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Author Topic:   Battery Theft

Powergroove803 posted 04-02-2012 03:48 PM ET (US)
I am about to put two new batteries on my [1977] Outrage 19. The batteries look susceptible to theft just sitting in the back. Anything I can do?
ScooterCO posted 04-02-2012 04:04 PM ET (US)
Make [the boat batteries] look old. Has there been a series of battery thefts lately? If the answer is no, then you are thinking too much.
Kanawha1 posted 04-02-2012 06:34 PM ET (US)
I'd make [the boat batteries] look old, remove them at all times possible, or make a simple lockable bracket. We've had thieves take crowbars to the battery doors on excavators then cut the wiring harness to get to batteries. It's maddening to think they'd take that much effort to steal a battery for $10 at the junkyard.
contender posted 04-02-2012 06:50 PM ET (US)
Take out [the boat batteries] and put them in the house
jimh posted 04-02-2012 09:10 PM ET (US)
I suspect that most of the stolen batteries are just sold for their lead scrap value. In that case a new battery or an old battery has equal value. I do not see much benefit in trying to disguise the age of the battery.
Buckda posted 04-02-2012 09:14 PM ET (US)
Lock them in the console.
Buckda posted 04-02-2012 09:18 PM ET (US)
Further to my post above, my experience is that about 85 percent of the trick to not getting robbed is to make it just a bit harder to get your stuff than the guy down the street/dock.
Just like you don't have to be the fastest camper to escape that angry grizzly bear, you just have to be faster than the slowest guy... If battery theft is a big concern where you will have the boat, then make it look like they're not there - put them in the console - either as a permanent install, or just as part of putting the boat away so it looks like there are no batteries in the boat (leave the empty boxes open).

whaler131 posted 04-02-2012 09:26 PM ET (US)
I just had mine moved into the console on my 22 1988 outrage and put a locking gas cap on also. Then had the oil tank put into the old bait well in the back that I never used. That did a great job in opening up the back.
weekendwarrior posted 04-03-2012 06:14 PM ET (US)
They would steal lots of batteries here for the hydraulics on the cars that bounce. Apparently it takes a number of big batteries to run those things. One day they went through the parking lot at my dads work where they kept the trucks and took the batteries from every big truck they could get into.
pete r posted 04-04-2012 07:42 AM ET (US)
Security lights or a barking dog are the best deterent for thief, otherwise keep them out of sight....temptation!!!
I recently had a couple of canoes knocked off so I've been looking at a cheap security camera system you run wireless through the internet. The system is operated through an app on your Iphone. Maybe something like that could help.
Powergroove803 posted 04-04-2012 09:16 AM ET (US)
This is an older Outrage where the batteries currently live in the back of the boat, uncovered,and in plain sight. Im heading to the Keys and will leave the boat in a Condo Marina parking lot for a week, and thats where my worry comes in. Moving them inside every night sounds like a PITA, but that might be the solution.
On these boats it may be possible to move one of the batteries under the rear seat, and one to the "bait well" as it will probably not get used by me.
Thanks for the input!
Jefecinco posted 04-04-2012 10:11 AM ET (US)
Power,
In a common boat parking area I would be much more concerned about my engine's lower unit or propeller being stolen rather than my batteries.
I understand the ease of getting cash for a used battery may make batteries a preferred target.
A boat cover would keep the batteries out of sight which would be a major improvement. Plus it would help keep your boat clean between uses and reduce maintenance requirements. I would rather use a cover than remove and reinstall my batteries every time I use the boat.
My ultimate solution would be to install the batteries in the console if that is a possible option.
Butch
conch posted 04-04-2012 04:13 PM ET (US)
Powergroove I wouldn't worry too much about your batteries being stolen in the Keys. We have no metal scrap yards,or junk yards. We PAY to have our batteries removed.Driving by auto shops you see pallets of dead batteries left outdoors waiting to go to the mainland. We also have no landfills or trash facilities, everything goes (you pay) to the transfer stations and it is hauled to the mainland.
On the other hand your electronics should be removed and your rig well secured in the parking area at night.
Chuck
conch posted 04-04-2012 04:28 PM ET (US)
Actually ,I remember a fellow who made some money from the battery disposal problem we have. He would pickup 4D and 8D batteries from boaters for free and cut the case tops open with a grinder remove the insides and drill holes for rope handles at each end. He then sold them at flea markets as sturdy totes. At his booth he would jack up his Jeep and have it lowered atop an upside down tote to show its strenth. Lemonade from lemons.
Chuck
weekendwarrior posted 04-04-2012 10:45 PM ET (US)
No one is going to steal a battery to recycle it, there's not that much value to lead. I doubt anyone will bother with your boat batteries unless they just happen to need a battery.
I have friends who have had their electronics, lower units and props stolen from their boats (and their entire boats stolen), but for whatever reason I have not heard of any battery thefts from boats, only from trucks.
I'm a little jaded, but I have good reason to be. Most people I know who own boats have been affected directly by theft at one time or another. My personal whaler was stolen in miami from the previous owner and stripped, and i bought it as a bare hull from the salvage yard, who bought it from an insurance auction. A friend had his entire boat stolen from his front yard, found 2 weeks later stripped. Another buddy had both lower units from his Yamaha 150's stolen overnight in the boat yard, and his electronics stolen from the marina. Stuff in S. FL gets stolen, it's just a fact of life that you have to deal with. Just make your stuff less attractive than the next guys stuff and you should be mostly OK.
domlynch posted 04-07-2012 07:53 PM ET (US)
Any one stealing a battery must be pretty desperate. I've had a boat stolen in the past, custom boat covers, and other personal items, it's unfortunatley a part of the world we live in.

