Security for Outboard Motors

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My CD22 has twin 50 HP EFI Yamaha engines. I will be storing my boat on my property at my vacation home during the summer. There may be periods of several weeks when I am not around. I have heard that on occasion, boats that have been left unattended, have their props stolen, and sometimes the outboards themselves taken.

I can take the props off when I am not using the boat, but would be very interested in what others have done to secure their engines to their boat (and or trailer) to keep thieves from taking their engines.

The location would be street front, no fence, but homes nearby. Some permanently occupied and some not. I think things are generally safe, but don't want to take any chances.

Thanks,

Terry
 
After having my kicker motor boosted off my boat I bolted it right to the jack plate. I used those nuts like what guys use on custom wheels. The ones that have a spinning outter collar and take a special socket to remove. But I can't remember who made them for boats. They are stainless steel. Maybe Sterns and if not Fulton.
 
You could make it tougher to steal by welding a bead onto the nut on that secures the engines on the transom. That's what we do with expensive 4x4 winches that easily walk off. Im not sure what the best solution is, but that would be a cheap and effective way to discourage scumbags.
 
I guess I'd worry at least as much about the electronics. We put our window covers up when leaving the boat in a strange place, that way inquiring eyes have a harder time. We have aluminum props and they seem to be less attractive to thieves. We do secure the dinghy motor to the boat with a good quality bike lock. The anti-theft nuts seem like a good idea as long as they can be removed when you want them to. Perhaps some anti-seize lubricant would be a good idea.
 
When I travel I use Lasso cables to lock the trailer to the car and the motors to the trailer, and steel mesh luggage covers over the propellers and lower units. I also use a wireless motion sensor that's good for about 150 feet, along with signs in the covered windows saying WARNING: ELECTRONIC ALARM. None of it will deter a determined thief, but I'm hoping it'll make them think it's too much work, and they'll move on. Some photos are here:

http://smittypaddler.com/cds/cdc/fl11/d110122p.htm
 
In another forum about boats that I read, it seems that in the UK if they want your engine bad enough and you have taken steps to prevent theft like special nuts, locks, etc., the thieves will just take a SawsAll and cut the motor out of the transom. So not only are you out of a motor, your boat may be toast as well.

There can be something said for not making it too difficult to take the engine to limit the collateral damage. Just make sure you have sufficient insurance and that you meet your companies requirements for reasonable care and security.

Although not as big ticket an item, the boat electronics are much easier to swipe, transport, and fence than a 100hp outboard motor.
 
If you are that worried about the outboard getting taken, I'd seriously be considering inside storage for the entire boat. I'm not a guy that would take anything, but if I were going to, there isn't much stopping a person from hooking it up and rolling off with it no matter what you do.......Easier than just about anything else......
 
Good point about cutting the transom. I remember a brat who had that exact thing happen a few years ago. Thieves took a sawzall to his transom to get his two motors and the boat was, I think, totalled. I'd rather replace engines than the boat.
 
I've recently been considering some logistics that would have me leaving my boat on its trailer in a campground for a day. Up until now I've never left the boat unattended while I was out and about, so I started looking into various options for locking boat/trailer/motors. Whew..... after reading and clicking links and reading some more.... I don't know what to think. Sounds like many of the locks are so easy to foil, and.... how far do you take it? (I don't know myself -- just thinking out loud.)

I now can't decide whether to just use some of the known "inadequate" measures (locks that probably only have a few different keys or can be opened with a Bic pen, chains that can be cut with a cordless grinder, etc.) just to foil the casual, opportunistic thief, or whether to just do nothing and hope no-one will bother, or get more drastic or what. Gets kind of confusing!

I did have my kicker motor bolted to the transom (vs. just using the clamps), and I will likewise bolt it to the Mini-Jacker. But still, as has been mentioned.... the whole darned kit-and-caboodle is on wheels!

I'm reading the thread with interest as I try to decide how/if to secure things.

Sunbeam
 
Sunbeam":2xa80nbe said:
But still, as has been mentioned.... the whole darned kit-and-caboodle is on wheels!
Click to expand...

You could put the boat&trailer on blocks and take the tires off one (or both) side(s). If you're leaving it sitting in one place for a long time you might want to block up the trailer anyway to spare the tires. However, if you park on a public street having the thing on blocks and/or the tires off may be illegal.

I can jack up my boat and trailer using the jack from my minivan.
 
I agree with midnight flyer, that you have insurance for a reason. I'm going on 50 years of trailering boats around and parking them in obscure places for storage with no security or security devices. I suppose because my boating areas are in the low crime geography of the country that I've had less to be concerned about than those folks who are in high crime areas.

However, I do have a receiver pin lock, and I do lock the hitch lock on the trailer tongue. Regarding the motors, yes, I don't want anyone hacking off the transom. And I do keep the windows covered and a cockpit cover on when I'm not on the boat.
 
colbysmith":3i786yk8 said:
INSURANCE. Nuff said?
Click to expand...

I do have insurance, and while it would replace things to some extent, there are many things it couldn't replace. I'd rather avoid a claim and the disruption if possible, so I'm still interested in reading other things that may be said about security.

Sunbeam
 
Agreed, good insurance is the best bet. Nothing else will work all the time.

Still - out of site, out of mind. You might consider a boat cover that goes over the outboards. When in place, thieves can't see what is available as easily. The downside being, if they are breaking into the cabin to steal items there - it conceals their activities.

If the outboards are your primary concern, back the boat as close to a structure as possible. If there are only inches available behind the motors, removing them in that location is very difficult.

My primary defense would concentrate on keeping the boat from being towed away. That's far and away, the easiest and safest way for a thief to get what they are after. Every minute they spend on your property is a risk. Removing a large outboard takes far longer than hooking up, driving away, then stripping whatever they want at a location of their choosing.

Trailer tongue locks are used by many, but they are easy to get around - thieves can simply warp a chain around the entire trailer tongue and lift from there. Most of us even accomodate this for them by having a trailer tongue jack in place. Me - I'd prefer to immobilize the wheels with a heavy chain/lock through a wheel and around the frame. Wheel boots are another option.
 
I use the tongue lock when ever the trailer is left unattended, and when the boat is on board, a heavy cable lock through the wheels on one side. When towing the tongue lock is in place anyway. Also the window covers are in place. When parked at home in the driveway, I leave it up to my neighbors, Mr Smith and Mr Wesson to watch it if I am gone.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
I keep my boat at my home, but it's in a hard location to just back up to and tow off. I do have a prop lock, and when keeping the boat in the street I use the tongue lock...same one as when it's in tow. I keep the cabin door locked. In the winter, it's in a fairly secure storage facility. Other than that, it's insured and while I would hate having to replace stuff, doing much more is probably overkill. I do have a full cover for it, but that's more to keep the weather and dust elements off and cosmetic protection, and not always on it unless it's going to be sitting for a while. I did just get a new kicker for it, and will likely use a cable and lock to secure it to the boat...but the kicker is just a clamp mount and does not have holes to bolt it on, and would be too easy to remove. I do travel a lot with the boat in tow, usually without the full cover. I usually check about the locations "environment", and park it in well lit or patrolled areas. And keep expensive stuff locked up in the cabin. This is what I meant about being smart in storing or leaving it unattended.
 
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