Stolen Outboard

[destined2sail]

A Mercury 7.5 HP outboard (serial number 6467381) was stolen from the Bohemia Vista Marina in Chesapeake City, MD between 5:30 July 2 and 1:15 PM July 3, 2010. Anyone with information please notify the Marlyand State Police if this outboard is discovered. phone (410) 996-7800 case number 10-55-007340.
Anyone have any contributions or suggestions to theft prevention. Outboard was LOCKED!! The person or persons cut the cable and power wires. Boat was out of the water.
Thanks.
Steve DeTurk

[RhythmDoctor]

Wow, really sorry to hear that. I hope someone finds it. Keep an eye on ebay and Craigslist, and if you see anything that looks similar, have the police contact the seller.

You mentioned cutting the cable. My outboard is locked by a lock directly through the handles on the twist screws - no cable. Did you do something different? Nothing is foolproof to a determined, well-equipped thief, but I always thought this was the most secure way.

[tomandchris]

I have been told that the safest way to protect the outboard is a sleeve that fits over the lock downs with a padlock in the middle. A lock through the lock downs just takes a hammer to open as that is very light metal and weak where the holes are.

[NCC320]

Originally Posted by tomandchris

I have been told that the safest way to protect the outboard is a sleeve that fits over the lock downs with a padlock in the middle. A lock through the lock downs just takes a hammer to open as that is very light metal and weak where the holes are.

Unfortunately, the sleeve over the lock down screw handles won't save your motor either. Thieves took our 8hp Evenrude some years ago inspite of this type of lock. Not sure how they got it off, but fortunately, there was no damage to the boat. The boat was on the trailer at the marina. I belive that it's best to remove these motors when on the ground. When we had the boat in the water afterwards, we got a heavy section of galvanized chain from Lowes and a good size / good quality padlock. (bolt cutters will cut these too, but the heavier the chain and lock, the more difficult it will be). Also, I believe that the motor on a boat in the water might be a bit more difficult.

[GaryHLucas]

Avoid any of those combination locks with 4 separate cylinders with digits on them. As a kid on my way to Vermont with my dad to go skiing I amused myself by attempting to pick a cable lock. After 7 hours I could open them as fast as the person owning it! A short while ago a contractor was at my house and we were sitting on the back of his box truck. He had this big expensive combination lock sitting there to lock the truck. As we talked I handed it to him, opened. He asked me how I knew the combination, and I said I didn't. He relocked it, spun all the dials and I put behind my back. In less than a minute I handed it back to him open!

Gary H. Lucas

[sailingdog]

I'd point out that any determined thief will steal the outboard regardless of the locks you use. The best you can hope for is to deter thief sufficiently that they go onto another boat to steal the outboard from.

[night0wl]

Thats why I would paint my dinghy motor bright orange or mark it heavily in some other fashion...

[RhythmDoctor]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

I'd point out that any determined thief will steal the outboard regardless of the locks you use. The best you can hope for is to deter thief sufficiently that they go onto another boat to steal the outboard from.

It's a fine line between providing enough deterrent for a thief to move on to the next victim vs. so much deterrent that he hacks up your boat to remove the item.

[mpickering]

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully you had the motor insured.

The most stressful period for my wife and I was when our brand new 8hp outboard was hung on our transom while the boat was out of the water. The moment the motor went on the insurance on the boat was doubled. Literally. The motor on the boat doubled the value of the boat and was as much as what we paid for the C-27. Even though ours was locked, a dedicated thief could have gotten it off.

Now its harder that she's in the water and the motor is equipped with remote controls. Reduces the appeal to passing thief since getting the motor free will result in it largely being useless since it lacks manual steering and on-motor shift and throttle.

Good luck in finding it or the persons responsible.

Matt

[bljones]

Originally Posted by night0wl

Thats why I would paint my dinghy motor bright orange or mark it heavily in some other fashion...

BINGO! Outboards are like women- nobody ever steals the ugly or weird ones. They will stay with you for life.