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Author	Topic: Battery Theft
Powergroove803	posted 04-02-2012 03:48 PM ET (US) I am about to put two new batteries on my [1977] Outrage 19. The batteries look susceptible to theft just sitting in the back. Anything I can do?
ScooterCO	posted 04-02-2012 04:04 PM ET (US) Make [the boat batteries] look old. Has there been a series of battery thefts lately? If the answer is no, then you are thinking too much.
Kanawha1	posted 04-02-2012 06:34 PM ET (US) I'd make [the boat batteries] look old, remove them at all times possible, or make a simple lockable bracket. We've had thieves take crowbars to the battery doors on excavators then cut the wiring harness to get to batteries. It's maddening to think they'd take that much effort to steal a battery for $10 at the junkyard.
contender	posted 04-02-2012 06:50 PM ET (US) Take out [the boat batteries] and put them in the house
jimh	posted 04-02-2012 09:10 PM ET (US) I suspect that most of the stolen batteries are just sold for their lead scrap value. In that case a new battery or an old battery has equal value. I do not see much benefit in trying to disguise the age of the battery.
Buckda	posted 04-02-2012 09:14 PM ET (US) Lock them in the console.
Buckda	posted 04-02-2012 09:18 PM ET (US) Further to my post above, my experience is that about 85 percent of the trick to not getting robbed is to make it just a bit harder to get your stuff than the guy down the street/dock. Just like you don't have to be the fastest camper to escape that angry grizzly bear, you just have to be faster than the slowest guy... If battery theft is a big concern where you will have the boat, then make it look like they're not there - put them in the console - either as a permanent install, or just as part of putting the boat away so it looks like there are no batteries in the boat (leave the empty boxes open).
whaler131	posted 04-02-2012 09:26 PM ET (US) I just had mine moved into the console on my 22 1988 outrage and put a locking gas cap on also. Then had the oil tank put into the old bait well in the back that I never used. That did a great job in opening up the back.
weekendwarrior	posted 04-03-2012 06:14 PM ET (US) They would steal lots of batteries here for the hydraulics on the cars that bounce. Apparently it takes a number of big batteries to run those things. One day they went through the parking lot at my dads work where they kept the trucks and took the batteries from every big truck they could get into.
pete r	posted 04-04-2012 07:42 AM ET (US) Security lights or a barking dog are the best deterent for thief, otherwise keep them out of sight....temptation!!! I recently had a couple of canoes knocked off so I've been looking at a cheap security camera system you run wireless through the internet. The system is operated through an app on your Iphone. Maybe something like that could help.
Powergroove803	posted 04-04-2012 09:16 AM ET (US) This is an older Outrage where the batteries currently live in the back of the boat, uncovered,and in plain sight. Im heading to the Keys and will leave the boat in a Condo Marina parking lot for a week, and thats where my worry comes in. Moving them inside every night sounds like a PITA, but that might be the solution. On these boats it may be possible to move one of the batteries under the rear seat, and one to the "bait well" as it will probably not get used by me. Thanks for the input!
Jefecinco	posted 04-04-2012 10:11 AM ET (US) Power, In a common boat parking area I would be much more concerned about my engine's lower unit or propeller being stolen rather than my batteries. I understand the ease of getting cash for a used battery may make batteries a preferred target. A boat cover would keep the batteries out of sight which would be a major improvement. Plus it would help keep your boat clean between uses and reduce maintenance requirements. I would rather use a cover than remove and reinstall my batteries every time I use the boat. My ultimate solution would be to install the batteries in the console if that is a possible option. Butch
conch	posted 04-04-2012 04:13 PM ET (US) Powergroove I wouldn't worry too much about your batteries being stolen in the Keys. We have no metal scrap yards,or junk yards. We PAY to have our batteries removed.Driving by auto shops you see pallets of dead batteries left outdoors waiting to go to the mainland. We also have no landfills or trash facilities, everything goes (you pay) to the transfer stations and it is hauled to the mainland. On the other hand your electronics should be removed and your rig well secured in the parking area at night. Chuck
conch	posted 04-04-2012 04:28 PM ET (US) Actually ,I remember a fellow who made some money from the battery disposal problem we have. He would pickup 4D and 8D batteries from boaters for free and cut the case tops open with a grinder remove the insides and drill holes for rope handles at each end. He then sold them at flea markets as sturdy totes. At his booth he would jack up his Jeep and have it lowered atop an upside down tote to show its strenth. Lemonade from lemons. Chuck
weekendwarrior	posted 04-04-2012 10:45 PM ET (US) No one is going to steal a battery to recycle it, there's not that much value to lead. I doubt anyone will bother with your boat batteries unless they just happen to need a battery. I have friends who have had their electronics, lower units and props stolen from their boats (and their entire boats stolen), but for whatever reason I have not heard of any battery thefts from boats, only from trucks. I'm a little jaded, but I have good reason to be. Most people I know who own boats have been affected directly by theft at one time or another. My personal whaler was stolen in miami from the previous owner and stripped, and i bought it as a bare hull from the salvage yard, who bought it from an insurance auction. A friend had his entire boat stolen from his front yard, found 2 weeks later stripped. Another buddy had both lower units from his Yamaha 150's stolen overnight in the boat yard, and his electronics stolen from the marina. Stuff in S. FL gets stolen, it's just a fact of life that you have to deal with. Just make your stuff less attractive than the next guys stuff and you should be mostly OK.
domlynch	posted 04-07-2012 07:53 PM ET (US) Any one stealing a battery must be pretty desperate. I've had a boat stolen in the past, custom boat covers, and other personal items, it's unfortunatley a part of the world we live in.