Protecting your boards from theft

Stand up paddleboard theft seems to be on the rise lately, especially in Victoria BC where I’ve heard of two separate theft incidents in the past month alone. That may not seem like a lot, but certainly an indication that SUP’s are becoming hotter ticket items amongst thieves.

So with that, I thought it’d be a good idea to put together a little something on some of the different ways you can secure your own boards.

Keep in mind these suggestions aren’t rock solid… If a thief really wants your board, he’s going to get it. Instead, these suggestions are targeted towards those thefts of convenience.

Steelcore Locking Rack Straps

I picked a set of these 9′ Steelcore Locking Rack Straps up a couple years ago at Island Surf Co. after one of my friends had his board swiped from the roof of his van in Vancouver.

They’re just as easy to use as a normal set of rack straps, and they’re reinforced with steel with a key locking clasp mechanism.

The 9′ length definitely works for any board I own, and it’ll work with two surf style all rounders.

To secure two thicker race boards, I’ll lock the two straps together into a single strap, then secure the narrowest section just ahead of the fins. This isn’t the most secure since with some effort a thief could remove the top board’s fin and slip one of the boards out with some serious yanking, but personally I find the one secure end to be enough of a deterrent. I’ll also use my Skitote Recoiler (mentioned next) when need be.

That all said, If I had to make the purchase again, I would have bought the 12′ length just for that extra bit of wiggle room.

The straps also have a convenient bungie cord on the clasp end which you can use to tie up the loose ends, and an additional benefit is you can use them to secure other stuff like bikes, motorcycles, power tools or luggage.

Skitote Recoiler

I’ve had this small recoiling ski lock for 20 years, and I use it whenever I need to help secure my drain hole equipped race boards.

The lock itself is pretty beatered and won’t stop a thief with a set of wire cutters, but I like to think it helps deter those thefts of convenience.

Can also help secure bagged boards by running the line through the bag’s two zipper closures, then firmly recoil around a secure part of the roof rack.

Just remember not to drive around with the recoiler in place, as it tends to bang around and may damage your board and/or car’s paint job.

 Thule SUP Taxi

This is a pretty spendy option (priced at around $200), but it’s pretty convenient, and probably the most secure amongst the options discussed here.

There are lots of other options available out there for securing your boards, such as leash plug and Have any more ideas on how to secure your boards? Post em up in the comments!