Outboard security conundrum
 

I'm about to buy a new 20" shaft outboard for use on several boats,
including skiffs with 15" transoms. I plan to use a T-H mini jacker
(see link) on the 15" transoms.
http://www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=23

I'm trying to figure out the best way to secure the outboard to the
boat in an effort to discourage theft. I have a thumbscrew lock that
would be enough if the outboard were mounted directly to the transom,
but the mini jacker is mounted with only four bolts that can be easily
removed so, with just the lock, I'd end up losing the motor as well
as the mini-jacker. And I don't want to mount the jacker permanently
because I want to be able use a 15" shaft motor now and then.

Right now I'm thinking of glassing a lifting ring to the inside
transom and just chaining the motor to it, but there ought to be a
better way (my present lifting rings are thru bolted and will come off
as easily as the bracket).

I know I can't prevent the thing being stolen by somebody who's wants
it bad enough. But I would at least like 'em to work a little for it.

Anybody have a simple and inexpensive idea?

Thanks in advance,
Rick

Outboard security conundrum
 

A few years ago, here in Chichester (UK) the outboard thefts fell into one
of two types.
Those who had not secured/locked the motor very well... lost the outboard
due to theft.
Those that secured/locked the motor properly.....................Lost the
transome as well as the outboard.
It takes a matter of seconds to chainsaw the back of the boat off.
Take the outboard home!

wrote in message
...
I'm about to buy a new 20" shaft outboard for use on several boats,
including skiffs with 15" transoms. I plan to use a T-H mini jacker
(see link) on the 15" transoms.
http://www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=23

I'm trying to figure out the best way to secure the outboard to the
boat in an effort to discourage theft. I have a thumbscrew lock that
would be enough if the outboard were mounted directly to the transom,
but the mini jacker is mounted with only four bolts that can be easily
removed so, with just the lock, I'd end up losing the motor as well
as the mini-jacker. And I don't want to mount the jacker permanently
because I want to be able use a 15" shaft motor now and then.

Right now I'm thinking of glassing a lifting ring to the inside
transom and just chaining the motor to it, but there ought to be a
better way (my present lifting rings are thru bolted and will come off
as easily as the bracket).

I know I can't prevent the thing being stolen by somebody who's wants
it bad enough. But I would at least like 'em to work a little for it.

Anybody have a simple and inexpensive idea?

Thanks in advance,
Rick

Outboard security conundrum
 

For chassis bolts that mister Royce didn't want to come apart, he
would peen over the bolts onto the nuts. Sounds agricultural, but
that' what he did. Taking a leaf out of his book: a bead of weld
on the nut holding the lifting ring, and that's a permanent fixture,
til you take a saw to it.

Brian W

On Sat, 13 Mar 2004 11:42:25 -0600, lid
wrote:

I'm about to buy a new 20" shaft outboard for use on several boats,
including skiffs with 15" transoms. I plan to use a T-H mini jacker
(see link) on the 15" transoms.
http://www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=23

I'm trying to figure out the best way to secure the outboard to the
boat in an effort to discourage theft. I have a thumbscrew lock that
would be enough if the outboard were mounted directly to the transom,
but the mini jacker is mounted with only four bolts that can be easily
removed so, with just the lock, I'd end up losing the motor as well
as the mini-jacker. And I don't want to mount the jacker permanently
because I want to be able use a 15" shaft motor now and then.

Right now I'm thinking of glassing a lifting ring to the inside
transom and just chaining the motor to it, but there ought to be a
better way (my present lifting rings are thru bolted and will come off
as easily as the bracket).

I know I can't prevent the thing being stolen by somebody who's wants
it bad enough. But I would at least like 'em to work a little for it.

Anybody have a simple and inexpensive idea?

Thanks in advance,
Rick

Outboard security conundrum
 

On Sat, 13 Mar 04, 17:51:57 +0000 (UTC), "James" wrote:

Take the outboard home!

