locks
I’ve used a cable similar to what was described above, but bought it pre-made at a pet store. Loop it thru the seat and around the roof rack bar - just to keep honest people honest, so to speak. If they want it bad enough, they’ll take it no matter what. Or the car with the kayak…
We stayed at an inn a few years ago in a prime-kayaking area, so I didn’t want to be without the boat but wouldn’t have too many chances to use it. I ended up laying it along side the building and locking it to the porch rather than driving around with it all the time. No problems…
You Need to find a New Girl Friend, Dude
one who likes to camp and kayak. I have a grand daughter who was raised “right”. She loves to camp, hike, shoot guns, boat and fish. She even loves to clean fish. She is also a “knock-out”. Sorry, a lucky guy already married her. I am taking the credit, her dad was very busy making a living, so I took over on her “important” education. I also taught her to play the guitar.
Find you a new girl friend, dude. There are some like this out there.
TieYak
While no locking system will stop a determined thief, we use TieYaks on our boats when we feel the need to lock them to deter theft.
They are pretty much premade versions of the system described above using plastic covered cable with loops. I bought a set of same keyed plastic encased Master Locks to use with the TieYaks.
They are available at some outfitters and always on ebay.
It may sound cruel but…
I’m with the guy above on this one!Ditto what he said!
Read his post again…
– Last Updated: May-20-05 1:04 PM EST –
He says "one" of his girlfriends...
I guess he has a few, lol. Maybe its just this particular one who doesn't camp.
We put ours in the room-and sleep
soundly-without worry. Yes, it’s a little bit of a hassle. You can usually get someone to help you.
some options
i’ve installed Wichard 1/4inch stainless steel u-bolts and/or the old Aquaterra aircraft cable u-bolt behind the cockpic (QCC kayaks have the Wichard on the bow and stern)…this i attach with lock a length of coated cable with loop ends, the other loop attaching to the Thule Bar which is already locked.
Then, remember the personal alarms for joggers, I attach the personal alarm to the kayak. These alarms have several operating modes…one if a ring is pulled out of it, or two if the metal leaves come apart (hope this is making sense) so when in a motel parking lot, last thing i do before sleep is put the metal leaves under the kayak…if anyone moves the boat either way an inch the alarm is set off…This way the would-be-thief has to deal with cutting the cable (not so easy on an SUV or an RV and he has to deal with the noise of the alarm.
Nothing will stop determination, but this def. slows them down.
And most importantly, I make sure my kayaks are covered on my State Farm policy.
Link showing the wichard u-bolt:
http://www.qcckayaks.com/kayaks/fittings.asp
here’s a link to various personal alarms, the one with the metal leaves is half way down the page:
http://www.self-defense-products-depot.com/personal-alarms.html
LOL
smartass
I had Same Concerns
I am from AZ and picked up my two yaks in CA. From there I drove to Vegas for a convention for a week and then on to home. I brought a 30’ Kryptonite Cable I picked up at Lowes, two U-bolts like medicine man posted , and the tools to do the install. My new yaks had two u-bolts on the stern so I installed two on the bow at the kayak shop. With the u-bolts installed, yaks on the roof, I ran the cable threw all four u-bolts and the rack. My rack is an Yakima with sks cores. While at the hotels that could accomodate my yaks and me in bed at night that is what I did. While in Vegas that wouldn’t work since I was on like the 20th floor. So I parked my car with the yaks on top near the Valet parking during the day and at night asked the valet attendant to park the car up front in view at night. Each attendant I left it with split the tip with the AM attndant and they parked the car right in front of their booth. Since the yaks were in front view all week I ended up being the kayak guy at the convention. I agree that if a theif wants it they will get it but I would not just strap them to the roof rack. I like the link of the personal alarms. I might just go this route rather drag the yaks into the hotel rooms in the future. I like to get up, shower, and be out the door in 20 minutes when traveling. The yaks take atleast that loading and securing them. Its hard enough getting my lady up and in the car within 20 min much less her and the two yaks? Forget about it!
I’ve left one in the room
I left it on the car outside my door overnight, but put it in the room when I had to work during the day. The maid will get over it but may not bring you fresh soap.
