Boat Security Alarm Ideas?

[Benny Sibbitt]

I take ownership of my boat this weekend..... Finally!

Any Boat Security Alarm Ideas?

I will store boat in a secure covered boat storage 95% of the time.
Looking for some kind of deterrent when traveling with the boat; mostly overnight at a hotel after all day boating. Beachside!
I am mostly worried about the JL tower speakers that are visible.
I was thinking just a motion ring alarm would work?

 

[Murf'n'surf]

This really depends on how much cash you are willing to spend. Hitch lock, tongue lock and chain with lock through the wheel(s) and frame are a must.

Sensors that make noise will deter people from stealing gear out of the boat but will do zero from losing the entire boat unless it's in the water. You can chain your boat to the dock cleat if in the water. I see this often in Miami.

The absolute best protection is to hide an GPS tracker device onboard.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Get a Sunbrella cover made for the tower speakers as well. Out of sight out of mind and it will help protect them from our Florida sun.

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

@Murf'n'surf
I normally leave the boat hitched to truck with a hitch lock and cover boat, I am more concern about the gear on board

 

[Ronnie]

Consider replacing the standard speaker mounting screws with keyed security screws from your local hardware store. I use all the visual deterrents mentioned earlier. Mobile drone is a system that uses sensors and GPS to keep track of your boat or car. My ex coworker uses it to keep track of his son's driving habits (e.g. Where, when and how fast). You can set it to text you and/ or your local police department if an alarm is tripped. I believe that dewalt has a similar system meant primarily for use in tractors, dozers, etc. the buy in price is usually under $250 but that is for the entry level system. If you want to add more sensors it will cost you and the service itself is on an annual subscription basis.

 

[Bruce]

I have always liked the idea of installing an alarm with one or two proximity sensors. I had a proximity alarm in a 300ZX in London. I often left the T-Tops off. The alarm would chirp as people approached. The volume and frequency would increase as they got closer. Many would stop and play with it but I never saw anyone reach in.

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

@Bruce
That's pretty much what I'm looking for
Triggered by motion, boat movement or trailer shake....

 

[Bruce]

My alarm system in the UK was a Clifford brand unit. I believe Viper has less expensive options here. I considered adding an alarm system and replacing the keys with push buttons.

 

[Mainah]

Motion/proximity/microwave alarm may not be great for an open cabin boat. Rain may set them off and they need to be able to send and receive the fm waveforms in the area to be protected to work. A standard shock alarm may work if mounted and adjusted right but that could still be iffy when docked in wind and rough water.

Perhaps the simplest method would be using a standard car alarm and tapping into the factory clean out hatch switch to connect to the hood pin switch alarm wires. To secure the boat open the clean out hatch and place a piece of foam under it that will compress enough when stepped on to actuate the switch then arm the alarm. Not perfect as it requires the boat to be boarded from the rear but with the swim decks we have that should cover most of the holligans out there.

There are other options out there but far more complex to install such as solid state pressure plate/force meter/strain guage/piezo disc mounted on/under the back deck or main cabin . Photogates and ir may also be viable.

As an FYI our boats are very easy to hot wire if someone wanted to and of course who even needs to do that if it is already floating. I think teens taking stuff out of boats is the most common up in my area though.


Good luck

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

@Mainah Thanks
I won't leave it in the water, just a little protection when sitting on the trailer at a hotel parking a lot
I have insurance if completely stolen, hate to make a claim for speakers and add ons, more than anything the thought of damage they cause trying to steal it
I was thinking a sound alarm would be a deterrent to 95% of all thieves in a public place
Pressure plates won't work, I am thinking if they try to steal the wake tower speakers they may not even board the boat but stand on the wheel wells.

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

I found something that would seem to work but has bad reviews

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Your best deterrents will be to park in a well light area and put covers on the boat and tower, make your boat look like a hard target. Maybe setup a camera to record out the back of your tow vehicle but most times you cant see good face shots in order to prosecute.

