Lost your cabin key? Save the locksmith cost and try this

[JeffRad54]

Fluid Motion only delivered one cabin door key to my dealer back in 2019. I didn't think much about it (my bad, yep), until a few days ago when I lost the dern key!
I re-traced all my steps, tore up the house, practically dismantled the truck looking for the key.

I finally had to call a locksmith to pick the lock.
He tried for 15 minutes to pick the lock and gave up, saying it was beyond his ability.
It that TrioVing / Assa Abloy 7 pin thing. A super secure lock. Almost unpickable. Great lock. Just not so great in this application. Read on to find out why an expensive lock isn't the best way to spend money.

Funny, I had watched a few YouTube videos of that lock being picked in 5 minutes.
No matter. He didn't have the skill, so he resorted to another method that you might find useful someday.

Air bladders. Two of em. $10 each at your local big box hardware store.
One above the lock, one below, to even out the pressure.

I have to tell you, my butt was puckered tight just waiting for the glass or fiberglass crack noise.
But the fiberglass is flexible enough that it spread the 5/8ths" or so to let the dead bolt clear the frame with no damage!

This lesson cost me $220. You get it for free.

TO Fluid Motion: Either beef up the fiberglass frame, or use a cheaper / pickable lock please. Also, provide all keys to the dealer!

Jeff Radwill,
R-27

 

[scross]

Jeff, good to know that trick! When we received two rear cabin door keys with our 2009 R25 Classic. One is for everyday use and the other is hidden underneath the cockpit flooring so well it takes 20 minutes to get to it even if you know where it is! Only had to use the emergency key once when we drove up to the boat in Vicki’s car and the boat keys were safe at home in my truck!
PS: if I really, really had to get in without a rear cabin door key I would sacrifice a side cabin window rather than the back door!

 

[JeffRad54]

Vicky / Al,

Amen to that!

Or I would Google "skinny kid for honest B&E job" and send them in through the forward hatch!

 

[ixlr8]

It does seem strange for FM to put such a quality lock on the cabin door.... when you can just open the front hatch from the outside and climb in.

 

[DBBRanger]

Air bladders. Two of em. $10 each at your local big box hardware store.
One above the lock, one below, to even out the pressure.

Sorry, I don't understand the placement of the bladders. Are you trying to push the door into the cabin against the door stop and have the door/wall flex? I can't see that working because of the stop. The only way I can picture it is to push the door from the inside, but if you're inside.........

 

[scross]

ixlr8,
We lock the front hatch when the boat is not in use. It’s secured with stainless steel zip ties. You could get in that way but you would have to break the handles off or the glass to get access.

 

[Captain Nice]

It does seem strange for FM to put such a quality lock on the cabin door.... when you can just open the front hatch from the outside and climb in.

Doesn't the front hatch have an inside sliding latch on one of the handles to prevent opening from the outside if desired?

 

[scross]

Captain Nice,
Yes, it does. Our lock on that handle never worked properly, hence the stainless cable tie wrapped around the handle and lift strut to secure the hatch when the boat is not being used.

 

[baz]

When I've purchased my boats from RT, I receive two cut keys for the cabin door, and always request two extra blank keys as spares for the cabin door. I have them cut at my local ACE Hardware and verify that they work. I then place them in my bank safe box. I also have the spare key hidden outside of the cabin in the event I forget my primary cabin door key.

 

[SLyle01]

TOP-SECRET, Shhhh: Easiest way to break into i.e. an R27 is either side -cabin sliding window. Uses a simple pin-latch that can be picked quickly (at an awkward position, yes) Often it doesn't even latch securely. Can push out with a coathanger (may damage mouse-fur). It opens wide enough for a 180 pounder to squeeze thru (easier on the Pax seat side).
MY fear is losing the fancy-schmancy IGNITION key (only got ONE of them).

 

[bill46]

Great idea hiding second key. The admiral does not kill putting it in her purse.

 

[YukonRon]

We only received one set of keys with our boat; one door and one ignition. I took them to the local locksmith and he pulled the blanks off the wall and cut me another set in minutes. He said they were not that unusual. And this was a small-town locksmith in Whitehorse, Yukon.

 

[vertigo]

We only received one set of keys with our boat; one door and one ignition. I took them to the local locksmith and he pulled the blanks off the wall and cut me another set in minutes. He said they were not that unusual. And this was a small-town locksmith in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Shhh! Don't spoil that RT key aura!

 

[vertigo]

MY fear is losing the fancy-schmancy IGNITION key (only got ONE of them).

Every captain should know how to quickly hot-wire his boat's ignition.

 

[John Shea Jr.]

I also received only one key back in 2010 when our boat was delivered. My first action was to have one key duplicated for both our cars, one for the safe, one for the boat yard and one for a hideout on the boat. System has worked well.

 

[SLyle01]

MY fear is losing the fancy-schmancy IGNITION key (only got ONE of them).

Every captain should know how to quickly hot-wire his boat's ignition.

Gimme secret details plz?

 

[baz]

MY fear is losing the fancy-schmancy IGNITION key (only got ONE of them).

Every captain should know how to quickly hot-wire his boat's ignition.

Gimme secret details plz?

Ditto as well. 😀

 

[pete s]

hmmm.
when I picked up my boat (2018), i also could not find a local source of those keys...i readily found blanks online, (easy to match up correct blanks with online diagrams....), they came from Hungary or some crazy place like that... paid something like $20 for 4 with shipping... local hardware store cut 'em perfectly....
agree... stash one somewhere on the boat... if a thief want's to get in that bad, lack of a key ain't gonna keep her out !!
pete

 

[Michael11]

When I've purchased my boats from RT, I receive two cut keys for the cabin door, and always request two extra blank keys as spares for the cabin door. I have them cut at my local ACE Hardware and verify that they work. I then place them in my bank safe box. I also have the spare key hidden outside of the cabin in the event I forget my primary cabin door key.

That's a great approach! Having extra keys made and securely stored as spares, both at home and hidden outside the cabin, is a smart way to prevent any inconvenience in case you lose your key. Keeping them verified and ensuring they work before storing them adds an extra layer of peace of mind. Thanks for sharing your method!

 

[Midwest Jeff]

Locked keys in car and tow truck guy used air bag to stick a wire down to unlock door. Bent the door, and wind whistled through it after that. I will have a hidden spare somewhere for sure. Electronic key pad would be nice. They are on every cheap camper nowadays. On a side note, never lock the door when leaving a pet inside. In the event of an emergency, someone else can get them out while your away.