Arghhhhh!!!!!!! Anyone find my keys????

[labatt]

Well, we were all ready to pull outta Bimini tomorrow morning and we went to pull the engine off the dink. We lock the outboard using a special masterlock outboard lock - hardened steel, the works - and now we can't find the key to it. Stupidly we never separated the two keys, so the spare is wherever the primary is. As a result, we can't pull the engine off the dink, and we can't tow it with the engine on. There's a short weather window to head to Nassau on Thursday and Friday, and if we don't get to South Cat Cay tomorrow we'll miss it. As far as I can find, there are no locksmiths on Bimini either. I'll be checking with the marina office tomorrow. Anyway, some updates and pics up on our blog, and our plans once we can get out of here...

[sailortjk1]

Will a bolt cutter work? I have no idea how that Master is set up, Im just trying to throw out suggestions, ones you probably already thought of. Hardened might be a challenge.
Can you drill out the (lock) cylinder?

[mrwuffles]

These things are tricky they have a big steel rod thing that covers a lot of the lock except the key hole and part of the curved part where you cant get a cutter into it looks like this if its what I am thinking of, West Marine: Outboard Bracket Lock, Brass Product Display

[Capnblu]

angle grinder, cut off disc, 10-15 seconds

[artbyjody]

Originally Posted by labatt

Well, we were all ready to pull outta Bimini tomorrow morning and we went to pull the engine off the dink. We lock the outboard using a special masterlock outboard lock - hardened steel, the works - and now we can't find the key to it. Stupidly we never separated the two keys, so the spare is wherever the primary is. As a result, we can't pull the engine off the dink, and we can't tow it with the engine on. There's a short weather window to head to Nassau on Thursday and Friday, and if we don't get to South Cat Cay tomorrow we'll miss it. As far as I can find, there are no locksmiths on Bimini either. I'll be checking with the marina office tomorrow. Anyway, some updates and pics up on our blog, and our plans once we can get out of here...

Just call a locksmith - $60 bucks and they will pick it...If you have AAA, it may be covered no matter what the expense is

[MSter]

Perhaps you can try a large flat-head screwdriver placed between the exposed lock bolt and sliding metal cover. Using a BFH, try to pry the bolt out of the lock. Its not looking like you have many options as those locks are a very good theft deterrent.

[labatt]

Ummmm - Jody, that would be the American Automobile Association, not the Bahamas Automobile Association. The total population of all of the islands around Bimini is 1600. We have to take our dinghy to get to the largest town on Bimini - Alice Town - and you can walk up and back the main street in about 10 minutes. As far as I'm aware, the closest locksmiths would be in Miami (50nm across the Gulf Stream) or Nassau (110nm across the Grand Bahama Banks and the Tongue of the Ocean). Hopefully I'll be able to find a nice Bimini-ian with several good drill bits and lubricating oil so I can try to drill out the lock. Even better, maybe someone found the keys and dropped them off at the lost and found

The lock is almost completely covered by the bar, which is hardened steel. We're not getting bolt cutters or a hacksaw in. We have a Roto-Zip with a metal cutting wheel that we may try, but I'm concerned about sparks hitting the Hypalon and damaging the dinghy itself.

[sailingdog]

That lock isn't particularly hard to pick... any good locksmith should be able to open in a few minutes.

If you try the rotozip blade, you can always cover the dinghy with some cloth.... to protect the dinghy from the sparks.

[labatt]

Thanks SD... if I could find a locksmith that would be cool.

We've even checked the vacuum cleaner chamber to see if we accidentally sucked up the key!

[AllThumbs]

You will find the key 10 minutes after you have the lock cut off.