Regarding the post about the boat being stolen from storage, what precautions do you all take when having to store your boats?

I just had to put mine in storage for the first time and here's a few things I did to deter any thieves:

1. ball lock that clamps down over top the ball.
2. tongue latch lock
3. cable lock through the tire/frame to prevent driving off.
4. perko switch/key lock that cuts power to the motor. I put the motor all the way down and cut the power. this prevents people stealing your lower unit and deters drive offs.
5. cable & lock from the trailer frame around the trolling motor shaft
6. cable lock securing the bow hatch from being opened to safegaurd the batteries.

There's nothing that can't be stolen if someone wants it bad enough, but they're not just going to be able to hook up to it and drive off. I think most thieves are just opportunists looking for an easy score. Intimidation is the key.

I'm curious if anyone else has any tips on what they use to secure their boat...

I take out the best insurance I can find and keep it up to date. I also take my agent fishing every once in a while just to keep him friendly.

Smith and Wesson look after it....
And all of the **** that gets put in front of and in it while in the garage. It takes me 30 minutes to move all of the stuff and throw all of the **** out and manuever it out of the single door. It clears the door by about 2 inches on either side.

-Strat 256

I secure mine with a good insurance policy! The way I look at it, if they want it bad enough they're going to find a way to steal it no matter what you do.

Schantz,

Got a friend that does 1-3 from your list,
I like both 4's. I'll let him know about them.

dan

got good insurance and take everything valuable out of it. Except the batteries.

I have a good insurance policy too, but I don't think any policy will compensate you for lost fishing days or time spent buying another boat. How many phone calls and trips would you have to make before you were set up again?

I consider the $100 bucks spent on gear locking it down well spent if it increases the odds it'll be there the next time I go to the lake.

you can also remove the motor ,those 200 hp sure are heavy...........uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Like others Good insurance!

Not trying to tell you your business but if you have to do all of that you should look for a different storage facility. I forget to lock the double doors half the time at my storage facility and have never had any problems.

Just curious, how common is boat theft? I have kept my boat beside the house for years. That is until I moved to a HOA neighborhood and had to put it in the garage (that I had to have lengthened).

Karl

Go to your nearest Drug store and purchase a motion activated Alarm, or two. they are only about $20.00. Some of them come with a remote, but I purchase the one with the 4 digit code. You have about 10 seconds to deactivate the alarm, once it has been triggered.

They can be placed anywhere in the boat or boat shed. Locking the wheels is also a good idea. If it has to sit for a very long period of time, jack the trailer off the ground and remove the tires (and replace the lockable lugs so even if they could get in with enough time and install the tires, the wouldn't with the locking lugs..

Removing fishfinder, trolling motor, GPS, and locking the prop is the most important part (especially when traveling) as these are items most likely to be stolen.

if I had a boat I would take the tires and wheels and leave the boat and trailer on jack stands.

I have insurance, plus a super heavy duty tongue lock.........yes a professional could still take it. That's why I have insurance, even though the boat is paid off.

Trailer hitch pin lock
Front deck Loc-R-Bar�
Back deck Loc-R-Bar�
McGard Prop Lock
Cable lock through the spare.

If they want to go through that I have insurance coverage that will take care of it too.

What John said plus I�ve got a picture of my German Shepherd on the back door with a sign that reads �I can make it to the fence in .04 seconds can you?