For those who use a cable lock through your scupper holes what kind/brand do you prefer? Do you prefer a key or combination lock?

Thanks

Currently using the Hyper Tough Walmart brand, but have used others--don't see a difference.

The key locks eventually rust and either become very difficult to use or fail.

Whatever you choose, have some bolt cutters in your vehicle just in case you lose the key or forget the combination (speaking from experience)

I don't know the brand of cable lock as it is now over 20 years old but still works fine. It is pretty long so I can secure multiple kayaks and/or bicycles together at a camp site or something. I use a keyed Master lock. If I am using the lock, the key is kept on my Truck key chain or in the Truck center console. I can give a spare key to another kayaker whose boat is also locked up. I don't have concerns about the Master lock but if it did get rusty, it could easily be replaced. Since it doesn't get used much, I am more likely to forget a combination than I am to lose the key.

I use this. Key lives on a fob that stays in my center console.

https://www.saris.com/product/locking-cable

I'm pretty sure this is the one I have. I originally bought it to lock a ladder in the bed of my truck back when I was traveling all over insurance adjusting.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-...Steel-Cable-5-8-in-Dia-8155DCC/202311744

I use one like this too. I also have an Arachnet security net that has an alarm. Operates by a key fob. Works great. https://arachnet.net/

Arachnet looks pretty slick. Thanks for sharing.

Alarms are good, but somebody has to be close enough to hear them besides thieves, plus allow for false alarms from unexpected rain, wind, bird landings, Etc.

I use whatever cable lock they sell at lowes or home depot. Truth is, it doesn't take very much to cut them. I get long ones and tangle the heck out of it all over the kayaks. Its a pain for me but also a pain for a thief.

Yeah they're not for everyone. This alarm is loud tho. I'm a sound sleeper and it woke me up and was parked about 5 spots down from the hotel room I was in. There is a sensitivity setting and you can adjust it so wind doesn't set it off. There is the occasional curious cat tho that can and will set off the alarm.

I bought the Arachnet when we were trailering 2-3 kayaks and staying at hotels. Like Christian said the cable lock is just to slow a thief down for a few seconds. But I really don't use it anymore.

Insurance IMO is the best way to go if you have over 1k invested. I paid like 120 buck for a year policy for 3 Hobie kayaks and a galvanized trailer through Progressive that included 2500 bucks in accessories. Cheap peace of mind to me.

I unfortunately have learned twice how it feels to get your kayak stolen. Luckily in both of my cases I got them back. Most don't. Ins sure sounds like the thing to do.

What do you do to get the kayak back besides filling out a police report?
Do you take pictures of the kayak and serial number?

If you want the truth, doing the police report was the least useful thing I did. The first time the report was filed, the thief was trying to sell it, we set up a fake buy and called police to help go get it. Their reply was "no, sir we are not a recovery agency." The report is necessary but only so they know when they come to the scene as you are getting your property back yourself.

Don’t know what law enforcement agency told you that, but they certainly aren’t representative of most agencies. Filing a report will get your hull number entered into the stolen database. You’ll have to have that to get assistance from LE; they aren’t going to arrest folks and seize property if it hasn’t been entered. Most won’t bother with it if you don’t want to prosecute the thieves; too many people want their property back but “don’t want to get anyone in trouble”.

Record your hull number and keep it with you so you can get it entered immediately. I also recommend marking a private number or name indelibly somewhere inside the kayak, out of sight, and have that info entered also. I keep a list of hull numbers, firearm serial numbers, sonar unit serial numbers, etc. in my phone, password protected. Many thieves have learned that if they obliterate or alter part of the HIN you can’t prove it’s your kayak. The hidden number inside the hatch, entered with the stolen report, will thwart their efforts to conceal the kayak’s ownership.