Kayak Theft Prevention Tips: Securing a kayak against theft (6 practical tips)
In recent years one has heard more and more reports of kayaks that have “detached” from the mooring or disappeared from the yard and the roof of the car. Even kayak store operators have been robbed, in some cases directly from the sales area. This is no surprise at all. Professional kayaks are expensive and the sport is very popular, so there are always enough buyers for stolen products. And who knows, maybe the thieves themselves are kayakers?
Suppressing criminals is not so easy. Kayaks are big and strong, but not easy to secure. Unfortunately, not every theft can be avoided, but this article is an attempt to educate more about this important issue and to reduce the rate of theft sooner or later. With these five tips, you may not be able to stop every crime, but you can reduce the risk of theft or at least destroy the business of thieves.
Index
Table of Contents
1. Make a note of the Hull Identification Number
The 14-digit Hull Identification Number, or HIN for short, is a number that uniquely identifies the kayak. Thus it corresponds to the chassis number for the car. The HIN contains the country of origin code and a 12-digit serial number. The number is usually located at the top right of the stern. (However, it is very likely that you will not find HIN right now.)
Search is still worth it. Make a note of the number and keep it in a safe place. In case of theft, you can give the serial number to the police. It is important to note that HIN is associated with a stolen kayak. If the thief tries to sell the kayak, the kayak is likely to be discovered as stolen property. Even if the police are able to arrest the thief or the gang of thieves, it is practical to have HIN. This way you can easily and simply prove that it really is your boat.
2. Score HIN to another place on the kayak
Anyone who heists a kayak and wants to sell it is really intelligent. Thieves also know about HIN and are aware of how easy it is to identify a kayak using this number. So you will probably delete HIN. But you can stay one step ahead of the thieves.
Take some time and scratch the serial number elsewhere on the kayak. Experience has shown that hidden places are especially suitable for this. Who would look under a seat, under a storage hatch, or under a kayak?
If the boat has two (or more) serial numbers, the kayak is likely to be clearly identified as your property, for example, if the police are investigating the suspicion.
3. Store the kayak in a safe area
Thieves are not looking for challenges, they are looking for simple goals. They want to be easy prey and only if the boat is disconnected or stored by the fence of your property. Storage is certainly the safest option in the basement, garage, or even in the middle of the living room, with suitable wall or ceiling brackets.
If you rely on outdoor storage, you should at least choose a place that is not close to your apartment or house and not even visible from the street. Use all the security measures your kayak has to offer. For example, some models have built-in clamps and clips that can be used to attach a kayak to a post or tree.
The worst possible place to save a kayak is near water. There the kayak is unprotected and the thief can still use it as a means of escape.
4. Always connect the kayak
Even daylight does not deter shameless thieves. Reports of kayaks being stolen directly from the roof of a car during lunch can be found online with the best visibility. The thieves did not do such a foolish thing. When two people are fighting to lift a heavy kayak from the roof of a car, no pedestrian will guess that something has gone wrong.
Such reports are an important lesson. Do not leave the kayak unattended and if you do, do not leave it unattended in the car. The kayak can be attached to the roof of the car with a sturdy wire lock. It is not possible for the thieves to pull the kayak out of the car.
5. Don’t buy a stolen kayak
The business of stolen goods also depends on demand and supply. The first four tips will make it harder for thieves to do their job. Now is the time to take care of the claimant. It is the buyer’s responsibility to correctly identify any crazy signals and not to buy stolen kayaks.
If an offer sounds too good to be true, it could be something wrong. Anyone who sells a well-preserved kayak below market price either knows more about boat damage or deals with stolen models.
A “missing” HIN is the biggest warning signal each (specified) kayak has this serial number. If the number is mixed or deleted with a grinder, it is more likely to be a stolen product. In this case, do not buy a kayak, but warn the police.
Another indication that you are dealing with a fence is that these people do not want to meet at home. They are happy to bring kayaks to see you. It can be a beautiful act of friendship from a friendly seller, but who likes to get into trouble if the purchase is not made. If in doubt, anyone can send pictures of the advertisement to the police. The images may match a kayak that has recently been reported stolen
HOW TO LOCK A KAYAK
Kayaks cost money, so you’ll want to make sure you don’t end up losing your investment to unscrupulous people looking to make a quick buck from your boat. This may not be a problem if you have an inflatable kayak as you can easily fold it up and lock it inside your cabinet. But what if you have a rigid kayak instead? Well, it may be more difficult to secure or lock such a kayak, but it is not entirely impossible. Here are some tips on how to lock a kayak and keep it safe, whether you store it in storage or while on the road.
LOCK IT INSIDE YOUR GARAGE OR SHED
Undoubtedly the best way to keep your kayak safe from theft is to keep it inside your garage or shed. These types of structures provide a safe place to keep your kayak for fun (whatever type of kayak you have) because they have doors that can be safely locked inside and out. And although these buildings have windows where ruthless people can enter, they are usually very small and now allow a sturdy full-size kayak to move.