Normally, that's what I'll do. But I'm talking about situations when
that's not possible. Like when I'm on vacation staying in a motel or
in a restaurant with the boat in the parking lot. A small outboard can
be gone in less than 15-20 seconds in many situations and those are
the ones I'm trying to discourage (I hope they never start making
chainsaws as quiet as 4 stroke outboards).
But yes, thanks, I'll take it off the skiff and lock it up somewhere
most of the time.

Rick

Outboard security conundrum
 

On Sat, 13 Mar 04, 12:08pm CST, betwys1 wrote:
a bead of weld
on the nut holding the lifting ring, and that's a permanent fixture,
til you take a saw to it.

That crossed my mind too. Might be enough, if I can find a lifting
ring difficult to saw through quickly. Do they make case hardened
lifting rings?

Rick

Outboard security conundrum
 

I use a combination of the thumb screw lock and a wire lanyard..

As with most outboarders, it is common to have a safety line in case the OB
jumps off the transom or is dropped when removing or installing..

I just take this one step farther and have made up an eight fot long, 3/16"
vinyl coated wire lanyard. Soft eyes on each end. The engine end is has a
large snap that I can clip onto the engine. The other end, I pass the soft
eye through a eye bolt in the transom When I put the pad lock onto the thumb
screws, I pass the standing part of the lanyard and the inboard eye through
the lock.

May sound complicated but I have throught this over objectively and can't
figure anyway that a thief could defeat it without tools (hack saw or bolt
cutters).


The lanyard is long enough to pass to the dock or to a deck fitting when I'm
handling the outboard on or off.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Outboard security conundrum
 

lid wrote:
I'm about to buy a new 20" shaft outboard for use on several boats,
including skiffs with 15" transoms. I plan to use a T-H mini jacker
(see link) on the 15" transoms.
http://www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=23

I'm trying to figure out the best way to secure the outboard to the
boat in an effort to discourage theft. I have a thumbscrew lock that
would be enough if the outboard were mounted directly to the transom,
but the mini jacker is mounted with only four bolts that can be easily
removed so, with just the lock, I'd end up losing the motor as well
as the mini-jacker. And I don't want to mount the jacker permanently
because I want to be able use a 15" shaft motor now and then.

Right now I'm thinking of glassing a lifting ring to the inside
transom and just chaining the motor to it, but there ought to be a
better way (my present lifting rings are thru bolted and will come off
as easily as the bracket).

I know I can't prevent the thing being stolen by somebody who's wants
it bad enough. But I would at least like 'em to work a little for it.

Anybody have a simple and inexpensive idea?

Thanks in advance,
Rick
I have a car wash, and have to deal with theft (and bored kids causing
vadalism)all of the time. THe best solution I have found is to use
seveal different types of bolts. Use one with a hex head, one with an
allen drive head, and one (just to be nasty) with left handed threads.
it ain't pretty, but it slows them down. Make sure the left handed one
is grade 8, or they will twist it off in their hurry. Of course, loctite
is your friend, and drill the bolts for cotter pins or safety wire to
make things even more interesting.....

--
"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch"

Outboard security conundrum
 

On Sat, 13 Mar 2004 10:33:11 -0800, "Steve" wrote:

3/16" vinyl coated wire lanyard. Soft eyes on each end.

Sounds like a cleaner looking arrangment than my chain idea. What
about moisture and corrosion inside the vinyl? And how did you make up
the eyes on the ends ... I assume you had to strip the vinyl away
there and clamp it somehow?
I have some wire rope that I've never been able to cut with bolt
cutters, not sure what it's made of, looks like stainless. The
diameter is to large for this though. I'll ask around for something as
tough but smaller and vinyl covered.
Thanks,
Rick

Outboard security conundrum
 

The wire rope that I'm using is a piece left over from my lifelines. You can
get it at the marine hardware store and they will put the nicopress sleeve
on each eye for you.. You should have the snape hook put on the eye before
it is swagged (eliminating a needless shackle). Bring your pocket knife
along since you will have to strip the vinyl back for the eye.

