Hi all,
Just purchased a pair of key lockable steel reinforced tie-down straps... these are advertised (and priced) as such as being key-lockable and therefore mean you are less-susceptible to have a stolen board... but I am very very (very) hesitant to leave my board up there at all - let alone while out of sight. Should I trust the steel straps and lockability??? For example, either at a shopping centre carpark, or even what my original plan is, that is - to SUP first thing in the morning, then drive into work and leave the car - and board, in the covered (and under video security) public carpark all day prior to driving home at the end of the day).

Anyone got experience of either - bad news story's, or even some good news story's, of whether these are effective in preventing "hot-fingers" from getting their mitts on a board. Plus does anyone have any insurance news - if a board does go missing in this situation, whether you are covered either on comprehensive car insurance or other insurance??? I am guessing - but would think that this would be a "negative". And same from the manufacturer of the straps, I wonder what they have in respect of insight about how "effective" these straps really are.

Appreciate any info or insight that you can provide.

Thanks DJ,
Good to hear the confidence in the gear.

Yeh I was thinking that they will probably twist / crush / bash / trash etc. if they really want it.... and if they really want it that bad, then I would rather they take the damn thing (rather than destroy the board, car, or whole lot etc. etc.).

Cheers

As good as the lockable straps are all that is needed to get through them is a pair of bolt cutters. I think they are designed more to stop the opportunistic thief rather than the professional. As you say if they want it, it doesn't matter how they are secured they will get it.

I have no concerns locking mine up and ducking into the shops for 10-30 mins but wouldn't leave them locked up at the same place all day everyday.

I've had mine a couple of years and I must say it does give you peace of mind as you wander the shopping malls or pull in for a bite to eat on those long trips.
I remove the fins as they are easy prey for a would be thief.
very good point from okanui by the way.

Plan B - gumby locks. I was told when I got my SUP that the locks on the straps rust after a while, but as SUPanimal says he has had them for years. Anyway gumby locks gives me peace of mind.

Also I added my SUPs under my house policy. Cheap and they are covered if stolen but had to be a specified item to get them covered away from house, apparently they are covered even if not locked on.

Most do not even know what is in that bag on your roof .
The boards size is in your favour as others have pointed out, small items suit opportunist thieves. I have multiple cables from mountainbike days that are joinable & keyed alike to make it easy . Inside the car ( under the rear seat chassis point) or outside the car from the tow hook up to the leash lock or fin lock. Even if they have a crack at the roof rack, the likely hood of getting through coiled steel braided cable is really really low & difficult. Board & bikes have always been there when i return. Visual deterent.



www.masterlock.com/?lockStyle=null&typeOfEnvironment=null&lockUpValue=null&category=CableLocks_AdjustableLockingCables_DiscLocking_No.8419PythonAdjustableLockingCables&modelNumber=MLCOM_PRODUCT_8419KA

If you have sups on the roof of your car and you can AFFORD to go shopping, you haven't spent enough on your sup and you should be ashamed of yourself !

I've been using these straps for 5 years now with very few drama's.
So far no theft - touch wood. They are a deterrent only!

The Yellow ones are great - you can use one strap for one board!

Some tips I have learnt
Be mindful that if your board is in a board bag or you stack boards and you dont get all the slack out of the straps it is very easy to wiggle the board out buy moving them around. It is the board grip on the roof rack that makes this system work best.

At the same time don't over tighten them, as mentioned it can leave a mark in your board especially if it is hot.

Another common mistake is to have the board out past the feet of the racks. If the strap wraps around the board further out than the feet you can push the board toward the centre of the car and easily slide the board out. Doh!

Great deterrent though so far!

Looked at the straps and they seemed a good concept, just couldn't justify the price, so I went to bunnings and made a locking system that fits into the fin box, it works perfectly. Nothing is theft proof, if they want it they'll take it. All this lockable gear is just a deterrent.