Just wondering if I'm too cautious or not cautious enough. When I pull my boat and stay at a motel or cabin or marina, I'm not real comfortable about leaving all my rods, reels, tackle, etc. in my boat overnite. I know the locks on most boats aren't very secure and if someone wants to get into it, he can. Do you guys take your gear into your rooms at night? Maybe just your favorites or most expensive? Maybe you can take it a step farther; how about your batteries, fish finders, etc? If not, do you sleep comfortably? It's a shame to have to worry about it but I do. Somebody, please tell me it's OK.

I will usually lock the fishing poles and tackle in the car. I take off my fish finders also. I do not take out the batteries or any other the smaller stuff that is in the storage compartments...

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• 
  Shawn
  www.[censored]

It all comes in the room at night. Some trips I take my heeler with me and she will sleep in the boat, bites hard too.

Gus, I don't have a heeler. Might ought to get one though. Or I could rig up an alarm system. Does anyone know if there is one on the market?

Depending on where I am at, i will sometimes take my rods out and into the hotel room. Electronics are stored in the truck or hotel room. I always lock all of the storage compartments. Knowing this isn't going to stop someone who wants it. I thought of this same question and asked my insurance company how much would i get if all of my stuff inside the boat was stolen. It wasn't enough. Good time to check into what your insurance would cover for theft of content. It will help you sleep better.

Ask MikeC about taking your rods in the
Motel.
I think you have to use some common
sense. You can not be 100 % safe, but take
reasonable precautions and have good insurance. Leave nothing valuable in plain sight.lock all compartments. My buddy has a neat metal bar that locks in place over his
storage compartments. Park in a well lighted area if possible. They make motion activated alarm sytems for boats.
My dad always said good locks will turn away
the petty thief , but if a professional
thief wants your stuff he will find a way to
get it.
Good luck
MO

ALL fishing gear comes in the room with me. I used to trust people, because everybody at the lake motel is an honest fisherman, just like me, or so I thought until I hired a guide at Lake Fork, and we tied up at a dock and went in to eat lunch, and when we returned his LCR had been stolen off his boat. Most poeple are honest and trustworthy, but for those few that run around trying to use other's hard work for their own fortune, you'd best keep watch of everything you ever worked for.



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Tom Set the hook and cross their eyes !!

I invested in two items, and I can leave my boat anywhere within hearing distance, knowing my property will be safe, without removing anything.

1) installed a Lok-R-Bar.

2) found a portable alarm system. This alarm system is self contained, about the size of a small tackle organizer. It comes with a mercury switch, siren, and a small remote . Just lay it in the bottom of the boat under a console. The remote has an arm/ disarm button. After it's armed, anyone who tries to step on the trailer or lean on the boat will set it off. I have tried a dozen ways to get into my boat without setting it off, and I've been caught everytime. Works excellent, plus it doesn't take the beating of a permanent mount system. In the morning, I just hit the disarm button, and put it in the truck. No muss, no fuss.

bsumner, where can we get an alarm like you have? I guess that it wouldn't work while you're docked for lunch,huh?

Corky1:
A buddy of mine sent it to me several years ago. He lives in Florida. I went out and looked for a name, so I could search the web. The original sticker fell off , so no name on the alarm. I'll call him and see what he can find out or remember and re-post later. Because it works with a mercury switch,it won't work on the lake, done tried it.

Some of the Drug stores (Walgreens, Eckerds) sell motion alarms for about $15 to $20 dollars. They use a couple "AA" batteries and I have not had to replace the battery on my unit in 2 years, and it still works. The one I have has a 4 digit key pad. Hit one number to arm, and then it beeps to detect that motion has been detected. You have a short period of time to enter your 4 digit code, or the alarm will sound. Put a few of these in your boat so not even you can disactivate all of them, and you should feel pretty secure. I have seen them with a little arm/disarm keychain pad, but I am happy with the one that I have.

You may also find them in some of the travel shops. They are sold for people that frequently travel.

I leave NOTHING in my boat unattended! If I leave it overnight at a dock, everything comes out. My rods, reels, tackle, etc. is always in my vehicle while I'm trailering the boat. I don't trust anybody.

found a raxus car alarm has remote on & off plugs into cig lighter or batts found 2 sites on i net for 25$ others wanted up to 90$.check it out.


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BIGLEO

Don't forget a ss prop lock. Nothing worse than going around to the back side of the boat,to find your prop has been stolen.

Keep Reel'n
Vance

My brother and I stopped off in a small town on the way to the lake to get a cup of coffee and some munchies, and when we got to the ramp we noticed that someone had helped themselves to an ice chest and two rods and a tackle box. Lesson learned. Keep your eye on your stuff, because even lighted and busy areas are no deterent when the thieves are at work.