With summer weather upon us, I'm expecting to do some traveling with our touring kayaks. I've been searching for tips on how to reduce the risk of theft when boats are loaded on roof racks. Parking overnight at hotels makes me particularly nervous. No system of locks or cables will thwart a determined thief, I realize that. But I'm wondering if any of you know of better, or additional, tips than what follows, which summarizes what I've found online. I don't plan to use all of these approaches, mind you, but I'll note them anyway. :-> * use locking racks (like the core-lock system that Yakima sells) * consider a lasso cable lock system that loops over the boat's bow and stern, and lock that to the racks * lock the boats to each other, as well as to the rack system * truck-sized locking clubs, the devices that lock to steering wheels, can be placed inside the cockpit and are said to be virtually unremovable without causing damage to the boat. (You sure wouldn't want to drive with one left in your boat, though.) * if a kayak doesn't have a safety bolt or other type steel bolt in its hull, consider adding one for use with cable locks * ask for a 'down and out up front' at hotels: room on the ground floor facing the parking area * park in a well-lit, well-travelled area, under a streetlight, rather than a secluded spot * note in advance the ID number of your boat, and also write your name and phone number on the hull with a permanent marker * consider removing hatches and locking up auxiliary equipment, such as paddles, so that anyone who takes the boat will need to re-equip. Call outfitters in the area to alert them to this, if your boat gets stolen. * if your boat gets stolen, register the ID number and boat description online at several sites that maintain logs of stolen and lost boats. The Broze brothers' site, http://www.marinerkayaks.com/, is one site that does. * consider taking out a boat policy for insurance against loss. State Farm locally says they'd insure a $3K boat for $65 a year, and that includes $100,000 in liability coverage, which could have its uses if disaster happens and the boat launches on the interstate.The policy doesn't seem to cover accidental loss of the boat while on water Margot Pantalone mpantalo_at_tennessee.edu -- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Use a good cockpit cover and fill the cockpit with an assortment of baby rattles. The noise of the rattles will deter thieves from moving the kayak. Of course you need to have the large signs. "Caution: Live Snakes Inside" prominently displayed on both sides of the kayak. On a serious note you be might be able to use one of those personal alarm sirens and rig it up so that moving the kayak would trigger it. I have also seen a sliding door alarm that responds to the door opening that you might be able to adapt. The major problem will probably be getting an "invisible" trip wire from the alarm to something fixed like your racks, but since you are mainly concerned about night theft it can most likely be worked out. Check with a local locksmith that specializes in security systems. Mark J. Arnold *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Margot Pantalone <mpantalo_at_tennessee.edu> wrote: [...] >I've been searching for tips on how to reduce the risk of theft when >boats are loaded on roof racks. [...] > >* use locking racks (like the core-lock system that Yakima sells) Don't forget to apply the following stickers to your car: * A "Charton Heston is my president" or other NRA bumper sticker. Alternatively, you could use multiple logo stickers from ammunition manufacturers. * A POW/MIA flag or sticker. * A Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation (or some such appropriate facility suitable to your location) parking permit (or a reasonable facsimile). Tommy McGuire *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
>Don't forget to apply the following stickers to your car: > * A "Charton Heston is my president" or other NRA bumper sticker. I think simply putting some weight in ours once the vehicle is parked would work. The roof is so high, the boats would flatten anyone who tried to lift them off, much like saguaro cacti do out west when crazy people try to steal or harass them. A Nordkapp would be an advantage in this situation. Margot -- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
on 28/5/04 05:45, Margot Pantalone at mpantalo_at_tennessee.edu wrote: >>> > I think simply putting some weight in ours once the vehicle is parked > would work. ..... A Nordkapp would be an > advantage in this situation. > > Margot > >>>>> Tut, tut! My Nordkapp is Kevlar and needs tying down to assist gravity! Re marking the kayak with your name, that could also have an advantage in an emergency if the kayak was found first, as has happened here. Too late for the paddler in our case, but a name would have helped, especially for his next-of-kin. I have printed my contact details on sheets of paper, soaked them in resin, and then laid them up in several places inside with a layer of thin cloth over the top. Some were in easy-to-see places for safety and deterrence, while others were tucked away to aid identification and/or prosecution in the event of theft. Removing them would be time consuming and leave obvious marks, which would put off many crims. Cheers JKA -- John Kirk-Anderson Banks Peninsula NEW ZEALAND *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Two suggestions: 1) Very thick and visible chain (the heaviest that you can handle), going from U-bolt on one end of a kayak, under the car bottom, and up to the U-bolt on another end of a kayak. Put some decent padlock far under the car bottom, where you can still reach and unlock it. Such chain will deter low-end casual thieves, and you might get lucky not to encounter some skilled professional. 2) Personal alarm like those for computer theft, activated by this device movement (not by your movement) and de-activated by your key (put it somewhere inside the kayak). I didn't try either of them, 'cause don't park my car with a hardshell kayak overnight, leaving a car on a parking at a launch site for 1-3 days trip, which site is ususally within a few hours here in BC. For longer trips I fly with my folding kayak, trying to camp in the most secluded places, and still don't know how to secure it there. One idea was suggested for wilderness trips - very loud 110dB IR alarm. I tried it - it reacts on tent walls vibrating under the wind, and outside my tent it is not weatherproof and also reacts on bushes and grass vibrations, not to mention coyotes etc. Hell with them, coyotes - they are thievs too, but bushes and grass isn't something that should wake me up, right? The guy that suggested this, was using German "4-Season" alarm, more user-friendly (key instead of keypad), alas, not available in North America. May be this German one has lower sensitivity. > With summer weather upon us, I'm expecting to do some traveling with > our touring kayaks. I've been searching for tips on how to reduce the > risk of theft when boats are loaded on roof racks. Parking overnight > at hotels makes me particularly nervous. No system of locks or cables > will thwart a determined thief, I realize that. But I'm wondering if > any of you know of better, or additional, tips than what follows, > which summarizes what I've found online. I don't plan to use all of > these approaches, mind you, but I'll note them anyway. :-> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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