I have been doing more and more Solo Down winders lately. Being a Shift Worker means days off when everyone else is at work. So I have come up with this contraption to leave my board and paddle at the start point while I run the car back to finish point and mission it back to the start. (friend drop off, taxi, bus) *need to buy a pushie.

Bunnings came to the rescue with a steal clamp I found in the plumbing section that opens up just enough to get the paddle shaft into lock it up and feed bike lock through board straps and around structure. So far so good. Hopefully no one carries bolt cutters around with them regularly

Great idea for the paddle.

I love doing solo DWers..

Certainly stop the opportunists.What about handcuffs instead of the clamp ?Local adult xxx store,only guessing of course

Waxer I don't think hand cuffs would go small enough. Handle would slip through? Wife has some fluffy ones somewhere I'll trial it

DJ I like that vid very cool! ( I really need one of those bikes)

Yeah I would rather paddle with someone for safety reasons and yahooing when you catch a great glide isn't as effective as when out there alone but going solo means you can go at your own pace hard or easy with out having to wait for others or bust ya gut trying to keep up. And the look you get when landing on the beach from by standers when you tell them you just paddled 15km out there to get here is priceless

Bloody great work AndyR and DJ, too many people would just say "it's too hard"... and again, another great DJ vid production.
I am keen to see and hear other ideas/options that people have explored for doing exactly this (Travel and security of gear).

Mottman the other day I caught a bus to the train station then train to end of line then walked 1km to get back to start point where board was. I'll do anything for a down winder if it's 20Kn+

I wish taxis had roof racks.

Thats a great idea about the security of the boards.Could also work on the car or pick up if you need to go into a restaurant or somewhere.

Another great vid DJ..Sometimes i ask myself why did i ever leave Australia.
Of all the countries ive lived in its the best of them all.

After growing up in a **hole..

If you love your gear invest in something a little stronger or be willing to loose it.. The tiny padlock could be busted with a hammer, long screwdriver, a ballpoint pen in the lock or yes cordless angle grinder - most tradies have one in their 18v kit.

Better would be a small motorcycle disk lock that is just enough to get around the shaft. About 30$

As for the board you can get a little steel unit that fits in the fin box like some. Shops have, or I have welded up two little frames that go around the board, and when chained up with some quality chain, can't be pulled back of forward due to the shape of the nose and tail.

I know it keeps the honest thives honest but don't tempt them. By just unscrewing the two Phillips head screws they could have your board, and that cable won't hold up to any force.. You know these sneaky bastards will even do it in broad daylight..

Otherwise is there a shop, depo, factory, you could leave it locked out the front??

Or get a thicker cable and wrap it around the handle in a knot so the only way you can undo it is when it's unlocked.


But this is a joke right? You honestly don't do just a 5$bike cable and the world's smallest padlock

a small bikeset (you keep under your sadle with a sparetube) will takes out the screws in less then a minute....
Better buy something like this with a proper lock and bring the paddle with you in the bus/train whatever.
Thieves are often too creative.

Great ideas! A lot easier with a LiftSUP handle! There are plenty of brands now using this clever little handle.



!

Picker this ant a joke.. Funny I know it looks.
I understand the weakness in the chain and lock and have thought about something a lot stronger but in all honesty on a southerly run I leave the board where in photo above which is outside the volunteer marine rescue building and let the guys know upstairs that it's there while I run the car back. On northerly runs it's at the beach across the road from a fish n chip shop which the owner has said he keeps a very close eye on it for me. So really the lock is there just so no one can walk by and take it in a second. I'm quietly confident that anyone standing around it bent over trying to break the locks would be noticed by the people watching it for me.

Picker any pics of the frame you welded up? Sounds like a fairly smart idea..

I'll have to get back to you mate, phone doesn't like uploading photos for some reason..

Hopefully didn't come across as a grumpy old man sorry

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picker said..
Or get a thicker cable and wrap it around the handle in a knot so the only way you can undo it is when it's unlocked.


But this is a joke right? You honestly don't do just a 5$bike cable and the world's smallest padlock

I wonder if there are many stories out there in the Breeze world of boards/paddles/other sup gear going missing after being "locked"? The numbers of paddles being left at a car park is probably the higher number (Especially us WA folk)! I know gear being stolen from cars/van (beach car parks) would just be commonplace unfortunately. But in the downwinder style, maybe not?

At the end of the day, if they want it bad enough they will get it... cordless grinder or whatever they use. But hey, that's where insurance comes in I guess (well for car and the like I suppose). Thankfully I have never had to "use" my policy for this purpose, and I hope I don't ever have to. Especially with my lockable tie-downs doing the job nicely so far on my car.

If they want it they will take it I know two cases where the S/steel tied down cables have been cut and the handle lock is a joke. They just cut around the handle then replace the handle.

I think the paddle lock is enough to deter the passer by. Like stated above where I leave the gear is where people are watching it also..
I don't think they wouldn't notice someone hack sawing my paddle after I have asked them to watch it for me.. Each to their own though I'm willing to take the risk to enjoy an epic down winder while all of you are stuck at work

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picker said...
I'll have to get back to you mate, phone doesn't like uploading photos for some reason..

Hopefully didn't come across as a grumpy old man sorry

Not at all picker.. I am keen to see ur idea though as all you have me second guessing myself now haha