However, there are those who say that there is not enough space in their garage or shed to store their kayaks. However, there are various ways to keep a kayak strong and some of it works even in tight and tight spaces. For example, you could use a freestanding kayak stand that you could place in the middle of a room or against a nearby wall. Don’t have enough floor space in your garage or kayak carrying shed? OK, you can use the Kayak Wall Mount to safely mount your kayak to the wall. Do you have no space on your wall because of the shelves and cabinets? After that, you can install a kayak lift or suspension system on your roof and let your kayak hang there. Whichever method you choose to use,
LOCK IT OUTSIDE YOUR HOME
As mentioned above, the best way to keep your kayak safe and secure is to lock it inside your garage, shed, or any other similar building. There is a good chance to prevent thieves from stealing your favorite tour, whitewater, or surf kayak if it is not visible. However, not everyone has a garage or a shed in the case of kayakers living in toilets and living quarters. Depending on the situation, their only option would be to store and lock their kayak outside the area where they live.
If you want to keep your kayak safe and secure, you need extra care to keep your kayak out. First, you will want to keep your kayak as close to home as possible. If you are using a private kayak stand, be sure to place it as close to the outside wall of your house as possible. You can also install a kayak wall mount on the outer wall of your house and place your kayak there. However, these alone will not be enough to ensure that your kayak is safe from thieves.
To improve the safety of your kayak, you will want to make sure that it is fastened to a permanent structure (such as a pole or a tree) with a cable lock or chain lock system. Therefore, thieves interested in stealing your kayak will need to destroy the kayak lock or cut the fence or chain. Sometimes making it difficult for thieves to steal is enough to prevent them from doing so.
Also, you will want to cover your kayak with tile. This will prevent thieves from being seen and tempted to chase your boat, as well as protect your kayak from harmful sun rays and other natural elements. However, be sure to cover the cabinet with a kayak closet cover so that craters and insects can get in and out of your kayak.
SECURING YOUR KAYAK ON THE ROAD
If you are out on a kayaking adventure somewhere far away, say your whitewater kayak for a fun rapids race or your fishing kayak to fish across the region on the weekends, take it to your rooftop or drag it. In your kayak trailer. However, you will find that you often have to leave your kayak in the car or at night when you are lying on the side of the road and in a hotel on the side of the road and this can put your kayak at risk. of theft.
The best way to deal with this problem is to make sure your kayak is secure in your roof rack or kayak trailer. This means using a wire lock to lock and secure your kayak in a storage area or trailer. If you have a high kayak seat, you can connect the phone lock with a scoper plug hole and secure it in place. Make sure that when you remove the scapular plugs from the kayak you store them in your car or bag so that they do not get lost.
SECURING YOUR KAYAK WHILE CAMPING
Kayak camping trips are fun, but not when you wake up at night thinking about not getting your camping kayak. If your car is near your camping site, you can use the methods mentioned above and lock your kayak in a luggage rack or trailer. However, if you have to bring a kayak (yes the right way) to the camp and leave your car, that option is not possible.
This will be easier if you have a compact kayak that you can carry inside your tent (as long as it is big enough). However, if you have a strong kayak, you need to find a permanent structure such as a tree, log, or dock where you can protect your kayak with a phone key. In any case, make sure it is close to your tent so that no one dares to approach you while you are asleep.
GET KAYAK INSURANCE (JUST IN CASE)
Sometimes it happens that things still go wrong no matter what precautions you take. These unforeseen and unexpected setbacks are the main reason you will want to consider getting insurance for your kayak. There are insurance options for non-motorized boats, and this covers a variety of damages that could even be stolen from kayaks, boats, small boats, and more. Some even offer coverage for your kayak accessories like kayak fishing rods, portable electronics like kayak fish finders, and more.
SUMMARY OF MY TAREKOS
If you have a high-quality kayak, it is probably one of the biggest investments you have ever made. With that said, you’ll want to make sure you keep it safe, not just from unnecessary damage but from theft as well. Whether you keep it at home after kayaking season or leave it outdoors while on the road, be sure to take all necessary precautions to ensure its safety. Learning to lock a kayak safely is a skill you must learn. You may need to vest in high-quality rope lock systems or a strong chain and tamper-proof padlock to lock a kayak, but these important expenses will pay for themselves over time.
Conclusion
Kayak is a popular stolen product because of its price. The growing popularity of the sport makes it easy for thieves to find boat buyers. Many kayak owners also make it very easy for thieves. Boats that are not stored or attached to the water are easy prey for professionals.
Considering professional kayaks a significant investment, they should also be invested to protect against theft. Connecting another HIN is completed within a quarter of an hour and there is no cost to the earth for a suitable cable lock.
With the tips in this post, we hope to make you more aware of the subject. Your kayak is less likely to be stolen, but some precautions should be taken.
