Upgrade to lock on sliding cabin door

[rhodyboater]

This is a very "big" topic, meaning there are so many different approaches but I'll take a stab anyway.
I've been adding quite a bit of extras to my boat, like most people do after time, i.e. flat screen tv, nice binoculars, ice maker, etc. and have become more concerned about the security of my boat.
I've already addressed that short term, in that I installed a terrific little contact alarm with a remote enable/disable switch that works like a charm...but of course just a tiny little one minute wimpy speaker/siren. Great for the middle of the night scare away the amateur, but not real protection.
On the other hand, a lot of people take the attitude that breaking the cabin door (or lock) could cause more $$$ damage that losing the contents.
Well regardless, I want to upgrade the sliding door lock, as everyone knows it can be pried open with a screwdriver.
The simplest and most secure modification would be to add a hasp and padlock but that is so ugly. The thing is, I can't think of anything just as secure but any better looking...so any ideas?

 

[Alex F]

I'd love to hear some good ideas as well. Have you consider calling locksmith and hear their suggestion?

 

[gerryb]

If they can't get past the lock, they'll just cut-up all the leather in the cockpit... and smash your gauges... Many dirt bags out there aren't happy with not getting their way when it comes to their stealing antics... I've found the best deterrent is video surveillance and a VISIBLE sign informing all that you are being watched. My opinion is that this is not appropriate for a boat however. I'd be in the camp of cheaper to replace the TV than deal with the other damage a pissed off junkie is likely to create for you.

 

[rhodyboater]

Normally I share that view but my boat is at a yacht club where a lot of members stay over on their boats and would certainly react to vandal-gauge smashing, vinyl ripping sounds.
So I'm taking the (debateable) approach of just making it super hard to get through the locked door vs. super easy the way it is now (even though minimally alarmed)
I'm thinking of adding a block of starboard material to the door to give me some thickness to work with and then install a heavy mortise sliding door lock.
It would take a mortise cylinder key and have a deadlock that engages a heavy duty strike plate.
It would definitely look good but be a bit of work to install.

 

[Rxflyer]

Apply a metallic film to the door and hot-wire to the battery. Eureka ! Added bonus of killing wayward spiders, too....

 

[rhodyboater]

I would probably forget to turn off the alarm
and juice myself!

 

[dicor]

You can make yourself crazy fortifying and securing your boat. The fact is if someone wants to break in or vandalize it they will find a way. I chose the Marina that the NJ State Marine Police keep their boats at and have a satellite office onsite as well as 2 County Police Boats and a Local Twp.Police boat. Makes it crime free. But I still carry insurance which really is about all you can do.
There is only one other option to thwart off thieves.
View attachment 21104

 

[Alex F]

Normally I share that view but my boat is at a yacht club where a lot of members stay over on their boats and would certainly react to vandal-gauge smashing, vinyl ripping sounds.
...

I think this is a huge assumption. Even if your yacht club members hear something they may not necessarly catch the thieves. I would assume that they won't even try to be close to these guys for the sake of their lives. So, the best they can do is to call 911. Most likelly by the time police arrives, they'll be gone.

In case when thieves have made an entry and making an attepmt do do harm everything on your end turns into the reaction mode. I agree with surveliance signs/system suggestion, b/c this in a way puts you to some sort of pro-active mode and when thieves see the sign it might make them think twice and it's very possible that they'll just go to a similar boat that has no security or surveliance protection.

 

[islandhopper00]

My take on an alarm is no one actually reacts to them, in a positive way anymore (unless they are next to your boat and they like you). It is an annoyance to most, and just makes your dock neighbors mad at you when it goes off.
I just make sure my insurance covers the contents and damages, and hope for the best. As was said, thieves will just tear up your boat if they can't get to what they want.

The real answer is punishment for the crime, that is actually punishment. We need harsher judgements, and actual jail time. I bet if someone broke into a judges house or boat, they wouldn't just let the offender off with a slap on the hand.

 

[rhodyboater]

Thanks for the replies so far. I can't say I disagree with any of them at all.
What I'm really trying to get at in this thread, tho, is...there must be a way we can seriously beef up the notoriously wimpy lock standard on all the SR cabin doors. Yes, I totally understand if "they" want to get in they will find a way, but in the meantime, I do find myself leaving more and more things aboard that I would not like to lose to a &%$*ng thief!
There is definitely a valid school of thought that says leave the door unlocked and don't keep anything valuable because there'll always be a way to break in, and if I had a vintage boat with a mahogany wooden door or something similar, I agree the damage to the door could supercede the value to replace anything stolen inside.
But...since that is not the case, I'm determined to install a very secure lock that will have at least slow "them" down, maybe even stop a break-in and in the meantime set off a small alarm.
At least I think I am....... (I'll add it to the list!)

 

[Lazy Daze]

Tony, I saw this in a recent supplier catalog and thought of your thread. It's still not directly answering your question, but it looks as this will alert both you and the authorities if the door is opened. I'm familiar with the SPOT II, but this is the first I've seen the HUG. I do not know anything about this HUG, other than the minute or two that I looked at the ad. Anyways, here's the link:

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=113