Re: [Paddlewise] Locking up a kayak

Jim,

I share your concerns. Two "high end" fiberglass sea kayaks would cost over
$5000 to replace.

As kayaking becomes increasingly popular, many folks faced with the high
initial startup costs will "consider" theft a viable option. It appears
there are quite a few boats that are stolen each year. I'd bet on the
problem increasing in the future.

We checked with our insurance company and found they required an insurance
rider to cover boats of this value against loss. It was fairly expensive, as
I recall. You folks on PW might want to get written confirmation from your
insurers that your boats are covered at home and away as you want them to
be. You might be surprised at what you're told.

Protecting kayaks against theft seems akin to protecting bicycles. I doubt
there's any "locking" system that is more than a deterent; worth using, of
course, but hardly likely to prevent theft if the perps are prepared. I use
The Club on vehicles as a deterent, too. It'll stop the kids and joyriders
who'll move on to easier pickings, but it's a joke to a pro who'll easily
have it off in 10 seconds or less.

Employing deterents is probably the best strategy, since any cable or chain
can be quickly and easily cut with bolt cutters like the "pro" bike thieves
use. My thought is that anyone intent upon stealing a long sea kayak has
come prepared.

I'll bet a prepared pair of thieves could have my Romany 18, locked to my
Yakima rack, which is locked to the vehicle roof, off my car and into their
van well inside of 60 seconds. It'd be ridiculously easy, I'd think. Cut the
bow and stern tie-downs, cut the pair of NRS cam-buckle straps, and lift the
boat off the rack and into their vehicle. With practice I'd bet they could
beat 30 seconds. Now, just add to that the few additional seconds required
to cut through any chain/cable locking system with the appropriate cutting
tool. And it would all take place virtually noiselessly.

As an additional deterent, we recently purchased an alarm. Haven't used it
yet, so I can't say whether it'll work. It's a motion detector alarm. It has
an adjustable cable to lock it around the item to be secured, or just to
hang it off something (such as a hotel doorknob). Dell Computer sells an
identical unit (to protect laptops) to what we bought from L.L. Bean. (The
aparently identical Bean unit is half the price of the Dell; I recall it
cost $20. It seems like a well thought out design, at a great price.)
Hopefully, the loud alarm going off will send the thieves scurrying off...

And maybe I could have Cujo sleep in the cockpit...

Bruce

>Just curious as to what methods people are using
>to lock a kayak to their vehicle for an overnighter or two 
>in a public location, e.g., motel parking lot, curb-side
>parking, etc.
>
>Jim Tynan
>
>Pike Road AL

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