For those who overnight at a motel on your drive to canoe country, how confident are you about leaving your canoe on your vehicle unattended?

I carry a cable and lock that each evening I wrap between thwarts and roof rack components. Take it off each morning so the lock doesn't beat up my roof.

TZ

I too use a cable and lock. It goes through the windows-
Sleepless nights without the lock.

I had a brand new wood canoe stolen from me back in the 90's it was locked and a bolt cutter was used. The story made the news and it was featured on a local crime stoppers bit on TV. I still look for it.
Tom

We've stayed in Ely once and in Grand Marais once. I used a bike lock securing it to the the roof rack both times. Now that I have a canoe trailer I also use a hitch pin and trailer lock on the trailer.

The couple times we've stayed at bunkhouses (Seagull and Tuscarora) on outfitter grounds, I have not locked the canoe.

I too use a cable lock, and still worry! Carbon boats are so doggoned expensive to replace now. You can bet any canoe thief is probably aware of the common use of locks and will be prepared to overcome them. I just ordered a JD Pro 3, fully tricked out. $$$! My God!, I'm going to have to hire an armed guard at night. At least a racing canoe has less universal appeal.

No so very long ago, I seem to recall a thread where the person actually brought the canoe into his motel room for the night.

TrailZen: "I carry a cable and lock that each evening I wrap between thwarts and roof rack components. Take it off each morning so the lock doesn't beat up my roof.


TZ"

+1

TuscaroraBorealis: "No so very long ago, I seem to recall a thread where the person actually brought the canoe into his motel room for the night."

Twas me! Now, that was only because where I picked up said canoe was in a rather questionable neighborhood where my motel was located. In all my trips to Quetico and the BWCA, I have never locked my canoe onto my vehicle.

Frenchy19: "

TuscaroraBorealis: "No so very long ago, I seem to recall a thread where the person actually brought the canoe into his motel room for the night."

Twas me! Now, that was only because where I picked up said canoe was in a rather questionable neighborhood where my motel was located. In all my trips to Quetico and the BWCA, I have never locked my canoe onto my vehicle. "

Best deterrent listed so far!! Love the photo.

TZ

Frenchy19: "

TuscaroraBorealis: "No so very long ago, I seem to recall a thread where the person actually brought the canoe into his motel room for the night."

Twas me! Now, that was only because where I picked up said canoe was in a rather questionable neighborhood where my motel was located. In all my trips to Quetico and the BWCA, I have never locked my canoe onto my vehicle. "

That's illegal in some states ;)

Frenchy19: "

"

Canoe Porn!

I've never locked mine overnight. These responses have me thinking that I shouldn't be so trusting of the north shore communities as I have been.

These days... I'd take no chances. I would lock it up to the roof rack, run my dashcam overnight, and use one of those vibration activated alarms that folks are putting on their bikes, I hear they are pretty effective and loud as hell. If you dont wake up to hear it, surely someone else will.

I thought about trying those locking cut resistant Kevlar Straps until I saw this canoe in Grand Marais. They defeated the straps by just taking the canoe ends.

Don’t you think those cuts were made in a shop for some purpose. They look way too precise to be done while on the rack on top of the car. Why would someone steal just the ends of a canoe. Maybe I missed the joke, could be.

Frenchy, that is a funny story. I think I remember you got the boat in the room thru a window.

Frenchy19: "

TuscaroraBorealis: "No so very long ago, I seem to recall a thread where the person actually brought the canoe into his motel room for the night."

Twas me! Now, that was only because where I picked up said canoe was in a rather questionable neighborhood where my motel was located. In all my trips to Quetico and the BWCA, I have never locked my canoe onto my vehicle. "

How was that as a sleeping partner?

I have never locked mine overnight. Ever. In fact, it never crossed my mind. Now I have THAT to think about!!

I'd actually be more afraid of my truck being broken into at an EP, parked there for a week. That's been addressed in previous threads.

Mike

scat: "Maybe I missed the joke, could be. "

Yeah, maybe... ;)

I use a bike lock around my roof bars and thwarts. We try to park our vehicles in front of our hotel rooms under lights. We stay in some questionable cities along our long drive across country. Coming from a city where my family has had 2 cars stolen I do get worried traveling with a fancy canoe.

scat: "Don’t you think those cuts were made in a shop for some purpose. They look way too precise to be done while on the rack on top of the car. Why would someone steal just the ends of a canoe. Maybe I missed the joke, could be.