Make the inboard end eye pretty large because you want to be able to drop it
over a cleat on the dock or deck when you handling the outboard..

BTW. I have used this inboard end to lock my dingy to the dock, however that
requires an addtional lock. I suppose you could work out a system to pass
the lanyard through some fitting on the dock and back to the thumb screw
lock.

I don't worry about corrosion of the vinyl cover stainless, anymore than I
do for my lifelines.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Outboard security conundrum
 

Or have a SS plate fabricated and attach it to the transom with a few screws
and 5200. Will make a mess out of that chainsaw!

--


Keith
__
Backup not found. [A]bort, [R]etry, [P]anic...
"James" wrote in message
...
A few years ago, here in Chichester (UK) the outboard thefts fell into one
of two types.
Those who had not secured/locked the motor very well... lost the outboard
due to theft.
Those that secured/locked the motor properly.....................Lost the
transome as well as the outboard.
It takes a matter of seconds to chainsaw the back of the boat off.
Take the outboard home!

wrote in message
...
I'm about to buy a new 20" shaft outboard for use on several boats,
including skiffs with 15" transoms. I plan to use a T-H mini jacker
(see link) on the 15" transoms.
http://www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=23

I'm trying to figure out the best way to secure the outboard to the
boat in an effort to discourage theft. I have a thumbscrew lock that
would be enough if the outboard were mounted directly to the transom,
but the mini jacker is mounted with only four bolts that can be easily
removed so, with just the lock, I'd end up losing the motor as well
as the mini-jacker. And I don't want to mount the jacker permanently
because I want to be able use a 15" shaft motor now and then.

Right now I'm thinking of glassing a lifting ring to the inside
transom and just chaining the motor to it, but there ought to be a
better way (my present lifting rings are thru bolted and will come off
as easily as the bracket).

I know I can't prevent the thing being stolen by somebody who's wants
it bad enough. But I would at least like 'em to work a little for it.

Anybody have a simple and inexpensive idea?

Thanks in advance,
Rick

Outboard security conundrum
 

That's one of the good things about cable. Chain cutters have a hard time
getting through it. Now if they have cable cutters, that's another story.
Just buy the stuff down at West or wherever, and have them swage loops on
the ends with big crimp connectors.

--


Keith
__
Do not eat natural foods. I used to eat a lot of natural foods
until learned that most people die of natural causes.
wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Mar 2004 10:33:11 -0800, "Steve" wrote:

3/16" vinyl coated wire lanyard. Soft eyes on each end.

Sounds like a cleaner looking arrangment than my chain idea. What
about moisture and corrosion inside the vinyl? And how did you make up
the eyes on the ends ... I assume you had to strip the vinyl away
there and clamp it somehow?
I have some wire rope that I've never been able to cut with bolt
cutters, not sure what it's made of, looks like stainless. The
diameter is to large for this though. I'll ask around for something as
tough but smaller and vinyl covered.
Thanks,
Rick

Outboard security conundrum
 

the problem sounds similar to securing a bicycle. those cable locks are
availble in various forms for bicycles.

I think I would not leave the motor on the transom while travelling but
put it inside the boat tied down and locked out of sight.

I guess everyone knows boat insurance is replacment value so a lost or
stolen motor means a new replacement.



--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm
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Outboard security conundrum
 

On Sat, 3/13/04, PhantMan wrote:
I'm trying to figure out the best way to secure the outboard to the
boat in an effort to discourage theft.

Thanks to everybody for the ideas. I'll be using a combination of
several.

Rick
(who can't wait for a thief to try those left handed threads! LoL!)

Outboard security conundrum
 

Outboard security conundrum
 

This is assuming that a thief is smart and adept enough to know which way to
turn a bolt or nut..

