TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Marine lock for dinghy

We like to lock our dinghy at night and at dinghy docks... last year we brought a lock and cable, but the lock evidently was not meant for a salt water environment. Tito at Leverick had to grease it for me because it got stuck... any suggestions on what type of lock to bring?

We use a brass padlock at each end. It needs a bit of lube on occasion. The brand might be ABUS.

Cheers, RickG

Agree ... I've had good luck with Abus locks in a marine environment. Good practice locking your dinghy (unfortunately). - Mark

It's only a week. Any lock will work. Just get a cable long enough to thread through your fuel tank to your engine.

Actually it's 10 days and on our last trip, the lock I brought got corroded by seal salt about 7 days into the trip and was rendered useless.

Lesson learned, spray some olive or vegetable oil every 3 days it works better then WD 40. Whew!!!

Thanks all... I bought an Abus with positive reviews from those who've used it in a salt water environment. I'll keep the olive oil handy, just in case!

If you are chartering your charter company should provide all things necessary. If not I would think it's on them.

I used to love the BVIs cause you never had to worry about any of this nonsense...
So when chartering from Moorings etc, you can buy the insurance for a week for the tune of $500 just to bring your deductible from $2,600 to $1,600????? How does this make any sort of sense? A 20' inboard ski boat and a 33' sloop in PA cost less than that to cover for a full year with Boat US including towing.

I've never locked a dinghy in seven trips to the BVI and I never take the supplemental insurance, I agree it doesn't seem like a good value.

I agree that they should, but our charter company doesn't provide a lock and I just don't want the inconvenience of "losing" the dinghy during the trip. A few years ago, there was a rash of dinghy theft from docks and even directly off the stern of charter boats. It's probably not necessary, but for peace of mind...

I would say it's absolutely necessary. If possible, run the cable thru the handle on the fuel tank too.

...and you notice cruisers like to pull their dinghy out of the water with a spare halyard and lock the dinghy/outboard to a rail? Losing a dinghy for whatever reason is at least a hassle. Check your contract, you might find a $5K dinghy deductible. We lock our dinghy for the night or at the dock.

Cheers, RickG

What is a good length for the cable?

Thanks,
Rick

They sell pretty solid 15' steel cables at Home Depot. It is very easy to rig a harness to haul the dinghy on a spare halyard. We keep the engine on the dinghy, locked.

Rick....I bought a 25' dog cable at home depot that is coated in a red plastic and has a HEAVY eye on each end that allows for it to be locked (some people apparently chain/cable their dogs to the ground?) It worked GREAT and allowed me to run the cable through the handle on the motor and other parts of the dinghy when on the dock or davits. I have used that same cable for the past two years with no show of corrosion.

Thanks for the feedback Stoney and sail2wind. First trip coming up next month and trying to be as prepared as possible. Can't wait.

Rick

Also agree on the ABUS locks, not cheap, but ours still works after 5 years

This is the lock that I bought recently for marine use. I've only had it in use for a month or so, but it is located just inches above the waterline exposed to the elements 24/7. So far, so good. It has positive reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XBJGBU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is what I got - only major differences are that its brass and has a longer opening. I found the small opening more difficult in spots.

http://www.amazon.com/70HB-45-63-KD-Yell...s+brass+padlock

Yep, good call Matt. The long opening would be much more useful for a dinghy lock.

Thanks for that Matt....I ordered it! I ruined a lock last year by not properly maintaining it and now it is useless...I bought this one (out the door with shipping and tax = $21.30) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Glad I could help I had another lock we had used and it was ruined by the end of the trip. It wasn't brass. The one I linked to I haven't used yet, but I have an identical one (shorter opening though) that we've used two summers out all season long on cape cod and its been great. Used one on the dinghy engine and one on the engine on the boat to lock them on and they both have held up great. That's why I got this one - same thing, but larger opening - we'll be bringing it next trip.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

I didn't realize that there was anyone left without Prime! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

LOL....I haven't purchased Prime...I am saving that money to support my BVI drinking habit.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />