Does anybody have a system for locking thier boats? Need to keep mine in relatively safe area, but unattended. Not so safe anymore somebody is now missing a boat (low end not OC).
My rough design is to cut/join two plastic-coated cables into hoops that slide onto bow & stern but too small to slide over center of hull, then connect the two hoops with a main cable and lock it to a tree or something...
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Submitted by ChineBoy on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 6:55pm
i made a killer cable system like that for under $20.
20' length of 1/4" stainless steel cable (coated)- 6' length and 14' length $11
stoppers for cables, need 4 $4
electrical tape $1
3/8" foam pads $2 (for the loops that go on canoe)
you need to strip the ends to get the stoppers on, which is a pain, but the choice is to do that, and tape the stripped portions after clamping, or tape the whole length of uncoated cable..for each cable, you make a big loop on one end (to go over boat), and a smaller loop at other end.
secure one end of long cable to your rack and the other to one side of canoe. the shorter cable loops to the other end of canoe and then you lock the other end to the middle of the longer cable.
you might have to adjust length depending on how far the secure point of your rack is so that there's minimal play after everything is on.
some additional things- put paddling on the cables in the middle so it doesn't drag on your neighbors boat... wrap your lock with padding so it doesn't bang you hull.
#1 Mon, 02/11/2008 - 9:44am
I found locking straps at www.wetsand.com. They are great. They have a steel core so you can't just cut them and the locks are salt-water rated. I use them all the time when I have more than one toy on my vehicle. Probably don't need them here, but I feel better when I'm on the water knowing there is at least some modicum of safety protecting my other toys.
Here's the link to the straps: http://www.wetsand.com/product.asp?locationid=4&ProdId=2606&CatId=928
#2 Mon, 02/11/2008 - 1:19pm
Thanks Dacho & Dmehling; I like both your ideas; one for storage on ground, one for traveling.
That line of marketing in first sentence catches ya, eh?
"Have you ever been into a taqueria after a long session and not been able to relax because you left your board on the roof of your car..."
Never been to taqueria, but have experienced that same feeling lots & lots & lots...
#3 Wed, 02/13/2008 - 3:40pm