Lock It !

[Freesail99]

Like most I have a pad lock on the outside of my sailboat. I was wondering what is the best way to lock your boat from the inside ? Another pad lock ?

[TrueBlue]

Depends upon the type of hatchway you have.

Our pilothouse has heavy box locks on both port and starboard sliding doors, which are lockable from each side.



The downside is the size and weight of the lock's castle keys . . . we would need very large key fobs to keep these things afloat.

[sailingdog]

I use a common household lock like this one:



Which is mounted to a top drop board, with the hasp mounted to the companionway sliding hatch. I didn't mount the tumbler and key portion of the lock, since I don't normally use it when I'm not aboard... and that helps prevent salt water from getting into the lock's mechanism.

[capttb]

Do you lock yourself in the cabin every night or just if it's a full moon?

[sailingdog]

Depends on where I am, and what's around... Out at anchor, I rarely lock the boat up, since most of the anchorages I use are relatively secluded and quite peaceful and quiet.

[TrueBlue]

Do you lock yourself in the cabin every night or just if it's a full moon?

When the moon is full, my dockmates really appreciate those heavy boxlocks . . .

[sailortjk1]

On the old boat we used to lock up the boards (From the outside) and than climb in thru an overhead hatch. Batten doen the hatch and your locked in. Don't know if it would work for you.

My new Beneteau has a thumb turn in the lock which is lockable from inside the boat. Works great.

[Cruisingdad]

It is CONSIDERABLY safer and more effective to place this sticker on the stern of your boat than locking it:



No thief in his right mind will come on your vessel once he reads that.

(SMILE)

- CD

[Giulietta]

Or a simple picture of you!!!

[Cruisingdad]

Hey, the women love me. It's the hair, I think.