The management is considering letting me install bolts in the brick wall of the building, and I bet they'd consider letting me put them in the concrete instead. Do you see the bolts in the concrete patio (or whatever) as being better than the side of the building, out of curiosity?
I was just thinking that hoisting and slung from the wall might deter my fellow tenants from sitting on, kicking, putting their hibachi on top of, my kayak...
I do have friends with shi-tzu's that they swear protect their boats while camping... ;)
I bet they change their mind on the building. Not sure,but I would. When I had my shed concrete poured I went to a hardware store and got ~2 foot anchor eye bolts and put them in when the cement was poured. I put a chain through the eye. In regards to Lasso, I was told to contact a Harley dealer for contacts to get a thicker cable. You can also buy those cable lock loops (brand name escapes me) at Lowes, Home Depot and thread a cable through that.
situation, I would leave it locked on the roof of my vehicle.
We head to Florida for four months every winter, and I keep two sea kayaks and a canoe on my truck roof the whole time we are there.
Just don't park in any of those low roof garages.
One other option is one of those storage places. Many of them have a outdoor area where people store their power boats, (they are cheaper than indoors) and you could chain it to the fence or a post.
I’d be tempted to sell it and buy a folding kayak. A kayak locked outside an apartment building is going to be noticed by lots of potential thieves over time, even if it is in a semi-discreet area. Not to mention the random dumb young vandal. Cutting a cable is not hard, and if a dishonest person knows it is always in that place, they will eventually bring some cutters with them.
Alternatively, I’d be looking to rent a duplex, or an apartment in a house, where you would know the few other residents who share the property. Not only is there more likely to be a cellar or garage space for it, but even if it were locked outside in back, it would be seen by a lot fewer people than it would be at an apartment complex. I think a kayak locked up in the same place outside at a largish apartment complex is doomed over time.
My kayak stays on my van roof until fall Then I put it on my patio and lock the gate.
This gives the guards something to talk to me about when I come to work in the morning.
I have a locking system for the rooftop but I have not used it here. However on a camping trip I locked it to a tree in a Michigan State Park.
Fortunately while I’m at work, we are locked away from the surrounding bad neighborhood.
In this state, Ohio, the kayaks have to be registered so anyone stealing it would have to take it to another state to unload it. Supposedly but anything is possible.
Dead Man anchor I like the coffee can idea, but I would up-size it to a 5-gallon bucket! Make sure to use a serious-looking forged eyebolt or a 5/8 or larger “U” bent from rebar. Remember, you are trying to discourage “grab & run” thefts. A serious thief would use a battery-powered sawzall to cut the anchor.
Low-level target If you cable your boat to an eyebolt in the ground, make sure the boat is secured at a reasonable altitude. In my experience, people will let their dogs pee on just about anything - I had a woman talking on her cell phone while her dog peed on my car while I was sitting in it - she couldn’t understand why I was upset. Also, bugs will invade and people will throw trash in the cockpit, so use a cover.
Once the lasso is installed, get a good lock and another cable. Loop that second cable under the lasso and around whatever solid object is available. It could even be something well above ground level if your second cable is long enough.
Earth Anchors Go to a Farm and Home supply type store and get a 3’ earth anchor. It has a “eye” on one end and a auger on the other end. Screw it in to the ground and cable the kayak to it. It would be very hard, if not impossable, to unscrew it out of the ground with the kayak attached.
The auger anchor sounds like the best and easiest method to me. I’ve used them for various construction / landscaping projects, and can vouch for their strength. They are, after all, what is used to support utility poles!
I have thought about the likelihood of it getting stolen, and I do worry about its safety. I have lived in big cities before (even though I am in a smallish city now) and I know how thieves and vandals can observe behavior over time before going after a target. I can't afford to get a place with a garage because I am an adult who's chosen to go to college full time. Even though I know that, as you say, even in a discreet area my kayak will eventually be noticed, it is really the best option at the moment.
One nice thing is that there are only forty units in the building -- it is not a large faceless complex. I have already met and talked with a few long-time residents, and I am only in the application process so far! So knowing my neighbors will be easier than elsewhere, if not so easy as in a house.
Another nice thing is that this apartment is two blocks from a big lake, so getting the kayak to water is no problem whatsoever, even though I don't have a car for at least another few months.
Other storage options include:
1 - Renting space at a local kayak shop that's on the water, storing the boat, putting in and taking out there.
2 - Seeing if the University boat club offers discount near-water storage for students.
3 - Storing it in my sister's garage about ten miles away, which makes the problem of not having a car an issue again, because she does not living within walking distance of water.
I am certainly open to these as options and may pursue them anyhow, but in the mean time, I prefer to be able to store my kayak near me AND the water and save a little money in the process. We'll see. If I notice anything strange, I will probably look at storing my boat elsewhere. Besides, I MAY still be able to get my boat into my apartment itself, but I don't know. Narrow hallways and all.
Great ideas, everyone. I will look into earth anchors, various forms of in-ground eye-bolts, and different security cables and locks. I also appreciate the input about covers and storing hatch covers, etc. If folks have really good or bad stories about any specific cables, locks, or boat bags, feel free to pipe up or email me with recommendations.