"

I heard they came back that night and took the rest of the canoe. Brazen thieves these days!

My canoe is well used, well loved. No lock, no worry.

Zulu: "









I thought about trying those locking cut resistant Kevlar Straps until I saw this canoe in Grand Marais. They defeated the straps by just taking the canoe ends."

That is a good one!

WHendrix: "

Frenchy19: "

TuscaroraBorealis: "No so very long ago, I seem to recall a thread where the person actually brought the canoe into his motel room for the night."

Twas me! Now, that was only because where I picked up said canoe was in a rather questionable neighborhood where my motel was located. In all my trips to Quetico and the BWCA, I have never locked my canoe onto my vehicle. "

How was that as a sleeping partner?"

Hey, Bill! I had to have her sleep on the floor; really quite rigid.

Twas me! Now, that was only because where I picked up said canoe was in a rather questionable neighborhood where my motel was located. In all my trips to Quetico and the BWCA, I have never locked my canoe onto my vehicle. "

I love this so much! Well done!

Kermit: "



Twas me! Now, that was only because where I picked up said canoe was in a rather questionable neighborhood where my motel was located. In all my trips to Quetico and the BWCA, I have never locked my canoe onto my vehicle. "

I love this so much! Well done!"

Had to bring the canoe in the room through the window as the hall was too narrow, and when I brought it out the next morning, I realized I had left room card locked in the room after securing the canoe to my vehicle. So, I then asked someone at the front desk to let me in. Got a real funny look when he tried and was thwarted by the bar safety latch that I had put in place the previous evening. I then had to explain what had happened, and they guy just shook his head and walked away. I went back around the building, reopened the window, crawled back in and then checked out feeling very much the fool.

Two of the best canoe pics I've ever seen. Somehow I forgot or missed the canoe in the hotel room pic.

T

Frenchy19: "

Kermit: "



Twas me! Now, that was only because where I picked up said canoe was in a rather questionable neighborhood where my motel was located. In all my trips to Quetico and the BWCA, I have never locked my canoe onto my vehicle. "

I love this so much! Well done!"

Had to bring the canoe in the room through the window as the hall was too narrow, and when I brought it out the next morning, I realized I had left room card locked in the room after securing the canoe to my vehicle. So, I then asked someone at the front desk to let me in. Got a real funny look when he tried and was thwarted by the bar safety latch that I had put in place the previous evening. I then had to explain what had happened, and they guy just shook his head and walked away. I went back around the building, reopened the window, crawled back in and then checked out feeling very much the fool."

Great story!!! Thanks for (kiss & telling) sharing....again. :)

Anyone else think he laid it on a bed with pillows under fore and aft, a binkie over the top and snuggled real close with the lights off…
That is a beautiful canoe, not sure I can blame ya if you did. No walk of shame there haha

I use a bike u-lock from a thwart to the rack bar whenever the canoe is on the rack.
In my driveway, at the office, in transit and at hotels.
Takes 2 seconds. Literally 2 seconds to give me a little peace of mind.

Like others I use a cable lock. I do not know how needed it is. But better safe that sorry.

Cable locks and U locks for me, they won’t stop a dedicated thief but should prevent the drunks or rowdy kids from a spontaneous canoe caper.

Argo: "

Frenchy19: "

TuscaroraBorealis: "No so very long ago, I seem to recall a thread where the person actually brought the canoe into his motel room for the night."

Twas me! Now, that was only because where I picked up said canoe was in a rather questionable neighborhood where my motel was located. In all my trips to Quetico and the BWCA, I have never locked my canoe onto my vehicle. "

That's illegal in some states ;)"

Probably a felony in 46 states , a full grown man with a small ***** in his hotel room.

When I first arrived in Ely last year I was bit concerned leaving all of my gear in my vehicle (back hatch lock is busted) & my outfitter just about laughed at me for being concerned. The way he put it, the area lives & dies on the tourists going to the BWCA, so the locals are keen to not have stuff such as canoe theft occur. As an aside, I'd guess canoe theft would be a pretty steep penalty, akin to grand theft auto, & reselling a hot canoe may be difficult (any canoe chop shops out there??). On the way may be a different story, though I doubt too many thieves are looking longingly at canoes, your catalytic converter is probably more at risk.