Head compartment lock - AR240 ?

[jameskeller76]

Has anyone put a lock on their Head Compartment? We are looking at leasing a slip this year (wife is tired of being dependent on me and the truck) and would like to be able to secure items.

 

[GiddYupJoe]

@Ronnie did this a while back. Maybe he can quickly provide his link to the write up how to.

 

[Julian]

I'd be afraid that anyone that has taken the trouble to go under your cover to steal something isn't going to be deterred by a lock and might break the door to get in...costing more in damage than what they might steal? I'm lucky that our marina hasn't had any thefts....and that they have cameras all over the place in the event anyone was up to something.

 

[Mainah]

As the saying goes ... locks just keep honest people honest. As @Julian pointed out a boat cover should do the same. Most items that come up missing off of docked boats are due to teenagers seeing an opportunity. Just don't leave enticing items in plain sight and you have won more than half the battle.

 

[GiddYupJoe]

Another easier option would be to switch out the ski locker latch with a locking one. This is what I did. ~$30 and ten minutes of time.

I also agree with the others above about thieves. I could easily break this ski locker lock with a little force.

 

[jameskeller76]

I agree with all that's said but if I'm docking in the evening and coming out the next day I won't bother with putting the cover on for the night. Might have to look into the ski locker option. Thanks

 

[Matt Phillips]

I agree with others...typically people won't mess with the boat when it's covered. There's also a couple of little things I do with my cover that others likely wouldn't to be able to tell if someone has been under it. For Example, when I park my boat on the street, I always ensure that all six cleates are pushed down onto the cover, and the likelihood of someone remembering to push in all six cleates would be slim. You can also put a colored zip tie on the trailer cover where it latches together...zip tie in the wrong color or missing, and there's your sign someone has been lurking about.

It is also typical for me to leave the cover off the boat at the slip when at the lake for several days and to date about the only "visitors" I've seen on the boat are some muddy raccoon prints. I do make it a habit of putting all things of value out of sight and also taking things that need dried back to the house.

I do like the idea of a lock on the sole locker door. If someone does go poking about, they would likely look in the head and likely under seats, but may literally walk over that hatch not even look inside.

 

[Julian]

I always cover my boat overnight no matter what. Too many times I've not covered it to have a huge storm soak it, or swarms of may flies land and die on it, or a birds crapping on it....two people can have the cover on or off in 5 minutes....which to me is worth the effort. But I'm sure they are dry, bugless, birdless places where my issues don't apply.....so perhaps a ski locker or changing room lock would be helpful.....but both those doors are way expensive....

No matter what....we want to see photos of what you end up doing!!!!

 

[luckie_529]

It is a pain but we always put the cover on even in the the covered slip. Sometimes the swim deck area is loose but the majority of the boat is covered. The bugs really like the white interior of these boats.

 

[Ronnie]

I installed a cam lock similar to this one on my head locker door. In retrospect two would have been better (one high one low). If the lock is installed correctly a thief would need a pry bar to get the door open.

https://www.mcmaster.com/#cam-locks/=15yyo1q

Still, it's not theft proof but as a person who has had his whole rig (truck, boat and trailer) stolen I now tend to go overboard on security for the boat and have locks on all the hatches possible.

My theory is simple, make my boat a less attractive target than the boats next to it. Just a thought, wouldn't it suck if somebody stole your boat cover or your clean out plugs?