Vehicle Top Kayak Security
 

Hey all, I'm curious what y'all think about this possible solution for vehicle top security.

Part 1 a 1/2" marine padeye bolted through the roof and gooped for leaks. Part 2 is Kryptonite bike lock that goes through the pad eye, a scupper drain, and the hole where the pedal drive goes.

Any thoughts? I'm definitely open to other suggestions.

I just use locking tie-down straps.

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I would've gone a step further and welded the padeye to the frame of the vehicle. It doesn't take anymore than a pair of tinsnips to cut through that sheet metal on your roof.

For f**ks sake, what the hell are you doing? Are you trolling or is this a legit post?:confused:

I wish you would have asked this question before drilling through your roof skin!

Can't wait to see some more of your DIY work. :D

Well I was hoping for more ideas and less commentary but thanks none the less for the thoughts...

I don't have any place to store the kayak. Small apartment, no garage. OEX and MCRD are full up. NBPL Sailing Center should be up and going for kayak storage sometime in early 2018. Currently the yak lives on top of the van. In 2014 I had a Stealth14 stolen from the top of the van. I'm trying to not have that happen again. I probably shouldn't have bought the new kayak but as you all most likely know, this shit is fun and I have missed it.

Quite honestly there is very little play between the kayak and the roof. I feel that it would be pretty hard to snip the roof in the current configuration or you would have to snip a very large section of it. My main concern is that the potential thief just jacks up the kayak when he/she trys to get it off. The van itself is of no real value. Its old and has been a storage unit with wheels for most of its time in SD. It is not my main ride.

Hopefully it is out of the sun. Long term UV exposure will make it brittle. If it is covered then chain through the windows and through scupper or drive slot would have worked with the windows barely down. Remove chain when you need to drive somewhere

To each their own. If it works for you then go with it

Thanks for this...I definitely do need to get/make a cover. On the list for sure.
I have been using a cable through the flex pod opening and the windows for the last week but I've just felt like it was too easy to cut through. However I do wonder about maybe getting some large diameter chain and running it as you propose to act as a fairly noticeable deterrent. The bike lock definitely isn't noticeable.

Visible deterrent is better. If they can’t see that it is secured then it might get damaged if they think it is just stuck and try to muscle it off

I would go with a bigger backing plate as well. And trim off the excess bolt before you accidentally scalp yourself. Or at least put a cap nut on there

Is renting a storage unit an option? I’m sure the unit would be bigger than you need due to the required length of the kayak, but maybe the extra room would be handy for storing other stuff too. Might be a couple hundred a month, but I don’t know how well that yak is gonna hold up even in the short term being stored on top of a van outdoors.

Seems legit.

Bigger backing plate definitely seems like a good idea. Not as worried about skinning the head but a cap nut is a solid idea as well.

Storage units are just too much. I don't really have anything else to store in one that isn't already being stored in the van. A year of storage fees would almost be the cost of a brand new yak. Storage at OEX would be $35/month and acceptable. $150+ is not. MCRD or on base storage is like $80-120 a year and I will be calling them every week until a spot opens up. Until then its on top of the van.

I'll probably be leaving the van at the small naval facility I work at fairly often. Its secured parking and there are cameras all over the one entry/exit point. I tend to leave it there kinda often and there is yet to be an issue.

there are some wise guys on this forum as everywhere on this planet so disregard them. If you would have explained your situation first like you did your 2nd post we would have better understood. Great Idea in your situation but and good advice from others, but I second the one with more visibility like a heavy duty cable wrapped around and through then in windows.

Barbedwire, Molon Labe decal, wall mounted AR15... done.

I like to put barb wire... and some cobra snakes inside my kayak.. to scare people away... I also would of gone a step forward... and cement broken glass on the roof of the car....

just kidding


in all honesty... In case the car ever rolls over.. your head hitting those screws.... is going to hurt

if you had a roof rack with load bars just attaching it to that would be good. There is the convenience thief and the hard core thief. I just worry about the former.

No doubt... if they want it bad enough they are gonna get it.