Security: Trailer locks against boat theft - 14 variants in detail

Aaron Schreiber

· 09.02.2024

Cheap locks make it easy for boat thieves

We show 14 trailer locks in more detail in the comparison test

Trailer lock from the manufacturer Masterlock, available from approx. 400 euros

Trailer lock from the manufacturer Nemesis Fullstop, available from approx. 180 euros

Trailer lock from the manufacturer Double Lock, available from approx. 120 euros

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Photo: Aaron Schreiber

When you trailer your boat, it is important to have a high-quality lock. Here we show you 14 different trailer locks and give you tips on what you should look out for when buying one. Take these measures to effectively protect your boat from theft

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Topics in this article

These trailer locks are available
Test the lock before first use
Don't save at the wrong end
Trailer locks up to 400 euros
Trailer locks up to 100 euros
Trailer locks up to 50 euros
Trailer locks up to 30 euros

In the winter months, criminals find it easier to steal other people's property. The long hours of darkness offer them protection against theft. However, not every water sports enthusiast can park their trailer, whether loaded or not, safely in a garage, barn or in a monitored car park. So if the trailer is not protected by its surroundings, the only option is to protect it from theft yourself - with a trailer lock.

These trailer locks are available

We use a few examples to show you what to look out for when buying trailer locks and which preventive measures make sense and which are rather pointless.

In addition to the familiar box lock, there are many other options on the market for securing the trailer. These include a steel cable that is pulled through the wheel rims, a wheel claw or a GPS tracker that sounds an alarm if the trailer moves. However, the most common method remains the lock on the towing head. However, even the best box lock is useless if the padlock is of inferior quality. A simple U-lock is much easier to pick than a high-quality disc lock from a reputable manufacturer.

Blocking the drawbar mouth

One way to protect the trailer from theft is to block or lock the towing jaw. There are various options for doing this. A simple and inexpensive variant is a lockable ball, which is inserted from below in place of the coupling head. However, you should bear in mind that the coupling head is often very greasy. As a skipper, you will almost always have greasy fingers when you go on board afterwards. Another disadvantage arises if you want to secure the trailer to the towing vehicle in the car park. Due to the locked hole into which the ball coupling normally engages, it is not possible to secure it to the vehicle.

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Rim locks

A box lock prevents the coupling from being unlocked. Many box locks now also make it possible to lock the trailer even when it is coupled. A car with a trailer is much more conspicuous and more difficult to steal. You should also always make sure that the towing head cannot be removed from the trailer with two simple spanners. Because then even the most expensive lock is quickly unscrewed and therefore useless. Or you can use this option directly as additional theft protection and remove the towing head.

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Alongside bolt cutters, the Akkuflex is one of the most popular methods of destroying a padlock on a box lock. Even a wire rope pulled through the wheels is no match for it. Although theft by Akkuflex is always associated with a lot of noise, this usually only lasts a few seconds and may be drowned out by the humming of a passing lorry. In this case, disc locks at least offer more material and less attack surface for a flex. Even better are box locks that have the lock integrated and therefore do not require an additional padlock, or a variant in which the disc lock is located in a protected cage.

Wheel claws

Another security option is wheel clamps, which protect the tyres from being pulled away from the front or rear. With wheel clamps, however, you should make sure that at least some of the wheel bolts are covered and inaccessible to lawbreakers. Professionals may have a spare wheel with them, quickly place a jack under the trailer, remove the secured wheel and install the spare wheel they have brought with them. A process that is completed within two to three minutes.

Test the lock before first use

It is important to test the lock you have purchased before using it for the first time. It turned out that almost all of the locks we ordered for this report did not fit over the large Alko tow head. So if you're at the slipway and ready to go boating and only then realise that the trailer lock doesn't fit on the trailer hitch, it's unlikely to get a good quality replacement lock quickly.

Don't save at the wrong end

There is no such thing as the perfect, one hundred per cent secure lock. However, there are many ways to make it more difficult for thieves. For example, protecting the trailer against theft with several different locks when it is parked for long periods of time. Because here too, a lot helps a lot. The longer it takes for the thief, the greater the risk of being caught. The cheapest option is often also the least secure, so it's best to forget about it quickly. If you want to secure your expensive boat properly, you also need to spend a few euros more on the lock.

By the way: During the time we took the photos, seven vehicles drove past the test site. Nobody stopped or even called the police, even though we were clearly tampering with the trailer with a balaclava, an angle grinder and bolt cutters.