and stealing electronics which is far easier and more stealth like.

Does your berth/marina have cctv or security as this would be the obvious reassurance for you.

Rather than looking to put a custom lock on the garage door why not get a reinforced cable and secure the paddleboard to the tender and the engine and padlock together. Even fit a SS eye to the side of the garage floor and padlock to this.

Getting a paddleboard out of a T40 garage isn't a very easy and quick process when not linked to other things. I've banged my head and slipover many times!!

 

[danieleither]

Interesting thought which could apply to any tender garage setup i suppose. You say opportunist thief but opening a garage door isn't that opportunist compared to a cockpit and stealing electronics which is far easier and more stealth like.

Does your berth/marina have cctv or security as this would be the obvious reassurance for you.

Rather than looking to put a custom lock on the garage door why not get a reinforced cable and secure the paddleboard to the tender and the engine and padlock together. Even fit a SS eye to the side of the garage floor and padlock to this.

Getting a paddleboard out of a T40 garage isn't a very easy and quick process when not linked to other things. I've banged my head and slipover many times!!

Hmm, I'm not sure I agree. It takes all of 5 seconds to step on the boat, slide the catch and open the garage door. I then have the tender (with new outboard) - which to be fair would be difficult to take (but not impossible). The paddle boards and kayak are all folded up and sitting in / and on, the tender and would be very easy to snatch, along with the carbon paddles (which are pretty costly themselves).

Yes the marina has CCTV, but CCTV has never stopped anyone nicking anything - and the most you'd get from the police is an incident number for £5k worth of paddleboards, outboards etc. I'm actually gobsmacked these garages aren't lockable as standard.

Since posting this, I have actually come up with what I think is an excellent solution - magnetic locks as used for fire exits and electronic access doors. They are incredibly strong (you'd break the GRP before the locks gave way), they work on 12V DC and use very little power - further, the time I most want the garage secured is when the boat is at a marina anyway (and therefore connected to shore power). I have Osmotech doing some work on my boat in the next few weeks so I'm going to run the idea past them and see if they can provide a custom solution using the mag locks...

 

[danieleither]

Another idea I had (which will only serve as a deterrent), is to install a loud alarm which goes off whenever the garage door is opened, and of course with a disable switch inside the boat on the electrics control panel.

 

[bluetooth]

Hmm, I'm not sure I agree. It takes all of 5 seconds to step on the boat, slide the catch and open the garage door. I then have the tender (with new outboard) - which to be fair would be difficult to take (but not impossible). The paddle boards and kayak are all folded up and sitting in / and on, the tender and would be very easy to snatch, along with the carbon paddles (which are pretty costly themselves).

Yes the marina has CCTV, but CCTV has never stopped anyone nicking anything - and the most you'd get from the police is an incident number for £5k worth of paddleboards, outboards etc. I'm actually gobsmacked these garages aren't lockable as standard.

Since posting this, I have actually come up with what I think is an excellent solution - magnetic locks as used for fire exits and electronic access doors. They are incredibly strong (you'd break the GRP before the locks gave way), they work on 12V DC and use very little power - further, the time I most want the garage secured is when the boat is at a marina anyway (and therefore connected to shore power). I have Osmotech doing some work on my boat in the next few weeks so I'm going to run the idea past them and see if they can provide a custom solution using the mag locks...

Sounds good. Be interested to see what u can do.

But if you used a security cable through the tender handles, engine handle and paddleboard footstraps how would the thief get that lot out?

 

[bluetooth]

Another idea I had (which will only serve as a deterrent), is to install a loud alarm which goes off whenever the garage door is opened, and of course with a disable switch inside the boat on the electrics control panel.

Equally good and simple

 

[danieleither]

Sounds good. Be interested to see what u can do.

But if you used a security cable through the tender handles, engine handle and paddleboard footstraps how would the thief get that lot out?

Chop the cable? Or cut the paddleboard handle (which is some kind of fabric). I suppose you could argue an opportunist thief won't have cable cutters or a knife on them, but once they've seen what's inside I think they'd be sure to return...

 

[bluetooth]

Chop the cable? Or cut the paddleboard handle (which is some kind of fabric). I suppose you could argue an opportunist thief won't have cable cutters or a knife on them, but once they've seen what's inside I think they'd be sure to return...

I'm thinking the reinforced cables used on securing motorbikes and jetskis. Not sure they would cut paddleboard footsteps if they then wanted to use them or sell it.

I'm keen to see the magnet option you mention above. Keep us updated.

 

[danieleither]

I'm thinking the reinforced cables used on securing motorbikes and jetskis. Not sure they would cut paddleboard footsteps if they then wanted to use them or sell it.

I'm keen to see the magnet option you mention above. Keep us updated.

Ahh yes good point. Maybe I'm over-cautious. The good thing about a maglock solution is the ease (just flick a switch or keylock in the galley to release the garage). I need to go down to the boat and have a good look at the garage door, but as long as there are two flat surfaces coming together it should work nicely (and I'm pretty sure from memory that there are).

If I do go ahead with this solution I'll get some photos and post here of how it was done. It should be cheap but effective.

 

[bluetooth]

Ahh yes good point. Maybe I'm over-cautious. The good thing about a maglock solution is the ease (just flick a switch or keylock in the galley to release the garage). I need to go down to the boat and have a good look at the garage door, but as long as there are two flat surfaces coming together it should work nicely (and I'm pretty sure from memory that there are).

If I do go ahead with this solution I'll get some photos and post here of how it was done. It should be cheap but effective.

Yes do post your solution. I havent dared have someone close the door on me yet to see exactly how the surfaces come together or specifically what else i can get in the tender without getting crushed. Obvious choice is my 14 year old!!
You should have a heavy duty power outlet in the garage for your power source and you could probably have the release switch in the engine room. And then lock the ER door with the factory fitted key-lock!