What do you do to secure your kicker when it is on your boat? I take my kicker off the boat and store it when I am not using the boat, but what type of security do you use when it is on your boat. I have a lock that goes over the screw handles. I have thought about using a rope of cable to secure it to the tie down eyelet in case there is a kicker mounting bracket failure. What do you do on you use on your boats?

ps I have an Arima with a kicker bracket.

I do just what you are talking about. I use a lock (unless I'm pulling the engine at night), but always use a cable attached to the transom. The cable is actually a bike lock.

web page

EL should be replying to this thread...

One thing to watch out about those screw handle locks - be sure to take it off when not needed. I kept mine on and the saltwater froze the lock - opps. The other thing that happen was the constant vibration on the motor screws caused it to work a groove into the motor mount screws.

The screw handles that secure the motor to the transom on most outboards have a hole drilled in each of the two turning screws. When turned toward each other, the distance of the two holes is about one and half inches. Many padlocks can fit both holes. Spray some corrosion block in the lock to prevent corrosion and lockup. This is a cheap simple solution. It isn't as secure as some store-bought locks - but it works in a pinch or semi-secure area (or short period of time).

Yeah Mike I know what you mean when you fish in the salt water, I just take them off after a day of fishin E. Bay and wash and spray WD40 to prevent corrosion.

If you run a padlock through the screw handles they can be broke easily, or so I have heard. Have heard stories of theft, handles padlocked and they just broke off the handles. Motor gone, padlock and handles still there. I use the type of lock shown above as it also protects the screw handles from being beat on.

Doubletake

I also use the locking device that goes over the screw clamps in addition to a nylon rope tied around the top of the engine. I found out the hard way that a rope attached to the O-ring next to the clamps only saves your engine if the clamps come undone. I backed into a stump last year and cracked the engine right off the bracket into the river. I therefor now ruse a nylon rope tied around the top of the engine for us blind free drifters.

At home there is one hell of a big dog in the yard with the boat. Thieves hate barking dogs and old Cid looks scary. Even though he wouldn’t bite a biscuit he makes a lot of noise, which will alert the neighbors, my ornery little wife, or me. She is the most dangerous one by far.

On the water I padlock a chunk of coated cable that is wrapped around the rail on the gunnel and behind the screw clamp bracket. The lock is the weatherproof type that is covered with heavy plastic so it won't corrode so fast. I squirt it with WD40 once in a while anyway.

When I moor it overnight I sleep aboard and my insurance policy is all loaded....er....paid up.

I had my kicker motor stolen while it was getting serviced at Olympic Boats in Fife. The theives cut a hole in the chain link fence, got into the boat yard and ended up breaking the handles off the kicker to get the motor.
What can ya do!
I now run a think nylon zip cable tie btwn the holes in the handle so they won't vibrate loose when underway.
When transporting the boat and in storage, I use a plastic coated cable lock from the motor to the tie down rings on the boat. The lock is made by "Cryptonite" or something like that, and is available in the hardware section at Walmart. The lock cost a litte, but you can't cut it with off with bolt cutters....

I had my 2001 2 stroke Yamaha stolen in 2001 4 months after I put it on! I had a bar lock across the clamps, and I didn't see any damage to the lock.... I think they knew how to pick locks or had a master key, the boat and motor were right beside my master bedroom and I have 2 labs that didn't hear a thing or they would have barked....go figure. I now have my new 8 hp bolted and welded no probs yet.

I learned a lesson the hard way from my insurance company I didn’t have enough coverage and it cost an extra grand for a 4 stroke since Yamaha quit making 2 stroke 8 hp.

The big lesson that I learned was make sure if you have your boat insurance through your home owners that it's not a rider with the same policy # or it counts against the # of claims on your home owner’s policy... Case in point, we had an electrical fire in our stove and it and the floor had to be replaced about $1400. And the motor claim was $1200. My insurance company gave me a notice of non renewal because of 2 claims on my home owners insurance in 5 years after I had been with them for 14 yrs. with no other claims, all insurance companies are tightening up there belts and dumping policy holders for as few as 1 claim. They call the small claims like mine nuisance claims and mark you as high risk and my insurance doubled with these 2 claims, best I could find after talking to 10 different companies. Good Luck keeping the motors on without them being stolen!

If your motor is attached to your transom and not on a bracket you can get a special ss bolt and nut (drill thru transome) that requires a special tool to loosen it (like expensive auto wheels) and bolt the motor to the transom... Very secure -- West Marine carries it..
Put it on my son's gregor w/ Yamaha.

I use the bar shown in picture over clamp handles --but I understand that if the motor is twisted sideways pulling on shaft they can be pried off.. ( I almost wish they'd steal my 6 hp '73' Johnson!!)

Well last month someone got into my canopy in my driveway,,dog barked briefly 3 am, I didn't hear and wife ignored --the creeps took a brand new unused Minn Kota 65# motor, Shindaiwa hedge trimmer, tool box etc...

So now dog barks,,,,,I grab 38,, put on slippers and rush outside (3 times since then 3-5 am) Nothing,,,,,not even a possum!!!!

I have designed a booby trap device w/ shot gun shell ignited by a firing pin released when someone door - it will be hand loaded w/ paint pellets, pepper or something not deadly but will wake the neighbors and scare the pee out of cruds!!!! Need to get a deputy over to check it out and get his opinion.....So what do you guys think??????

Weld the clamp bracket to the transom of the boat. Just a couple 1 inch welds one on each side on the outside of the transom. They can still get the engine but minus the bracket . What good is the engine with no means of attaching it to the transom and the replacement cost to the thieves is not worth it to steal.

I ahve a jon boat and the person I bought it from had drilled holes through the boat and bolted the motor to the boat. This will at least take awhile to get the motor off. You could put two nutts on the bolt to make it take longer to get off.

Outboard Motor Lock!

This works;
Run 1 side of power to CB thru refer light type switch if you have something the thief has to pick up or use a clothes pin with a piece of plastic between the ends and attached to cover or whatever with a leader. Tape the send button down (no problem there is no power till circuit is made) set the base in the bedroom with the vol. turned up and set to proper channel of course. When the circuit is made the silent (cant be heard in boat or truck) alarm goes off in your house. Just have to decide what your gonna do about it before happens.

herm

I have an older '83 Johnson 9.9 electric start/tiller mounted to a SS swing down/up bracket. So far no troubles with a padlock (frozen now due to salt) on the handles, but they can unbolt the plastic board and away they go.

Kicker motor over the handle lock, a "cryptonite" cable lock, my own non-lethal booby trap AND a dog (been wanting one of those anyway) are in order. If they get through all that, they're nuts, I'm away, the neighbors aren't home and the motor will be torn up so bad it won't be worth anything.

Good luck to y'all!!

Matt