Gear Locker : Lasso Security

June-July 2006

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Alex Matthews

In an issue dedicated to ‘Paddling Partners’, I thought that I should consider the safety of my most constant paddling companion—my kayak! The thought of a thief making off with my boat is enough to make my blood run cold. Enter the Lasso security cable, a clever locking system specifically designed for securing kayaks.

The Lasso is made from ¼” vinyl-coated galvanized steel aircraft cable. Each end of the Lasso incorporates a fixed loop of cable, and an integrated lock sits at the midpoint of the system. Two lock options are available: either a keyed lock, or the newer, 4-digit combination lock. My sample was the combination version, which I prefer, as it precludes the need to keep track of (or carry) a key. And since users can set the combination of the barrel lock to any four numbers of their choice (like their bank card PIN number for instance), it’s very easy to remember the combination. The combination can also be reset at any time. The Lasso comes in a nylon stuff sack for convenient storage.

Locking a kayak to the roof of your car with the Lasso is a quick and easy operation. With the lock open and the lasso system in two halves, slide one of the Lasso’s looped ends around the bow of your boat, and the other loop around the stern, making sure that the cable is running under the rack.

Next, wrap the Lasso around the rack to tighten the cable. Be sure to pull the large loops down your boat as far as possible before taking up the slack around the bars of your roof rack. Secure the lock, and your kayak is now locked to your roof.

Obviously, if you are locking your boat to your rack, you’ll need a rack that in turn locks to your roof, or is permanently attached. It’s also worth noting that no lock can repel all thieves every time, but the Lasso Security Cable is an excellent deterrent. Unlike my other cable, which can only be locked to a single point on my boat (like its U-bolt), the Lasso cable captures the whole boat.

I used the Lasso exclusively to lock my boat to my car’s roof rack, but it would be equally effective when used with other anchors like fences, docks, or trees.

The Lasso’s cable is surprisingly supple, making it very easy to work with, and its heavy vinyl coating protects a kayak from abrasion. It’s easy to deploy, works with an extremely wide variety of kayaks, and represents a real deterrent to any potential thief. It also takes up minimal space when stored. All in all, the Lasso Security Cable is a well thought-out product that offers good anti-theft insurance at a reasonable price.

Price: $48.95 US

Lasso Security Cables

P.O. Box 5135

Arcata, CA 95518

(707) 444-8814

www.lassosecuritycables.com

© Alex Matthews