how to lock up (secure) kicker motor?

[adobe wall]

I've got a 1998 model 8 hp Merc kicker on my boat and have been wondering how to keep it from getting stolen. I reckon the fact that I've got it in the garage is going to help, but...

Anyhow, locking it up. It had a padlock through the holes in the torque levers (or whatever you call the floppy levers that let you tighten the bolts) but I didn't have the key and had to cut it off. I bought a $25 locking bar setup that covers those levers but after I got it home it seems to be cheesy- the key is generic (that's never good) and it doesn't cover the screws themselves.

Is there a really good locking bar or mechanism available?

thx
aw

[IDWITHELD]

I'm not sure on the bar. But Mercury sells some security bolt covers that are interesting.
On my kicker, I welded all 4 nuts to the (through-transom) studs. Then I added a 3/8 vinyl coated chain from motor to transom. All bolts are security bolts that don't allow gripping tools to work.

If you want my kicker, you are going to work for it.

[ondarvr]

I have the same 8HP Merc and would like to keep it for a while, so I'm interested in what people come up with also.

[Smj]

Quick Silver makes a lock the goes over one of the screw downs, I can't see a way to get tthe thing off, course I'm not a thief. I'll see if I can get a pic on here. Steven's is where mine came from, and it's on a 9.9 4-Stroke.

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/DSCN1830.jpg

I spose I you wanted you could put two of these on.

Smj

[BARCHASER]

I've got a 1991 8hp Merc, I just put a padlock through the holes on each end of the screwdowns. If you turn the screwdowns towards each other, a padlock can go through both the holes. From experience though, shoot the lock with wd40 now and then or in salt wtr use it will rust up. A thief would have to saw through the padlock to get the mtr off.

[BARCHASER]

Oops. You already tried that. I keep two sets of boats keys for all the locks. One in the boat or in my pocket if I'm out somewhere, and the other in the console of my truck. Works for me.

[Jooky]

bolting the screws does nothing to protect your motor. One can easily grab the prop area and twist the motor off the transom.. pushing the bottom to the port and starboard will walk the screws up and off the transom...unless you have a lip on the transom that will keep the screws from going up.

bolts and welding work well. If you need to take it off you have to grind off the nut.. and that takes awhile

[RiverMan]

bolting the screws does nothing to protect your motor. One can easily grab the prop area and twist the motor off the transom.. pushing the bottom to the port and starboard will walk the screws up and off the transom...unless you have a lip on the transom that will keep the screws from going up.

Man that's scary, never thought about that. I guess if a person wants it bad enough they will take it no matter what you do.

RM

[croation2]

I had one of those bars that slide over, lost the key, and tried to cut it in 1/2. It is apparently hardened tool steel and would not cut or grind. I put a 3/8 drill bit in my battery operated drill and drilled the key area (brass) out of the middle of the Master lock in about 12 seconds! In other words if you use the bar, make sure you can't access the key hole with a drill. It's the week link in the chain. Also: I saw a guy with a pickup truck and canopy in the Safeway parking lot at lunchtime today, He used big letters like you would use to number your boat and put it on both sides of the canopy " nothing inside this canopy is worth your life". It was much more convincing than the old "protected by S&W". Only my Radar antenna sticks up over the fence, Wish it was bigger so it hold more lettering than the standard "Feruno"

[shinook65]

I had a brand new Honda 9.9 taken off of my boat with the slide on bar type lock. Right outside the bedroom window. Dogs never barked, didnt hear a thing. It had about 2 hours on it. Paid $2800, got $1300 from insurance. SUCK.

[Fish'nDude]

Have your kicker bracket welded to your hull. Cost me about $25. No need to worry about the kicker going anywhere.

[Bobberman]

Have your kicker bracket welded to your hull. Cost me about $25. No need to worry about the kicker going anywhere.
How do you get it off for repairs etc?

[Bobberman]

Thanks, I have a merc 9.9 pro so I will give it a look tonight.

[Herring Impaired]

Owners of Yamaha Kickers, that have what looks like a pipe nipple on the tilt point, can do like I did and put a cable lock through it as a secondary... Just run it though a tie down or something else solid on the boat.

[adobe wall]

well this has been an educational thread, that's for sure. I never figured someone could walk the motor right off the transom but I can sure see how that would happen.

So I guess the lock is just to keep punk kids from stealing, the average tweakhead will get it anyways. Crap.

Still open to ideas, thanks to all who have responded. there has been some good stuff so far.

regards, aw

[Tacklebuster]

If they want it bad enough.... they will get it.

Spend a little bit of money on something that will make a rookie looking to score some quick cash for a drug fix think about it for awhile and hope that he/she decides not to take it.

The best thing to do after that is pick up the phone book and find an insurance provider that will cover the cost of replacement. Might cost you a few extra dollars a month (at most) on your policy but the worst thing that will happened if it does get stolen is it will ruin your day you planned on fishing.

[shorthair]

I've got a 1998 model 8 hp Merc kicker on my boat and have been wondering how to keep it from getting stolen. I reckon the fact that I've got it in the garage is going to help, but...

Anyhow, locking it up. It had a padlock through the holes in the torque levers (or whatever you call the floppy levers that let you tighten the bolts) but I didn't have the key and had to cut it off. I bought a $25 locking bar setup that covers those levers but after I got it home it seems to be cheesy- the key is generic (that's never good) and it doesn't cover the screws themselves.

Is there a really good locking bar or mechanism available?

thx
aw


Don't trust the bar, when they stole my 9.9 merc they even took the locking bar with them. I don't know what the answer is but the locking bar ain't it.

[Fish'nDude]

How do you get it off for repairs etc?

All service work etc. on my 05 yamaha t8 has always taken place with it on the boat. Haven't needed to take if off or see any reason to remove it. I don't plan on using it on any other boat so having it spot welded to the hull just eliminates one more worry.

[stevo]

I ran carriage bolts through the transom, head inside, then cut the threads off so only ~ 1/4" exposed throuh the holes in the kicker mounting bracket. Then took and drilled a small hole into the end of the bolt and drove a punch into the hole to deform the threads. Very difficult to remove, hand tools will not do it, and grinding is very loud. Also, get good insurance, if they really want it, they'll take it.

[Drachir]

I had a 6hp Merc kicker stolen many years ago. At the time I used a padlock locking the handles together. It was easy for the thieves to use a bolt cutter on the padlock, and kicker was gone. I now use a Quick Silver Lock, that is in my opinion fool-proof. There is no way to get a cutter on the lock, and no way to turn the handle. Here's a picture:

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_1040resize.jpg

[Redneck]

i got the Stazo Smartlock. it costs around $80 but i think it's worth it. it got top reviews in a few fancy boating magazines. do a google search to check it out.

it also has a hidden screw that goes into your kicker bracket so a thief can't "walk" the motor off the bracket. it's hard to find so PM me if you want to know where i got it.
redneck

[iwanttofish]

I take mine off and use a dolly to keep it warm, dry and safe in my garage. it is a pain but not as much as having it stolen by some low life scum sucking thief.:hoboy: