RIB boat security

[chappj]

I will be taking delivery of a 4.2m RIB in a few weeks time. The boat will be stored in a locked garage with alarm. I was going to add a wheel clamp and hitch lock. I believe the boat comes with an outboard lock (I’m double checking this).

Is there anything else I should consider?

Thanks in advance.

[j4ckos mate]

what about a ring video doorbell?
you get a noitfication if anyone moves in there
if its in a shed on its own battery will last for ages

also anything of value i attach one of those women rape alarm things to in the shed,
so again if it gets moved alarm gos off

[4x4Tyke]

An anti-theft GPS tracker or two, one in boat one in trailer.

[pterodroma]

All good securing the trailer, but I would try and guard against someone taking a chainsaw to the transom for the engine... Even storing the boat in a way that restricts access for a van to get close enough to load onto might help?

[J3JCV]

Hitch locks are good, also if its your own garage then I would run chain through the trailer, boat & engine to a tamper proof pad eye. The right chain is seriously hard to get through - but when thieves show up with a petrol disc cutter something will give!

[chappj]

GPS tracker for both boat and trailer is a good idea. It will be my garage so I can also fit a ground anchor to chain everything.

I’ve looked at the ring doorbells and they are getting cheaper.

Does anybody have any specific recommendations or avoids for clamp / hitch lock?

[cptsideways]

Look at something that you can drop the engine into & clamp it to, so even if they chop the transom off they can't move the engine.

Get the engine/trailer/boat ID tagged too

[Arnold Cunningham]

It's a tough one. Few years back a friend had a pair of 200hp motors on the back of his boat. I was staying in the yard that night afloat and was awoken to the sound of the scrotes dropping the Merc V6 motor off the back of his boat. That had locks and all sorts on it - and a Merc V6 was damn heavy too! If they want it, they'll get it - there's almost an argument to say make it as easy to take the boat as the motor, and then put a concealed tracker in the boat.

[IforB]

Decent insurance and some chill out pills are best in my mind.

If horrible scrotes want to nick it, then they'll do it I'm afraid. Usually by chainsawing the transom out and leaving you with a worthless hull. No Hitch lock will solve that if you aren't in at the time to hear it.

By insuring it properly, then if the worst happens, just get another and curse at the state of society.

[Arnold Cunningham]

Yeah, I've seen that. Makes a right mess. That's sort of why I suggested making it "not too hard" to take the whole rig instead of just the motor and having a tracker.

[cptsideways]

I've not seen it done yet but fitting a tracker inside the tubes would be something I'd consider. Obviously getting power/battery in there is the issue. Some of the trackers do last months though.

Hitch locks appear to be worthless when they just hook up some scaffold bar to the frame with a hitch on it. Making the wheels not go round appears the best step on that front.

[robinh73]

In my chandlery, we sell the SAS range of wheel clamps and hitch locks. They are bomb proof, easy to put on, well made and will not come off if you try to drive off with one of the wheel clamps on (I speak from experience here!). This is what I would recommend wheel clamp wise:

http://www.sasproducts.com/original-sas-clamp-for-...

any of these hitchlocks will be good:

http://www.sasproducts.com/hitch-locks-47-c.asp

[chappj]

Thanks for the hitch lock / clamp links. They look pretty good so will go with both.

I think the advice of getting good insurance, being sensible with security to prevent the opportunist seems to be the best option for me. I don’t want to spend my life worrying about it being stolen or having to spend lots of time navigating an array of security measures.

That brings me onto another question... any recommendations on good boat insurance companies?

[Arnold Cunningham]

These guys used to have a great reputation - https://www.porthcawl-insurance.co.uk/

[robinh73]

I would certainly fit one of the SAS HD1 wheel clamps as they are so simple to fit and remove. Literally a lock to remove with a key and then a 6mm allen key to open the lock arm itself. Very simple but so easy and so effective. In terms of insurance, I would advise looking at GJW Direct:
https://gjwdirect.co.uk/

[Slushbox]

Over winter, maybe put the trailer on axle stands, take the wheels off and store them somewhere else.

Had a 40HP outboard taken from my boat at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne in daylight while we were having lunch. They used an angle grinder on the bolts and apparently dropped it into a pick-up truck.

There was also a good market in used stainless steel props in the area, so used to take it off if we left the boat anywhere overnight.

Edited by Slushbox on Thursday 5th April 09:30

[Arnold Cunningham]

Yeah! They're a fortune and so easy to nick. I think the OP has the right idea with having it hidden away in a locked garage - that'll prevent the opportunistic scrotes having a go.

[AW111]

Not to sound cynical, but a primary requirement for boat security is to satisfy the insurance company. The last thing you need, if some scrote nicks your boat, is hassles with your insurance co.

Also, remove easily pinched items.
I always take the electronics out as soon as I get home and wash the boat, and when it lived on a main road, I had the fire extinguishers stolen, so I used to remove them too.

[chappj]

I originally wanted a RIB between 5m - 6m but decided to opt for the smaller 4.2m specifically so that it would fit in our 5m garage. I figured it would be better to miss a few days on the water due conditions being unfavourable for the smaller boat rather than the anxiety of leaving a £30k boat on the driveway unattended during the day.

Thanks for the insurance recommendations. I’ve got 2 weeks until collection so will get some quotes.

[dhutch]

Also, depending where you are, don't advertise the fact it's there. Ie, avoid leaving the door open all day or leaving it in the drive for a few days etc.

Else as said, some reasonable security and some insurance. Just like a car.

Congrats on the boat as well!


Daniel