Dinghy Security

[stephen_i_w]

We purchased a dinghy and a nice light Torqeedo outboard. My question is, how do we keep it from getting stolen when we use it to foray on land?

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

I took a long chunk of shroud wire, stripped the core from some double braid, ran the wire through th center and put a loop each end with a nicro fitting. I ran that thru the dinghy straps, the handle of the outboard and some loops I had in the oars, and locked it

 

[justsomeguy]

Lock the outboard to the transom, take the engine cutoff key and disable the oars, i.e. take the paddle portion with you.
Stops casual thieves.

 

[Tom J]

I do the usual, like lock the outboard to the transom, and use a plastic coated steel cable to lock the bow eye to the dock. As far as the Torqeedo goes, I used to carry the tiller and battery in a carry bag when I left the dinghy for any length of time. I now have a length of stainless wire with loops nicropressed that secure the battery retaining pin in place, and just take the tiller with me. Since the tiller houses the computer, it is an added measure of security to remove it.

 

[Charlie98117]

As far as the Torqeedo goes, ... I now have a length of stainless wire with loops nicropressed that secure the battery retaining pin in place, and just take the tiller with me.

I just bought a Torqeedo and have also been wondering how to secure the $900 battery since even with the motor locked to the transom you can just pull the pin and carry it away. Can you explain more about the wire you made? How is it routed and do you have a lock on it too?

 

[Tom J]

If you zoom in on the Torqeedo in this picture, you can see the small padlock on the retaining pin for the battery. I used a small, braided stainless wire and made a loop through a convenient hole on the leg and nicopressed the loop. I made another loop that would just reach the head of the retaining pin, and put a padlock through the pin and the loop. The pin can still be moved a bit, but not enough to pull it out. Of course, this will not deter someone with tools, but at least a passerby can't walk away with your battery.

 

[Charlie98117]

This thread is a bit old but I thought I would post my solution to securing a Torqeedo to the dinghy. I decided to make a metal shroud with tabs that insert into the battery lock and transom clamp arms. It may be perhaps a bit big and clunky but the battery, tiller and motor can all be secured with a shackle lock.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Here’s another related thread Torqeedo security

 

[RoyS]

Spray paint it hot pink and nobody will touch it.

 

[jssailem]

In Belize, we saw brand new outboards painted like a used car. Splotches of various colors and covered with grandpa's old tee shirt.

But boy could those outboards get up and go when the throttle was opened.