How to break into my own boat - urgent!

[Inner_Northerner]

So I know I'm essentially asking you all for possibly damaging advice in terms of boat security. But I doubt the hooded youth of London Town peruse this forum that often, so figured it was worth the risk in the hope someone can help...

 

I've kicked myself out of my boat. I'm a liveaboard so this is a bit of an issue. Small round Yale lock with no visible screws. Even worse part of the lick mechanism is covered by the doorframe. Yes I have a spare key. Unfortunately along with the usual key it's also smugly sitting inside the boat. Other entry points are the side hatch and double doors at the front. Both secured with internal bolts top and bottom.

 

Short of taking a crowbar to the glass (Which I tried at 2am last night with no success and much anxiety that nearby well meaning boaters might call the police on me.) Any other suggestions?

 

Failing that I'm guessing the usual land dwelling locksmiths would work?

 

The good news is that my bust is vastly more impregnable than I thought....

Edited January 25, 2015 by Inner_Northerner

[RLWP]

Do you mean an ordinary 'front door' type yale lock?

 

Richard

[Inner_Northerner]

And with the lack of an "edit" post option and typing in haste can I just add that I had of course intended to write "locked" myself out of my boat. Kicking myself out at 2am sub zero would just be cruel. But does make for an amusing typo.

 

Any boat advice urgently and greatly appreciated.

[Alan de Enfield]

 

The good news is that my bust is vastly more impregnable than I thought....

 

I have that problem with SWMBO

[RLWP]

Do you mean an ordinary 'front door' type yale lock?

 

Richard

 

BUMP

[Inner_Northerner]

Yep - just looks to me like an ordinary front door yale lock that locks automatically when you pull it closed. Quite small.

 

And just spotted another typo. My "boat" is (sadly) impregnable. Being of the male gender, I don't really have a bust. Although last night's emergency chips are definitely beginning to contribute to potential development of one.

[bottle]

Locksmith or Break the window, then buy one of these and put it somewhere out of site (outside the boat) with the spare key.

[RLWP]

PM sent

 

good luck

 

Richard

[Paul C]

What about calling out a 24h locksmith, who could get into the boat without damaging it and replace the lock with another + keys (if you've lost your keys) - or have you locked them in the boat?

[Southern Star]

Won't go into details but you'll find videos on YouTube which will help.

[Tonka]

Do not use Locksmith. Last week whilst wife was out dog jumped up and caught dead lock on yale. Wife called locksmith who came out and drilled lock out and replaced after entry. Bill £378

[bizzard]

If you have windows with the full size hopper glass, ''can't remember the make'' clamp in frame type windows. If you've left one of these open they can be lifted out by reaching in and over, lift up and lower to the floor and climb through.

[Inner_Northerner]

Yep the £378 bill is exactly what am trying to avoid.

 

All the windows are closed but am wondering now whether sliding something in to turn the slide locks and then lifting the frame out as you say might be an option. They are the hopper type ones

Edited January 25, 2015 by Inner_Northerner

[Keeping Up]

I would start by contacting a locksmith.

 

It is rather disconcerting to see how quickly a professional locksmith can open a traditional Yale lock! Presumably a professional thief could open it just as quickly.

 

When our boat was broken into, many years ago, the lid of the side hatch was shown to be particularly vulnerable because the cheap bolts were too small to be any use (it also turns out that some "cranked" bolts are hollow because that is easier to make"). I've now rectified that problem on mine; but if yours is similar you could break in, using a mooring pin as a lever, without doing any damage beyond breaking the bolts which ought to be replaced by better ones anyway.

[RLWP]

I would start by contacting a locksmith.

 

It is rather disconcerting to see how quickly a professional locksmith can open a traditional Yale lock! Presumably a professional thief could open it just as quickly.

 

Yes. I had spoken to my neighbour, gone home, made a tool and opened their front door in the time it took them to go around to peer into the back door. They fitted a new front door with a proper deadlock after that

 

Richard

[Kwacker]

A proper locksmith will pick a Yale type lock in no time at all, would probably not even have to drill it if the key was broken off inside.

Just the other day I had this demonstrated, so ring a LOCAL locksmith, not an 0800 type fromYellow Pages, and ask if he will pick it for you.

[Delta9]

Most "locksmiths" will just drill it out and charge you a fortune. Borrow a drill from a neighbour if it comes to that.

 

You could try cutting a section from a plastic bottle to shim the lock, might not work if the door frame is covering it...

 

You could try using another key that fits in the lock to bump it. Insert the key, apply tension and then hit the key with the back of a screwdriver.

 

Scavenge something like a paper clip to make a pick from your neighbours.

[Drayke]

If your boat happens to be an Aqualine from NBC then it’s quite easy to gain entry. Just send me a pm. When and if you need to change the lock, go for one that is a deadlock and needs a key to close it.

[Emerald Fox]

The AA or RAC may be able to help, they know the tricks of how to get into cars.

 

Locksmith also - but ask price first.

[Peter X]

A locksmith in London will not come cheap, but if you do use one maybe shop around a bit for a price; they might charge more out of normal working hours or if they have to travel some distance. The £378 quoted by Tonka (of Surrey I see) sounds excessive; I think I paid £115 about 6 years ago for a local locksmith to come out and open a jammed uPVC front door in Croydon, pretty much an equivalent job I suppose.

 

If none of the other techniques people are suggesting for getting in with minimal damage will work, you might find that replacing the glass in one wisely chosen window costs less than a locksmith's fee. If so, just use a hammer and nail to break it near each corner, DIY gloves to remove all the broken glass especially at the bottom of the window so you can safely climb in, then tape some bubble wrap over the hole to keep you warm until you can do the repair.

[SiFi]

How about taking out a window frame if they are fixed from the outside? On mine all you need is a screwdriver to remove a frame, pop rivets with a drill is also doable

[Flyboy]

Borrow an electric drill, start with a 6mm bit, then an 8mm. Just drill into the key hole. A replacement lock is not very expensive.

[patty-ann]

Hope some of this advice useful and you are in and sorted ok.

[NB Lola]

Slip a credit card through the gap to the lock

[Guest]

PM sent