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Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=23380 |
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Author: | zornzorro [ Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:31 am ] |
Post subject: | Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
Hi, me and my neighbour had an idea of a cheap solution to prevent theft of an AI (at the lake I live some bad guys from time to time steal a few boats). We filles a big bucket completely with cement, at the bottom of the bucket were some thick iron wires to install a solid metal chain with. We will dig in the bucket deep into the ground beneath the Mirage well. The chain will then go up through the Mirage well into a slot in a short tube (5 mm steel) and will there be locked with a padlock. It will be nearly impossible to dig out the bucket, because the AI is right above it and you can´t raise the AI just a few cm. It will be also nearly impossible to break up the chain or the padlock, because both of them are inside the middle of the tube and you can´t reach em with a bolt cutter. The price for the short chain and the padlock was about 35 $. Please look at the pictures of the construction http://gallery.me.com/docslaw#100056 |
Author: | augaug [ Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:42 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
Looks interesting. We always lock our Revolution to something solid when we're camping using a VERY thick cable bike lock with a U lock connecting both ends of the lock. The one great feature on the Mirage drive boats is that you can fit a solid cable or lock through the middle of the boat using the opening for the mirage drive. My standard kayak locks up with a Lasso lock, which is a lot less convenient, and a lot less secure. Your solution looks great for a more permanently located boat. |
Author: | zornzorro [ Wed Apr 14, 2010 10:32 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
Hi augaug, yes, the boat is located at this lake most of the time, it´s about 50 m to the house I´m living in. And the bad guys have a very professional equipment... |
Author: | mickeymouse [ Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:18 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
Looks like a good fix for a permanent static location. Now if someone comes up with something similar that can be taken with you onboard, that will address all the times you're away from the craft. I have never taken it further than a bike lock - but that would really only deter "honest" thieves |
Author: | Cowsgomoo [ Wed Apr 14, 2010 7:08 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
Interesting idea. Might still be able to cut the chain with boltcutters though. Of course you're going to get wet doing it. I imagine it would scare off most bad guys. I have a long plastic covered steel cable and marine padlock so I can lock it to the car or other structures. |
Author: | zornzorro [ Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:17 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
Hi Cowsgomoo, I think my pictures are a little bit misleading - if the padlock is mounted inside the tube, there is only as much of the chain going through the slot in the steel tube as needed to lock the padlock. Therefore it will be nearly impossible to get to the chain oder the padlock with a bolt cutter (you need a big cutter), especially as you would need to use the bolt cutter in "open"/"ready-to-cut"-mode (tube is too narrow then) |
Author: | Cowsgomoo [ Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:33 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
zornzorro wrote: Hi Cowsgomoo, I think my pictures are a little bit misleading - if the padlock is mounted inside the tube, there is only as much of the chain going through the slot in the steel tube as needed to lock the padlock. Therefore it will be nearly impossible to get to the chain oder the padlock with a bolt cutter (you need a big cutter), especially as you would need to use the bolt cutter in "open"/"ready-to-cut"-mode (tube is too narrow then) Ahhh, yes. I didn't note the length of chain under the hull. I just assumed it was longer and you could reach underneath. Just checked again and see the hull is very close to the concrete block. |
Author: | whosyerbob [ Thu Apr 15, 2010 2:39 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
Slick solution - thanks for sharing! |
Author: | DrRSoren [ Fri Apr 01, 2011 5:17 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
I also live on a lake with sophisticated thieves. I just use a bike cable and padlock. That keeps the curious from considering a joy ride. For the pros, I insure my boat for theft. If it's stolen I will head in to Hobie for an upgrade. |
Author: | Hobienutter [ Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:10 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
Hi Zornzorro, a very practical solution. It's such a shame there are such people around. I did a very similar thing to secure my box trailer from theft and I still have it. I poured my concrete in situ after digging out a bell shaped hole about 18 inches deep. The bell shape ensured that you would need a truck to pull it out of the ground! Perhaps anyone else wanting to use your ingenious method could bring the chain out of the bottom of the bucket and bury the bucket upside down. Good luck with your boat and Happy Sailing. Peter |
Author: | chrisj [ Mon Apr 04, 2011 2:56 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
One issue that needs to be addressed with this method of securing the boat is that it would be left lying on the ground without support, which is likely to lead to hull distortion over time. It might be necessary to also concrete some cradles to the ground as well. |
Author: | jms2756 [ Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:35 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
I think you could incorperate the wombat into zornzorro's idea to provide a lightweight mobile solution, check out http://www.rapidanchor.com/ and before any animal activists get upset, I am not suggesting using a real wombat |
Author: | ELM [ Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:40 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: Cheap solution to prevent theft of AI |
Personally, I think if someone really is crocked enough to take your AI, they will come prepared and take it quite easily. If there is enough room that the hull is not rubbing on the concrete that is inside the bucket (which I would not like happening to mine), then there is enough room for bolt cutters underneath. The chain does not look all that thick, so only a small set of cutters would be needed and easy to use underwater, water will also muffle any noise cutting the chain. If it was a lot heavier chain, I would think it safe, but that thin chain, not so sure. Hope for your sake I am wrong. The one thing that caught my eye, the hull was blue , AI , guessing the demo was on a revo |
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