outboard anti theft

plazmore

Cadet
Joined
Jul 22, 2005
Messages
28
hello again...

i have been plagued by theft recently. first they stole my battery and then my tank. then they stole the boat. i got it back, but they had clearly tried to steal the outboard off of it. now i foolishly left my tank in it again, thinking i was fishing in the morning, and it would be okay....damn...

i now leave nothing in the boat, but the motor. an 82 50hp mariner. not worth much i would think, but to a crackhead or methmouth??

do any of you have any ideas as to how i can lock the motor to prevent it from theft? i dont have the wing style handles, and a friend lost his, even with the lock on those wings. and storage for this lil boat is too expensive.

all input and ideas are appreciated!
 

walt-oxie1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
141
Re: outboard anti theft

There is not really much you can do besides locking the whole boat in a garage or tie some mean dogs to the trailer. Years back, around this area, people were cutting outboards off boats. They cut the cables, wires and transom and were gone.
 

LongLine

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 2, 2008
Messages
494
Re: outboard anti theft

Can you store the boat with the motor up tight to another vehicle, the house, a fence or trees. Theory being to give the thief no room to work/handle the motor if he gets it off. Also don't give him a clear path from the back of your boat to his escape vehicle.

Is the motor bolted to the transom? Double nutted? Can screws/nuts be "buggered up" so they can't be unscrewed except by "superman"? Better yet can holes be drilled through the nuts then a tight fitting pin pounded in the hole? Do it right & only you'll know they're pinned & that'll make a thief with a 12" crescent wrench really work.

Can motor be chained snuggly around mid-section to something else? Trailer, wheel, fence, tree? (Make it a chore to get at the lock.)

If a thief really wants it, he'll get it. Object is to make him have to work for it or have to make a lot of noise to get it.

Do your neighbors know you're having a problem? Helps to have a neighbor keep a lookout too.

Tom B.
(LongLine)
 

MAW31

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 15, 2009
Messages
217
Re: outboard anti theft

i feel for ya man. i used to live there and solved my problem in one step...

I moved.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: outboard anti theft

i recently have seen with the more expensive motors, installing with longer mounting bolts, and having a welder spot weld the ends of the bolts so the nut will not come off. if you want to remove the motor, you have to cut the bolt.
 
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