Last year I installed a boat alarm from th-marine......the one KVD promotes.

It really didn't do a very good job at all.....had to really bump/bounce the boat pretty hard to get the alarm to sound.

I pulled it out this weekend and installed a car alarm.....installed switches on all the hatches.

Alarm sounds with the crack of any hatch.....and barely touching the boat.

Much better product.

$30 - Alarm

$8 - switches

$9 - screws, washers and lock nuts to mount switches

$7- bell wire

$8 - solder less connectors

Had tape and shrink tubing already.

Good to know. Very creative and inexpensive. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

Last year I installed a boat alarm from th-marine......the one KVD promotes.

It really didn't do a very good job at all.....had to really bump/bounce the boat pretty hard to get the alarm to sound.

I pulled it out this weekend and installed a car alarm.....installed switches on all the hatches.

Alarm sounds with the crack of any hatch.....and barely touching the boat.

Much better product.

$30 - Alarm

$8 - switches

$9 - screws, washers and lock nuts to mount switches

$7- bell wire

$8 - solder less connectors

Had tape and shrink tubing already.

What car alarm did you use? I'd like to try building something similar.

What car alarm did you use? I'd like to try building something similar.

X2, with having to park my boat in the driveway, I'd like the added security of an alarm and was actually thinking of getting the one that apparently didn't work very well. 

x3

Bought the alarm and switches on Amazon....you can spen more on the alarm and get a two-way remote....for those times when the boat is just out of ear shot. But this works great for me.

Pyle PWD701 4-Button Remote Door Lock Vehicle Security System

Omall 5PCS Micro Limit Switch Long Hinge Roller Lever Arm SPDT Snap Action LOT

I used normally closed switches.

I have a little more work to go.....put heat shrink tubing on the wire connectors and anchor the wire...but need to get something that will work.

Holler if you have any questions.

Mounted under hatch lid.

Close up but reversed image of switch.

Here you can see hatch lid closed....depressing the switch.

Years ago I learned the remote alarm ain't always a good thing. When I got my son his first car in high school, we installed on of those body jarring sound system the kids luv to have. I also installed a security system with the RF remote alarm they claimed would work for up to a mile away. He was at a friends that lived in a large apartment complex and his alarm remote went off. He started running to his car, three guys were trying to steal the sound system, with the car alarm siren sounding away. He hollered at them as he was running toward them, and one of them shot at him. Luckily, they were not much shoots than the were thief's. They jumped in a vehicle and took off and other than a broken window and some interior damage, things were fine. However we decided it would be better that had gotten the system than him got shot, so we did away with the remote. We figured if they were brazen enough to continue trying to steal it with the siren sounding, they were brazen enough to do what the needed to keep from not getting it.

If you want the remote alarm, have your Glock in hand and aimed if you have to respond to it.

you want the remote alarm, have your Glock in hand and aimed if you have to respond to it.

yep......but that's life.

The remote alarm would really be so I know it's going off....don't want to disturb the other guests.

With this alarm you can bypass the shock sensor if needed/wanted....like the times you might leave boat in a slip.....it will alert if they open the hatch.

But at the house it works great.....and I have the other 'tools' I might need too.

P.s........glad your son didn't get hurt.

Thanks for the info Chris. I'm thinking this could be money well spent. A lot of times I load the night before a trip or tournament and its sitting outside with a whole lot of my money sitting in those compartments. It's unfortunate that it's even a concern.

Good point from Way2slow as well. Most thieves are gonna run with the alarm but some won't. Gotta know how you're gonna respond before it happens.

Hi Chris 

I know this post is several years old but wondering if you could tell me how you wired up switches to the controller. i see this alarm is still available and would like to wire up 3 hatches on my boat. 

                                                        Thank You

                                                                Steve

 

Good stuff.

 

I still like this:

 

 

 

Perhaps you don't need to install an alarm.  Check out this inexpensive solution: