I have several really nice, sturdy ABUS bronze marine grade combination locks.
Unfortunately, what I don’t have anymore are eyes that read the little, itty-bitty, teeny-weeny numbers on them anymore.
Can anyone recommend a marine grade lock of equal quality, but with readable numbers?
The only combination lock that ABUS sells with readable digits is a $5.00 model suitable for keeping folks from snagging sweaty shorts in a high school gym locker, but not for securing a boat.
I bought a set of ABUS locks for the lazerette / outboard then had a lock smith re key the simple passageway lock that is on the companionway. One key opens them all…
Thor’s put his finger on a previous solution I’ve used on other boats, but Joe’s put his finger on my preference for a combo.
Admittedly, I do happen to have a very large pair of bolt cutters in my car. (I’d say they’re there to help me supplement my retirement income, but these days on the internet, someone’d probably take me seriously.) So, I do have a fallback to driving back home.
But, all the same, I’d rather have a marine grade combination lock that doesn’t require reading glasses. Since most of the boats on my dock average 3-4 times the length of mine, my neighbors look at me suspiciously enough already without me showing up with bolt cutters.
Went to a locksmith and got 6 same key locksSo we have 12 keys. One on each car key fob one or two on the car and possibly one or two hidden on the boat. So far, so good!
As the other Joe said, you only have to forget a key once to change your mind. I only use Sesamee locks which are easy to read and change. $16.00 on amazon.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
I was having the same problem reading my boats combination lock. I thought too it was just aging eyes until one day earlier this year I happen to close my right eye and found I could only see a brown haze in the left eye. It was like someone spread vaseline over the eye. Turns out it was a cataract the eye was useless and I never noticed it until I closed the other eye. So I had a painless cataract operation earlier in the summer. Amazingly I could now read my boats Sesame combination lock WITHOUT putting on my glasses for the first time in years. You might want to get a good eye exam and see if you might have developed cataracts. A quick 15 minute operation will have you seeing fine the same day. Amazing times we live in today that such operations are possible.
I bought this last year and it has worked well so far. Small enough to fit the hasp on the companionway, has legible numbers, and looks good on the boat.
I had this wonderful surgery just a month before COVID really arrived . Timing was everything … I have the same results as Bob Neches. From a big blur in my right eye, I can now see people standing around on the planet Mars. But, I still need glasses to read.
For comparison’s sake, though, be warned: Cataract surgery is more expensive than a good combination lock.
Thanks, Tim, for pointing out exactly what I needed!
Ernie, not only is cataract surgery more expensive than combination locks but it introduced a whole new vista of expenses.
My first thought after the surgery was that, now that I no longer needed prescription glasses 24/7, I could finally start wearing neat sunglasses and finally become one of the cool kids.
But, do you know how much those #!$*?#!! things COST?!?
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch 26U #233
P.S. If people want to discuss it, we should start a different thread, but I’ve had very good luck getting decent cheap sunglasses at https://www.fostergrant.com/
I endorse Thor’s recommendation. Our ophthalmologist recommended Foster Grant glasses for us. We have a couple of pairs each. Since they are so inexpensive they don’t break or fly overboard like those over $200.
Mascouche has a blind person’s combination lock that came with the boat. Perfect for stumbling on board in the dark. I can recommend it too.
John Newell
Mascouche
26 C1 Toronto
PS: I do hope the West Coast fleet and their minders suffered no damage from the Atmospheric River that hit BC last weekend with over a months rain coupled with high winds.
Me too.
Cataract surgery is miraculous - once again I have the eyes of my youth.
Now if only the other docs can get going on the rest of our bodies, starting next with the urology sector; hands, knees, and shoulder joints close behind.
Ed Strazzini
PELICAN, N33#36
Deltaville, Va
