By Mark Raudenbush:
There is a bit of a crime wave ongoing in Florida recently. Thefts of outboard engines, lower units, and propellers have been reported all over the state. There is debate as to where these parts end up after they are stolen. Some say they are resold locally at non-factory authorized shops, others suspect they are shipped offshore to third world countries. Wherever they go, the theft comes as s tremendous expense and burden to the victims and our insurance companies.
It would seem at first there is little we can do. These thieves are clever and they rarely seem to be caught. They strike in locked storage yards and well lit shops. They swim quietly through neighborhood canals in the latest hours of the night. They are a tricky bunch.
The situation however reminds me of the story of when a bear attacks your campsite. You donât have to outrun the bear, you just have to outrun the slowest guy in the camp.
When it comes to protecting your investment, you donât have to make it impossible to steal, but it helps if your boat and its parts are harder to steal than others these thieves might hit. By putting obstacles in the way of a thief they are more likely to pass you by in favor of an easier mark down the road.
At Wolcott Marine we have a full compliment of locks that are designed to help make thefts of your investment more difficult, reducing the likelihood youâll become a victim. Prop locks replace the prop nut on your engine with a proprietary socket. Lower unit locks replace one of the lower unit bolts with a special stainless steel bolt with a unique âkeyâ and engine locks surround the head of one of your engine mounting bolts with a little vault operable only with a key.
Yes, certainly a persistent enough thief given time and tools can defeat any of these devices, but the point isnât to be impossible just to be difficult enough that a thief is likely to pass you by in favor of an easier target.
One aside, particularly with prop nuts and lower unit locks, keep the key handy. If you travel with the boat make sure those keys travel too. Should you ding a prop or lose a water pump youâre going to need those keys.
Call us to set an appointment and weâll help you lock it down, keep it safe, and prevent engine, lower unit, and propeller thefts.
In a later column weâll discuss whole boat thefts and the things we can do to prevent those.
