09/08/2026
Spring and Summer months bring boats back onto the water so here are a few tips to help secure your outboard motor.
To secure an outboard motor from theft, use specialized clamp and transom locks, heavy-duty security chains linked to the hull, and bolt-locking systems.
Specialized Mechanical Locks
• Cap Locks & Rail Locks: Install a stainless steel cap lock or rail lock over the engine's clamp screws or wing nuts; these heavy metal covers block access to the screws and require time and noisy tools to defeat.
• Transom Bolt Locks: Replace standard mounting nuts with specialized locking nuts, which feature a free-spinning outer collar that turns when attacked by gripping tools like pliers.
• Basic Padlocks: Pass a padlock through the built-in holes on the clamp handle tabs. Note that this is only a basic visual deterrent because plastic or thin tabs can be forced or broken with simple tools
Secondary Restraints and Hulls
• Heavy-Duty Chains: Run a thick marine-grade stainless steel chain or steel cable from the motor’s lifting eye directly through a secure, reinforced structural point on the boat or dock cleat.
• Multiple Independent Points: Use two different types of security devices (such as a clamp lock combined with a separate steel cable) so that defeating one does not free the motor.
Visual Deterrents and Storage
• Record Serial Numbers: Document your motor's exact serial number and engrave or invisibly microchip/forensically mark the metal so it can be tracked or identified if recovered.
• Remove and Store: Take small tender motors off the transom and lock them inside a secure building, locker, or the cabin of a larger vessel when left unattended for long periods.
• Conceal Identity: Avoid leaving expensive gear or bright horsepower labels overly exposed if the boat sits in a high-risk area.
