Any problems with theft/damage?

With all the kayaks and such out there, obviously, you'll have to leave it to do a number of things (such as park your vehicle once in a while). Just wondering if any of you have ever had any problems with theft, or people messing with your kayaks; and also, what some of you do to prevent it.

Where I live, if I were to launch it, well, anywhere I'd have to do it and then go park my Jeep, which would require me to lose sight of the kayak for 5 minutes or more, in some cases (depending on parking availability). One concern I've always had is people screwing with the kayak/boat while I'm away from it. Thanks in advance.

CurtnAz:
We have been kayaking for several years now and have never had a problem, most kayakers are very friendly. We often load up our kayak by shore then go park the car, or stop someplace and have lunch. I typically carry a bag with my wallet, phone, camera, cigarettes, etc with me (I don't leave that stuff in the kayak). I have heard though that paddles have a way of disapearing, and have seen many kayakers not leave the paddles in their boats unattended. I guess the theory is if there are no paddles someone can't steal it and go for a joy ride. This brings up an important point exclusive to Hobies. The Mirage drives are worth $500 ea, and easily removed from the boat if un-attended, we never leave our mirage drives in the boat un-attended. I have seen kayakers in restaurants with their paddles at their table, or by the front door. If you don't want to bother with all that, an alternative would be to rig the boat with one of those explosive dye packs that they give bank robbers. If you hear a bang, you come back and look for the purple person, you can then take them off to the side and explain the error in their ways (sorry I'm ex marine, thats just the way I think). Just don't forget to un-arm it when you come back, it would be difficult to explain at work the following week (or weeks depending on how good a dye you bought).
On another note we travel all over the country with our kayaks on top of our car. Our insurance agent strongly suggested I have a motor cycle chain lock that locks the kayaks to the roof rack frame. I always take the mirage drives and valuables into the hotel room for the night as well. It's aways better to be safe than sorry.
Bob

Theft is always a concern when you're not near your kayak. We just began selling steel core tie down straps in our new catalog (page 27):

http://static.hobiecat.com/digital_asse ... ng2011.pdf

This wouldn't do much good if left on the beach, but they are great for leaving your kayak on your car or trailer.

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Brendan Castile

I was thinking of some type of steel cord tie down, or some way to maybe padlock it to a dock or something. Something that could be easily stowed, but, is gonna take more than just a simple pair of wire cutters to get off Was also thinking the same thing for the mirage, but it would be easy enough to move around that I could pack it down after unloading.

Glad you mentioned that the Mirage drives were $500 a piece though. I thought they were $1,000

I stopped fishing in one of my favorite areas, along the American River, in the Sacramento area last year.

Trucks and cars were being broken into at a rate of 1+ per day.

One fellow started his truck after about an hour and it sounded horrible. He got out and looked underneath, and the sorry critters had cut off the Catalytic mufflers from his Tundra. That is a two thousand $ replacement.

So we were paying entry fees or for yearly passes to get into the park. The rangers are so few and spread out, vehicles are broken into or parted out with no fear from the scum bags.

We lock our Mirage drives in our trunk and have steel cables securing the yak to our trailer if we park it. Oars are broken down and stored where they should be safe.

This bs will get worse in California after the liberal judges force the state to release 30-50,000 prisoners.

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2009 Oasis
2012 Freedom Hawk Pathfinder

You can always personalize your boat with decals, reflective tape, etc. This makes it easy to ID and rather conspicuous for someone else to load up and drive by with. It also makes the boat more attractive to witnesses (ie: envious fishermen) who would be able to ID the perp.

If you have to leave your Drive, keep it locked in place -- thieves won't necessarily know that it comes out. Even among those who do, they would likely not be familiar with the C&G or cam lock mechanisms. Even if they are, they won't be able to remove it without remembering to lift the bow -- much more awkward than casually lifting it off the boat as they stroll by. The longer it takes and the more awkward someone appears in a theft attempt, the more likely they will pass your boat by for an easier target.

What about a motion alarm carefully placed in a hatch?

I seem to recall reading the 5 to 4 decision by our conservative leaning, US Supreme Court just ordered California to reduce jail overcrowding.....must be done over a four year time period.
I also agree releasing criminals early does not solve the crime problem.
We have a similar issue here in Oregon with cars being broken into by the drug scumbags that prey on the honest citizen.
Solution....more cops....raise taxes anyone???

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

My only real concern is my car when I'm off kayaking. I typically kayak from extremely public places with plenty of onlookers. Any enterprising thief would know that after I take off, I'd be away from my car for many hours. This is always a minor concern of mine every time I kayak.

That may be an issue, with some people, but that's precisely why I like my Jeep to look like a complete POS It'll go anywhere I want it to go, but it aint gonna win any car shows I don't even have a working stereo. I almost hope someone will steal that, thinking it works, so they save me the trouble of taking it out

For storage on my truck, I use a a set of cable locks that can be interconnected and run them thru the drive well, under the side rails (PA), thru the stake pocket on the truckm then it goes down under the truck around the bumber frame and trailer hitch before being locked up. With the PA, would be easy to carry a 6-8' cable lock with you and run it thru one of the handles and around a dock post or some other similar permanent structure if you have to leave it unattended for any period of time.

A few years ago, I got caught on the Columbia River in a windstorm that required my to get off the water as fast as possible and hike out to my car a few miles away. I gathered up my valuables, including both Mirage drives, and tied the boat, through a Mirage Drive hole, to the closest tree with a 6' bike cable and padlock. I picked it up the next morning. I didn't expect theft in that case, due to the site's remoteness, but circumstances such as that is why I always carry a cable and lock.

I also lock it to the car or truck if it is going to sit outside overnight. Some would call me a bit paranoid, but eh...

Keith

Bike cable is a good idea. Never thought of that for some reason

Almost anything we do is to keep the honest people honest... An educated theif will know what the mirage drive is and will know the value and ease of taking and walking away while you are parking the car... Go in twos... One with the yaks and one parking the car...

Dang I wish everyone would live by the golden rule... !!!!!!!!!!!

Insurance will still be your best friend in high risk situations. As the 'Great Outdoors' sometimes aren't as great as they used to be, if you understand your policy (ie: read the fine print before signing on the policy line).
If you have a highly customized craft, keep all the receipts and get a scheduled policy that will replace the craft for what you paid for it (costly)
As mentioned before, ID you boat by engraving your Driver's Licence # near the stern below the Serial Number of your craft. Take a close-up shot and email the pic to your insurance agent.
As a final precaution you can get a GPS tracker system that not only can track your vessel if registered as stolen but be used by you if the sheit really does hit the fan...
(hell, I'm not paranoid, but why are all these ppl trying to steal your boat instead of mine??, lol)
Trinomite

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Always looking for ways to make good things 'Gooder'

If a thief really wants your boat, or any other property you own they will get it based upon their skill and their ability to sell the goods they stole possibly on the black market. A Mirage drive may be worth $600 but who are they going to sell it to? A quick check of the local or distant Craig's list has come up with some amazing results from owners looking to get their goods back.
A good bike chain will always be a just a deterrent and hopefully have the local thief move onto easier local pickings...
I still lock up my 'outside' goods with a 'special cable' and lock. I lost a $2000 electric mountain bike in the process that was locked with a 3/4" bike cable.
I hate to consider what I would have lost if I would have just left everything lying around unlocked.
(BTW: one of the most secure, and hardest to cut 'Special cables', is the nylon coated lifeline material used on large yachts. This cable needs to be prepared by a pro to loop both ends. A company like West Marine can easily meet those needs for your kayak while keeping the weight low))
Be safe, take care friends.
Trinomite

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Always looking for ways to make good things 'Gooder'