Motel
If you can’t camp, get a motel room that is “down and out”–downstairs room with door facing the parking lot. Then you can park the car right in front of your room. The TieYak someone mentioned works fine on longer boats, but is less secure on a rec boat and probably useless on a short WW boat. This is because of the cable length. No matter how much winding and wrapping of the slack cable I did, I found I could pretty easily “steal” my own 12 foot boat by moving undoing the straps and moving the boat around on the rack until I could get enough slack to slip the loop off one end. (TieYak owners, if you don’t believe this try it on your own boat) A cable under the seat is easier and probably more secure for shorter boats. An adjustable cable lock (sold at Tractor’s Supply) is a good option.
Finally, if your rack isn’t locked to the car, the boat can still be stolen relatively easily.
Turn your CAPS LOCK off
AND STOP SHOUTING
I put my 17 footer in the room with me a few times. You can also get the expensive bike cables (two of them) and strap/cable lock both ends so that the boat cannot be slid fore or aft out of the cables (due to the hull width) and off the rack.
Perhaps cranking out the sensitivity on your auto alarm system too just a little bit while on this trip so rocking the vehicle sets it off?
Good luck!
Put my
16’ Sirocco in the hotel with me. Never heard anything from the maids, but I bet there were some comments! I also use an auto “club” in the cockpit and then run the cable through it. Even if they cut the cable, they’ll have to cut the “club” also. Actually, this is what you need to solve your problems:
http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=showMyPhoto&albumID=52620660&photoID=348824070&security=BwEeIx
The solution I found…
I had this same problem on a recent driving trip from Florida to Ohio, with several stops en route. I found an ideal solution (IMHO)–Bed and Breakfast inns! These places are almost always off the beaten path (or you can find one that is). I stayed at one in the middle of town, but had discussed kayak storage ahead of time with the owner. My kayak ended up locked in her garage overnight–no worries there. The other two places were out in the country, with my car parked out of sight of any road–I left it on top; I use LashLock, another brand of kayak lock, just in case, though. B&B places get you a nice room (instead of a tent) and private bath, not to mention breakfast, and I have found the owners to, without fail, happily oblige with any security issues. They are everywhere, it seems, and I found them to be a great alternative to motels.
Lock it up the best you can
with the best available lock and cable. You say your staying in a nice hotel, okay, nice hotels have some security, some lighting, some video cameras.
This may sound quite silly but I have kinda of an off the wall imagination at times… I haven’t done this but have often wonder about the results…how about a simple motion detector in the form of a big noisy cow bell hanging inside the cockpit or hold, if you hung one from the bow handle and out of reach from a lot of people. Maybe it will create just enough noise or threat of noise to scare them off, draw attention or threat of. Winds coule be an issue but good weather judgement might help.
Hummm…big noisy cow bell suspended from springy bungy cord with cockpit, a little movement may create alot of noise.
Brian
SoFlo
This May Sound Dumb, But…
Try calling the concierge of the hotel. Some hotels pride themselves on excellent customer service and will do all they can to make their guests happy (aka return business). Worth a phone call anyway.
Lou
Kyrptonite cable from Home Depot
and a good padlock.
Hotels & Kayaks
Every winter I leave NJ and head for the FL Keys with 2 kayaks on top and 2 bikes on the bike rack on back.
Normally take 4 days to get to Key Largo, staying in motels off of I-95. All I do is use a Yakima locking cable and put it through the scupper holes and around the racks. For the bikes, just cable locks to the bike rack, and cable locks the bike rack to the trailer hitch.
I try to park by a window under or in front of our room, or as close to the main entrance as possible.
I have not had any problems to date, and have made the trip at least 6 times.
But as is often said, a lock is only an inconvenience to someone who really wants what you have.
This is a funny thread
Whenever I travel, I always see the hotel pools and think:
- I wish I brought my kayak: I could do a bit of rolling practice.
- How the heck am I going to get an 18ft kayak through these halls, down the steps, round that corner, to the indoor pool?
But seriously, I’d do the cable lock thing - but try and ‘disguise’ the cable lock: I’m not sure that a kayak is a ‘highly prized’ theft item, but I would guess that a thief seeing something locked up means it’s obviously worth something.