 

[Mainah]

@Benny Sibbitt ... I agree that they extra detterent may help in some case. Something like this may be perfect for your use case and you don't even have to install it permenantly as it will run on a 9volt or battery clips to the boat battery if you want. Can't hurt to try it for 15 bucks. Heck I just ordered one.

Pyle PLMCWD15 Watch Dog Motorcycle Vehicle Alarm Security System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PAT287E/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_B7AyxbKPZPZJ7

+1 on what @Murf'n'surf said as well. I have a really good home video and security system but that won't stop a theif from getting in. May some higher power have mercy if a theif does trip my security while I am home though.

 

[Scuba_ref]

@Benny Sibbitt ... I agree that they extra detterent may help in some case. Something like this may be perfect for your use case and you don't even have to install it permenantly as it will run on a 9volt or battery clips to the boat battery if you want. Can't hurt to try it for 15 bucks. Heck I just ordered one.

Pyle PLMCWD15 Watch Dog Motorcycle Vehicle Alarm Security System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PAT287E/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_B7AyxbKPZPZJ7

+1 on what @Murf'n'surf said as well. I have a really good home video and security system but that won't stop a theif from getting in. May some higher power have mercy if a theif does trip my security while I am home though.

Let us know how that alarm works out for you.

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

@Mainah That looks like a good solution, I just order one also! I can't tell if it has an auto turn off after beeping for a while.

@Murf'n'surf I will always cover for overnight parking at a hotel. I think an over tower cover might be over kill and Little to much for me after a long day of boating, I can get lazy at times! Definitely try to always park in a well light area. Good point
I normally it be stored at covered secured storage facility.

 

[Ronnie]

This thread brings back memories of when my seadoo jet boat, trailer and truck as well as all my water gear was stolen from in front of my house almost 10 years ago. It sucked when when it happened and I missed half the boating season (not really I just borrowed my friend's cabin cruiser but it wasn't even close to what I had lost). I ended up upgrading to a Yamaha jet boat and the experience made me a boat u.s. Insurance customer for life but It also made me a lot more paranoid about the boat and its contents.

You don't really need to spend much or go high tech to protect your boat or its contents. Detach the boat's trailer from the tow vehicle and put a block lock in the the tongue. I used to take the extra step of locking the trailer tongue in the folded position well as putting a lock on the left or right tires. To secure the contents of the boat I putting locking latches and cam locks on all the hatches and cam locks on the head and helm compartments with the understanding that they don't provide much security and that only the head compartment, clean out plug hatch and ski locker are really securable. Keep in mind that th clean out plugs are $400ish each, someone had theirs stolen while on vacation and without them you essentially have a really big and heavy raft.

I considered getting the mobile drone system installed but in light of my experience of my boat got stolen and went missing for a single day i probably would not want it back.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

@Mainah That looks like a good solution, I just order one also! I can't tell if it has an auto turn off after beeping for a while.

@Murf'n'surf I will always cover for overnight parking at a hotel. I think an over tower cover might be over kill and Little to much for me after a long day of boating, I can get lazy at times! Definitely try to always park in a well light area. Good point
I normally it be stored at covered secured storage facility.

This custom cover only covers the horizontal section of the tower and speakers. It's a big bag with a zipper on the bottom.... Takes 2 minutes drunk 1 minute sober.

 

[Benny Sibbitt]

@Murf'n'surf where do I get these covers from? Cost?

 

[subysti]

I was worried about this for my snowmobile trailer. I installed a viper car alarm system with a shock sensor and 1 mile pager. The pager is really maybe a half mile but would be fine if your in a hotel. Was about $350 for everything but I installed myself. You can get cheaper if you don't want the pager or even a shorter range.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

@Murf'n'surf where do I get these covers from? Cost?

Find local marine canvas/upholstery place. Stop by with the boat and have them measure it up. $300 tops