Outboard stolen from my back yard

[62_Kiwi]

I had to think a while about which forum to put this under. Maybe it's more "backyard boat UN-building". Anyway, I'll post this as a way of sharing the experience and hopefully it might help someone else by making them take more precautions and stop this happening to them.<br /><br />I have been leaving my small kicker/auxilary motor (Tohatsu 8hp) on the back of my boat, which has been parked in my back yard. I thought it was reasonably safe because I had a big chain and padlock securing it to the boat (which has a big wheel clamp). I was wrong... last night someone came and stole the little motor, complete with chain and padlock - must have had a bolt cutter or similar. <br /><br />The police tell me that small outboards are a very popular item for crooks. Easily resold and little chance of getting it back.<br /><br />Darn it - I wish I'd kept it in the garage.

 

[amtsst]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

Man. I'm real sorry to hear that. I tell you what. I see sombody pullin my boat motor at 3 in the morning, I'll turn the dog on him. And I won't rush out there to get the dog off that guy either. Maybe call the cops and make some coffee first.<br /><br />If you want to go stealing...then you get whats coming to you.<br /><br />I hear NZ has pretty restrictive gun laws. Too bad, really. In the rural Southern US, just about everbody has a gun and burglary rates are about a third as high as in urban areas. I think its because if you try to rob/steal from a good 'ole boy, you can expect to get shot.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

ditto on the 'stop signs'..i don't think ther's a stop sign down there that don't have a hole in it...

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

Thanks for your comments guys (lol Crab) . The latest development is that my insurance won't cover it because I only recently added the little motor and didn't tell them about it... You have to hand it to those guys, their #1 skill is talking their way out of paying for things. "Have you read the fine print on your policy sir?"<br /><br />It's a good job I don't have a gun because if I saw someone messing with my boat in the middle of the night, I'd shoot first and only ask questions later. <br /><br />That's very interesting that burglary rates are so low in the rural parts of the Southern States. Good on the good ole boys! You hear so much negative stuff about guns and these sorts of statistics you never hear about. <br /><br />Now I'm thinking about how to prevent more things being stolen from my boat. I'm setting up some lights on sensors which will light up the whole back yard if anything moves... How about alarms for boats ? I haven't seen any on my travels - does anyone have any experience on boats alarms?<br /><br />Any other ideas for boat security?

 

[JB]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

Hi, Kiwi.<br /><br />Sorry your engine got stolen. That is always so enraging.<br /><br />A large, protective (but not aggressive) dog makes a good deterrent and alarm system.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

i'll tell you guys ... on my boat i bored an extra bolt mountin' hole in my transome an epoxy sleeved a thin piece of K & S tubin' sleeve in bored hole .. ( all bolt holes actually) as to seal tramsome wood from rot... the 'extra' hole i put one-of-those trailer tongue ' barbell ' locks .. if shaft is a bit too long and has slop so a pair of bolt cutters still could jepordize the lock shaft.. put some stainless steel nuts or washers on the shaft to take up the slop...<br /><br />have any questions ... i'll try an help..

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

That is why I have a Kimber .45 with hollow points (for the close in) but I would much rather get them from the 2nd floor window with my Win 30,30 with a 9 power scope. Knock a leg or arm off with it then follow the blood trail to the hide out (where the rest of our stolen stuff is at). My work van has been hit seven times in 4 different counties in the last ten years (over a hundred CD's lost,those F ers). Once it got hit,then again a week later. There was nothing left to steal (the ins money hadn't come in yet,that's what they get). That just cost a $120.00 for a new wing window and a very cold day till I got it in (happened in Jan). I know how it feels. A motor is one thing. Try your work tools. I am a sub contractor. No work no food for the babies. I look at it as if you stole my horse in the 1800's. Hangem high!!!! <br /> You can really tell who is from the USA. The first thing said is "get your gun". The way it should be when thieves are around. <br /> sign <br /> MARK ROBINSON<br /> <br />f_inscreenname<br /> for those who love me

 

[495v]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

I apologize for getting off the subject, f_inscreename how do you like the Kimber? Wanted one badly, but my wife wasn't having it. Ended up spending half the cost on a Berretta, which I really enjoy, but the Kimber is sweet. I heard they hold a nice grouping. JB's got it right....That's why my faithful companion is an 80LB German Shepard.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

The best handgun I have ever owned,for that matter ever held (except a couple of custom made pieces),so smooth. I also have a Lamma .45 (it was stolen then returned by the police 4 years later)after owning the Lamma for a year I liked it but.....always wanted a little better but I couldn't afforded to buy another .45 after the Lamma (other guns I wanted to buy first). Don't get me wrong,I like all .45's, a pipe and a hammer that fires .45 shells would get me going. Looking sadly for a replacement,I had to have the Kimber. It makes it easier when you lose things by replacing it with a upgrade. I wouldn't have bought another .45 so soon but I always have to have a .45 . Its my home defense gun. Another reason I bought the Kimber. I have put a least a 1000 rounds through it and it never jammed. Dirty,clean it doesn't matter. Plus I bought a larger safe

 

[495v]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

The Kimber is sweet. The only other reason besides the wife that stopped me from getting it is that I thought a .45 had too much power for home protection. I'm in the suburbs and the homes are typically closer to each other. Yeah, I'm a good shot, but what happens IF I miss? I thought that with a .45, it would travel thru the next couple of houses. Besides, I thought it was too much power for the wife to handle. Someday.....until then my Beretta 9mm will do just fine. Just like the Kimber, the Beretta's rarely jam. I think I've put around 1200 rounds thru mine with notta-one. Very important in home defense. Happy hunting.