Trust me I have hired guys off the street that didn't know which way to turn
the wrench, especially if they had to reach underneath to reach the nut..

Not everyone is raised around tools. Especially a thief..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Outboard security conundrum
 

On Sat, 13 Mar 2004 11:42:25 -0600, lid
wrote:

I'm about to buy a new 20" shaft outboard for use on several boats,
including skiffs with 15" transoms. I plan to use a T-H mini jacker
(see link) on the 15" transoms.
http://www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=23

I'm trying to figure out the best way to secure the outboard to the
boat in an effort to discourage theft. I have a thumbscrew lock that
would be enough if the outboard were mounted directly to the transom,
but the mini jacker is mounted with only four bolts that can be easily
removed so, with just the lock, I'd end up losing the motor as well
as the mini-jacker. And I don't want to mount the jacker permanently
because I want to be able use a 15" shaft motor now and then.

Right now I'm thinking of glassing a lifting ring to the inside
transom and just chaining the motor to it, but there ought to be a
better way (my present lifting rings are thru bolted and will come off
as easily as the bracket).

I know I can't prevent the thing being stolen by somebody who's wants
it bad enough. But I would at least like 'em to work a little for it.

Anybody have a simple and inexpensive idea?

Thanks in advance,
Rick


We painted ours with the leftovers from five or six different dayglo
spray cans.

Stands out like a dogs balls now - no self respecting thief would be
seen dead with it - and there's now way they could ever sell it.

Well, you did ask for cheap solution.

Peter

www.oceanodyssey.net
"Do not measure your life by the number of breaths you take,
Rather by the number of times life just takes your breath away"

Outboard security conundrum
 

I generally do the same thing with my loose gear stored on deck. Like boat
hooks, spare anchor and I once painted my outboard international orange.

I tell ya! and international orange anchor really is more visiable on the
water.. (0r the deck of someone elses boat)..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Outboard security conundrum
 

Yea, but somebody looking for Peter Max originals might take a fancy to it!
;-)

--


Keith
__
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too
dark to read.
"Peter" Peter@ wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Mar 2004 11:42:25 -0600, lid
wrote:

I'm about to buy a new 20" shaft outboard for use on several boats,
including skiffs with 15" transoms. I plan to use a T-H mini jacker
(see link) on the 15" transoms.
http://www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=23

I'm trying to figure out the best way to secure the outboard to the
boat in an effort to discourage theft. I have a thumbscrew lock that
would be enough if the outboard were mounted directly to the transom,
but the mini jacker is mounted with only four bolts that can be easily
removed so, with just the lock, I'd end up losing the motor as well
as the mini-jacker. And I don't want to mount the jacker permanently
because I want to be able use a 15" shaft motor now and then.

Right now I'm thinking of glassing a lifting ring to the inside
transom and just chaining the motor to it, but there ought to be a
better way (my present lifting rings are thru bolted and will come off
as easily as the bracket).

I know I can't prevent the thing being stolen by somebody who's wants
it bad enough. But I would at least like 'em to work a little for it.

Anybody have a simple and inexpensive idea?

Thanks in advance,
Rick


We painted ours with the leftovers from five or six different dayglo
spray cans.

Stands out like a dogs balls now - no self respecting thief would be
seen dead with it - and there's now way they could ever sell it.

Well, you did ask for cheap solution.

Peter

www.oceanodyssey.net
"Do not measure your life by the number of breaths you take,
Rather by the number of times life just takes your breath away"

Outboard security conundrum
 

dazed and confuzed ) writes:
lid wrote:


Rick
(who can't wait for a thief to try those left handed threads! LoL!)
I WAS serious about using grade 8 or better bolts on the left handed
ones....A thief in a hurry will twist them off. Trust me. I've seen it.

unless you get a dyslexic motor lifter :)

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network
homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm
warning: non-freenet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned

Outboard security conundrum
 

We painted ours with the leftovers from five or six different dayglo
spray cans.

