Volcano outboard Lock

ian parkes · 01 November 2007, 20:00

outboardmotorlocks.co.uk Volcano Lock

Described as the pinacle of thier locks .

maybe making the lock barrel itself out of a non corroding metal would make it fit for pupose .

Mine was just a year old and spent most of its life stored indoors and on fresh water .the internals were so corroded i had to cut it off with an angle grinder .

Very secure , you can't eben drill the barrel . Now everytime I look at my boat there is another patch of rusting metal dust to clean up , despite covering everything the filings get everywhere .

Don't buy one

ian parkes · 01 November 2007, 22:18

and the poor excuse from Outboardmotorlocks

Dear Ian
We are sorry that you have had problems with the Volcano lock.
All the lock mechanisms supplied by either Abloy, Abus, or Ifam consisit of various grades of steel materials. This is why we suggest that to meet our warranty the owner must oil and activate the lock at least 4 times a year. It would appear that these actions have not been carried out. These instructions are included in the packaging and on the invoice.

Regards
Tom Snook

Basically the lock mechanism was never made for use in a marine environment and thats the "get out clause" for using a 50pence lock barrel in a £50 lock
Just as well weld the bolts and save the £50 that the lock costs .

codprawn · 01 November 2007, 22:22

I don't know if there is any point in having any sort of lock - they will just cause more damage - I have seen a boat where they just sliced the transom off with a chainsaw!!!

ian parkes · 01 November 2007, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I don't know if there is any point in having any sort of lock - they will just cause more damage - I have seen a boat where they just sliced the transom off with a chainsaw!!!

I agree I would never had bothered . If thieves are tooled up enough to lift a 150kg plus motor then a little lock isn't going to stop them .

Just driving a chisel between the lock body and transom would probably be enough to stop the nut turning inside the lock .

I just get pissed off with companies that sell things like this for loads of money when its total crap and then bulshit you when it fails .

Rogue Wave · 01 November 2007, 23:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I don't know if there is any point in having any sort of lock - they will just cause more damage - I have seen a boat where they just sliced the transom off with a chainsaw!!!

No outboard lock usually means an uninsured engine.

codprawn · 02 November 2007, 02:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

No outboard lock usually means an uninsured engine.

I know it does but how will the insurance company know if they have been removed???

Bigmuz7 · 02 November 2007, 07:48

I hate to appear to be positive

I never read the instructions for my Volcano lock, but take it off atleast twice a year to oil it anyway, as I figured the casing and barrel were different metals, and salt water always goes for that. I didnt choose it, it was a dealer fit, but with this practice it seems to work fine

bedajim · 02 November 2007, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian parkes

and the poor excuse from Outboardmotorlocks

Dear Ian
We are sorry that you have had problems with the Volcano lock.
All the lock mechanisms supplied by either Abloy, Abus, or Ifam consisit of various grades of steel materials. This is why we suggest that to meet our warranty the owner must oil and activate the lock at least 4 times a year. It would appear that these actions have not been carried out. These instructions are included in the packaging and on the invoice.

Regards
Tom Snook

Basically the lock mechanism was never made for use in a marine environment and thats the "get out clause" for using a 50pence lock barrel in a £50 lock
Just as well weld the bolts and save the £50 that the lock costs .

Going to try and take mine off later been oiling it for a couple of days

ian parkes · 02 November 2007, 17:27

well credit to outboardlocks .
I e mailed them about the problem and they have offered to send me one of their other locks that has a solid brass barrell .

I agree with codders here i won't be fitting another lock . However if my boat was not kept at home the lock may give some peace of mind .

Bedajim hope it comes off ok . Mine was dealer fitted too they had never heard of grease even on the battery so i don't guess the lock got any iether .

Poly · 02 November 2007, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I know it does but how will the insurance company know if they have been removed???

Cod - its a fair point but insurance companies are always looking for excuses not to pay so its best to play along with their pointless requirements. Of course if there is a broken lock left on the boat or other sign of force being used it supports your claim. All you need is some loss ajuster asking someone else at the boatyard/marina and hearing that you don't lock the engine and you are in for a headache (believe it or not people do notice - my boat yard let me know that I had forgotten to lock my engine properly even though the lock was on the engine, but wasn't correctly fitted).

It is of course about being a visual deterent rather than an actual security device. The casual thief moves on to the next slightly easier engine along the road/pontoon.

Rogue Wave · 02 November 2007, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

I know it does but how will the insurance company know if they have been removed???

You've obviously not had to deal with a fkkn loss adjuster after the theft of a boat or an outboard.

Endeavour · 02 November 2007, 19:29

Are the Volcano Locks not original Suzuki parts?

Roy Smith · 02 November 2007, 20:02

I was told by my insurance company that if there is no visible sign of force
then the claim is not valid.
just makes me wounder why i would not be insured at a motorway service area
if i did not have a wheel clamp fitted even though it would be locked onto the car.
But i can leave the boat in say Northney marina on a mooring and its insured.
How dose that work

codprawn · 02 November 2007, 20:14

How can there be visible signs of force if the engine has gone? Lock picking is suprisingly simple - fortunately though most thieves seem to have lost the subtle art............

Poly · 02 November 2007, 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

How can there be visible signs of force if the engine has gone? Lock picking is suprisingly simple - fortunately though most thieves seem to have lost the subtle art............

if you are going to forceably remove an engine you will damage the boat not the engine as damage will affect its resale value

codprawn · 02 November 2007, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

if you are going to forceably remove an engine you will damage the boat not the engine as damage will affect its resale value

Yes like the chainsaw attack I mentioned earlier - makes you wonder whats the point of a lock - they will cause more damage to the boat!!!

Poly · 02 November 2007, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Yes like the chainsaw attack I mentioned earlier - makes you wonder whats the point of a lock - they will cause more damage to the boat!!!

Well thats the choice of the insurance company (who cover the boat for that damage too). I assume (although I have heard of such damage too - but never seen it) that the payouts because of engines stolen this way is far below the payouts they could have from unsecured engines... ...the insurance company aren't doing it to be arsey they are protecting their profits (and therefore probably your pension!)

Roy Smith · 02 November 2007, 20:30

The Consul , bow locker and rear seat on our rib all have lockable opening catches but we where told not to lock them as it would cause more damage than the value of what a thief would take.
But hey have you ever seen a poor insurance company

Rogue Wave · 02 November 2007, 20:31

Roy you may find your policy says that the boat needs to be chained to the pontoons?.

codprawn · 02 November 2007, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

Well thats the choice of the insurance company (who cover the boat for that damage too). I assume (although I have heard of such damage too - but never seen it) that the payouts because of engines stolen this way is far below the payouts they could have from unsecured engines... ...the insurance company aren't doing it to be arsey they are protecting their profits (and therefore probably your pension!)

I can understand using a lock on a small outboard like a 15hp but surely if they have the ability to take a 250hp away a few locks won't stop them? I suspect the insurance company data is mainly for the smaller engines.