Preventing Thieves Breaking Into Boat

[BassQualifier]

I saw another thread where a gentleman was looking for a Loc'R bar and some discussions about boats getting broke into ensued.

I too hear stories all the time of people's rods, reels and tackle getting stolen from their boats at night, whether they are in a boat slip for the night, in a parking lot, or behind the owner's house. But these stories you hear of stolen tackle.... is it because the tackle wasn't locked up in the compartments? Or was it because the tackle was indeed locked up, but the thieves broke or picked the locks and got everything that way?

I have a Triton that I keep a lot of tackle in and often keep the boat in publicly accessible areas overnight, but my compartments can be locked so I lock all the compartments. I have been assuming that since I lock my compartments, it'd be pretty tough to get my tackle stolen. Is this true?

I wasn't sure if you hear these theft stories all the time because boat owners didn't have locks on any of their compartments or because they just failed to lock their compartments one night.

So what's the deal? If my compartments have locks and I lock all my tackle up in those compartments, do I need any further protection? Is my tackle still a big target or do these thieves move on to unlocked boats?

[zooker]

was it mccarter??

i don't have the thief problem much where my boat is stored.. two very large bluetick/plott hounds, they barely let ME in, to get to the boat..the last guy that tried.. well lets just say did not fair well. he got 9 months for b&e 6 more when he hit the house with a stray round, and 12 months for a shooting hammer-one of the dawgs-. plus vet bill... hammer is still mean an takin up space on the front porch...

zooker

[bassackwards]

most locks iv seen on boats are very simple a good bar and you can pop them
i take my stuf out of boat ,it's a pain but it don't get stole

[Bender]

I've heard many stories of stuff being stolen from locked and unlocked boats. Even with Loc-r-bars, if they want it bad enough they will get it. Just takes a pry bar, and then it really messes up your boat too. My alarm died so I think I'm going to order a good one soon, should be a good deterrent.
Also some guys put 2 way baby monitors in their rigs when parked at hotels.

[3dkicker]

Let your 200lb pet Rot sleep in the boat and that should take care of 'em.....

I remove the tackle and keep it in the hotel room or in the house. Had a neighbor stop in not to long ago and let me know he saw two people checking out my boat when I wasn't home. The boat was parked in my driveway. He stopped and they took off. He had his trolling motor stolen not too long ago and thought he might have found the thieves.

I told him to call the cops next time. Nothing better than a good neighbor!

[WTL]

It depends on a lot of factors. Some criminals can be stupid, but most do cost/benifit analysis before they attempt to break in.


I had all my lures taken once, but I had a small boat and they were in a tackle box just sitting there. Kinda think one of the potheads who hung around just dropped by and took it. I made it easy for him, even though my boat was ugly and I'm sure most people would have never stopped.

The tougher you make it, the better your chances are that its safe.

[Lancer6]

Good idea to remove the prop as well, unless the boat is in a VERY secure spot. Prop theft is a growing "industry".

L6

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by bassackwards

most locks iv seen on boats are very simple a good bar and you can pop them
i take my stuf out of boat ,it's a pain but it don't get stole

Some of our compartments have locks, some don't. One of the rod lockers, the guys we bought the boat from locked something in there and didn't have a key or something. Lond story short, he used a pry bar to get it open. My dad's gonna weld a new piece of metal where the tongue of the lock was so we can lock it on the way to KY Lake. We'll definately be taking the stuff out once we're there (at night).

BB

[zooker]

Originally Posted by BigBassin144

Some of our compartments have locks, some don't. One of the rod lockers, the guys we bought the boat from locked something in there and didn't have a key or something. Lond story short, he used a pry bar to get it open. My dad's gonna weld a new piece of metal where the tongue of the lock was so we can lock it on the way to KY Lake. We'll definately be taking the stuff out once we're there (at night).

BB

perko the #1 factory installed hatch lock.. only makes 7 differant keyed locks..

zooker

[bamabassman]

gonna get me a life size poster board pic of zooker holding a shotgun to put by my rig, hahahahahahaha. scare even ME late at night, lmao.


but for real, i haven't had a problem with theives..................yet. but our dog barks if he hears the wind blow, that may be why.

[t1365]

I've got an 09 Champion with compartment locks and a Lock R Bar. In the world of thievery I believe most boat compartment locks are easy to defeat. The Lock R Bar isn't too hard to get by either, I just hope it adds enough deterrent to make somebody move on to an easier target since most thieves are basically lazy.

[carolina-rig-01]

i guess the going thing now is for thieves to use the boat winch to bust the lock r bar loose.

[Lancer6]

Originally Posted by BassQualifier

I have a Triton that I keep a lot of tackle in and often keep the boat in publicly accessible areas overnight, but my compartments can be locked so I lock all the compartments. I have been assuming that since I lock my compartments, it'd be pretty tough to get my tackle stolen. Is this true?

So what's the deal? If my compartments have locks and I lock all my tackle up in those compartments, do I need any further protection? Is my tackle still a big target or do these thieves move on to unlocked boats?

Buddy,

As gently as I can state it; You're asking to get robbed. Under the circumstances you mention it's not "If", it's "When".
Take measures!

Lancer6

[boater]

I am under the beleif the lock only keep honest people Honest. I try not to leave anything in the boat.when ever possible ...at a motel I take it all inside at a store I either throw it in the tuck or keep someone out watching it. Theive cause you more expence in boat repairs as the break in thiing than the stuff they get( Quite Often). The first boat a theif gets into is the one with the biggest lock.IMO.

[Captmikestarrett]

Glue hooks to underside of hatches. Leave boat dirty so no one with a sense of smell can stand it. Grease step plates. Just kidding..



But just remove anything that you would hate to lose.

Or fork out big $$$ for one of these.




I have also seen the hydraulic lift ones too.

Capt Mike

[66KingFisher]

Thats cool....I've never seen one of those before.....Does the top raise straight up or what?

[Captmikestarrett]

Requires a special key to activate hydralic lift.

Capt Mike

[bassboogieman]

I also have a Triton and I can pop the locked lids without much trouble. The latch is only plastic - I've seen metal ones, but mine are a hard plastic. I use a Tackle-Safe locking bar (sadly, no longer in production). It's fairly secure, not foolproof for a determined thief, but enough to deter a quick snatch at a rest stop and I trust it enough to leave the boat while docked overnight. It would make some noise to defeat it, and a lot more noise would follow if I catch someone trying. When on the trailer the addition of the cover and a baby monitor on the deck makes me fairly confident my boat will not be messed with overnight while on the road. Thieves will look for much easier pickings.

[gabasser]

I pull everthing out of my boat at the hotel when I'm traveling. At home it stays in the garage unless I'm leaving out early the next morning then I pull it out in the drive way but still nothing stays in the boat. I also keep all my lids unlocked and remove all electronics from the boat. If they want to check out my boat they will see nothing. I will remove the Trolling motor if I cant park it in front of my room or if I'm in a area that I dont trust. Got a prop lock on the prop