Stands out like a dogs balls now - no self respecting thief would be
seen dead with it - and there's now way they could ever sell it.

Well, you did ask for cheap solution.


I, too, use the special anti-theft paint. Also, etch ID info in several
clearly visible locations. On my latest motor, I engraved "STOLEN FROM
phone #, city state"

If you're worried about appearance, you can paint the motor to match your
boat(s). Looks really sharp.

Outboard security conundrum
 

Many have commented critically about the odd (international orange) that I
paint verious things. However, I'm hoping that if these same critics see my
stolem motor or anchor on another boat, they will say 'That must be Steve's!
No one else would paint xxxx with such an ugly color".

I have already recovered a stolen anchor because it was easy for to
identify.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Outboard security conundrum
 

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Many have commented critically about the odd (international orange) that I
paint verious things. However, I'm hoping that if these same critics see
my
stolem motor or anchor on another boat, they will say 'That must be
Steve's!

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I identify all my all my easily removable property with fluorescent day
glo pink and green paint. I figure that the two colours side by side stand
out as obviously mine. I loan equipment out at various events and no one has
ever loaded my equipment on the assumption it is theirs.
Peter.
fishing boat "Bluefin" (under serious renovation)

Outboard security conundrum
 

On Sat, 20 Mar 2004 15:47:15 -0800, "Steve" wrote:

Many have commented critically about the odd (international orange) that I
paint verious things. However, I'm hoping that if these same critics see my
stolem motor or anchor on another boat, they will say 'That must be Steve's!
No one else would paint xxxx with such an ugly color".

I have already recovered a stolen anchor because it was easy for to
identify.

Steve, you are definitely a fan of the "lesser of two evils" approach
to life. I have a sky-blue boat. A bright orange anchor would send the
marine squad of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" leaping into their
lavender Zodiacs to do an intervention on my appalling colour sense.

On the other hand, I'd get a free anchor. Decisions, decisions.

R.

Outboard security conundrum
 

rhys says:

I have a sky-blue boat. A bright orange anchor would send the
marine squad of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" leaping into their
lavender Zodiacs to do an intervention on my appalling colour sense.

Colour sense is one thing - but think of it as being trend-setting,
iconoclastic, and un-lemminglike. It may catch on....

Steve "do you want a pretty boat, or lots of stolen anchors?..."

Outboard security conundrum
 

On 21 Mar 2004 21:09:06 GMT, ospam (Stephen Baker)
wrote:

Colour sense is one thing - but think of it as being trend-setting,
iconoclastic, and un-lemminglike. It may catch on....

That's what they said about the Freedom rigs, but we're not there yet
G

Steve "do you want a pretty boat, or lots of stolen anchors?..."

Hey, I like the Slocum method of tacks on the deck. That's not pretty
when it works...
R.

Outboard security conundrum
 

rhys says:

That's what they said about the Freedom rigs, but we're not there yet
G

That's because the Freedoms are soooooo boring to sail. "Set and forget" is
great, but what do you do for the other 23.5 hours in the day? ;-)

Hey, I like the Slocum method of tacks on the deck. That's not pretty
when it works...

Good choice, but the legal p[rofession has effectively made that
counter-productive.

Steve

Outboard security conundrum
 

On 22 Mar 2004 15:35:57 GMT, ospam (Stephen Baker)
wrote:

rhys says:

That's what they said about the Freedom rigs, but we're not there yet
G

That's because the Freedoms are soooooo boring to sail. "Set and forget" is
great, but what do you do for the other 23.5 hours in the day? ;-)

Ah, so you've discovered the secret...unnecessarily complex rigging is
designed to make the skipper look as busy as the cook G

Hey, I like the Slocum method of tacks on the deck. That's not pretty
when it works...

Good choice, but the legal p[rofession has effectively made that
counter-productive.

Where I plan to employ it, there won't be much in the way of a legal
profession G

R.