 

[RICKRICK1]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

PISTOLS????<br /><br />Try SHOTGUNS <br /><br />12 ga has pellets same size as 32 pistol and there are 12 to 16 of them depending on manufacture and lenght of shell. Plus if you get close enough you can retreive your shot wadding to reuse.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

The framers of our constitution were smart, but I don't think they thought people would never be allowed to protect their property today. If they had more foresight, they would have made an Amendment for such.<br />Sign in my shop reads "THIEVES BEWARE, I TOO CAN BE A CRIMINAL, I'LL SHOOT YOU DEAD! ANY QUESTIONS?" So far I haven't had anything stolen. My dog is semi-aggressive, he is picky on who he wants to bite. Friendly dog to everyone when I'm there, but mean when I'm gone. GOOOOOOODDDD DAWG! Plus 12 guage-Point and pull.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

I have a 12 to but that is a lot of gun to tote around the house. If I was to use a long gun inside (after I could not find my 9,32,380 or the navy .44 black powder) it would be my SKS,with zipper clips you can blow off a hundred rounds in about a min. The best thing is it would only cost about 2 bucks (ammo is so cheep) why waste the money on the peice of poop (dont want to get thrown off the board for bad words,I thought they were going to kick me off for my name aweek ago). That would be a funny police report "man kills robber with a black powder,took time (lot of time , I am not very fast) to reload"

 

[amtsst]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

Boy. I derailed this conversation good. Any word on the stolen outboard???<br /><br />Unfortunately, I don't have a handgun. Wife won't allow it. I do have a .30-06 though. Its like the old AT&T commercials...."Reach out and touch someone" <br /><br />LOL. Have you folks seen the "boating with a gun discussion" over on the General bulletin board? Lots of interesting arguements!

 

[Ross J]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

62_Kiwi, man I feel for you. These things arn't cheep either. <br />The insurance company (read as; we ensure we don't have to pay) for us had the same policy so I took photo's of all the gear we carry and gave them serial numbers of all the removable parts. They didn't acknowledge reciept of the letter. It doesn't matter as my lawyer said the purchase photo shows all the additions and they must honour that if thats what they insured. <br />Question - Do you have the purchase photo's?<br />Ross

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

Backwater - LOL, no problem about the gun talk, it's interesting reading for us unarmed Kiwis. I recon you've got it right in the rural Southern States if guns keep your crime rates down. That's hard case about the stop signs though... <br /><br />Just a point relating to guns in NZ; Here the bad guys still get hold of guns... using whatever means, without too much problem. There's been some horrific crimes involving guns in NZ over the years (particularly some recent ones in Auckland wouldn't you say Ross?). The ordinary guy in the street (like me) doesn't have a gun. People can have a gun licence for sports and hunting etc - but self defence is not recognised as a valid reason for gun ownership here. The police only carry guns when they've been sent in to take on an armed offender.<br /><br />I don't hold out much hope of getting the outboard back after the police told me their chances of recovering it are not much better than nil. They're too busy to visit the crime scene for this type of thing these days - you just report it on the phone and they send you an acknowlegement form in the post. I'm keeping an eye on the Trade & Exchange adds though...<br /><br />Ross - thanks for your comments. I'll do what you say - sure learnt my lesson about keeping serial numbers. I do have photos of the outboard on the boat but the insurance co wasn't interested. They said I should have informed them of the additional motor back when I bought it.<br /><br />Another thing I've learnt the expensive way... never trust a padlock and chain to protect something valuable. Crab Bait has the right idea with his motor lock.<br /><br />JB - my wife has always wanted a dog... maybe it's not such a bad idea after all (just not one of those little yappy ones though!! ).

 

[sloopy]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

I like the bow 300 feet per second easton arrow shafts 28 inch draw, 25 inch arows with overdraw, and target points, should put some one down, don't touch my boat, and if you do come in my house so I can legaly shoot you (you have to come in without permision ) with the intent to kill, and boats are allive

 

[amtsst]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

Hey Kiwi,<br /><br />Aren't outboards a fortune over there? My cousin who used to live on Rotarua bought a little kicker over here and hauled it home with him. Might have been a 5hp. Took shaft off of motor and packed the whole thing in big stout suitcase.<br /><br />No trouble leaving US or entering NZ.<br /><br />Want me to just mail you one? LOL<br /><br />On a side note, he complained bitterly about the price of 2-stroke oil. Ended up using old motor oil a lot. Mixed it real rich and the motor never had a problem!

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

avail. from Cabelas.... got one after same happened to me.<br /><br /> http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Item/01/18/30/i011830sq01.jpg

 

[cannonfodder]

Re: Outboard stolen from my back yard

You don't have to actually BE crazy, just convince the neighbourhood thieves you are. This usually means you only have to shoot one here in Canada.<br /><br /> Bryce