With all the thievery that goes on in the world, leaving a kite in the car is not an option. What do/have more experienced kiters do/done to bring a couple of kites down to the beach if the wind is starts slow but nuking later.
Set up two kites in the hope that a thief will not walk off with an inflated kite?
how do kites react to being left to bake in the sun? can't imagine it'd be a positive result.
Many thanks ![]()
I would rather leave my kite in the boot of a locked car than sitting out by itself on the beach.
The other way to go is either take someone to the beach who is happy sitting there, reading a book, or, you befriend a spectator and ask them if they wouldn't mind you leaving your gear next to them.
sun uv and flapping in the wind are the worst enemies of kites... i reckon you can significantly prolong your kite's lifespan and material strength if you minimize unnecessary exposure to the above... (mind you, you still get UV when kiting, but at least material is under tension and not flapping then).
as for your question, not sure... install alarm i guess... or if that doesn't work, fill up your car with scary objects... i.e. sculls, voodoo dolls, 666 numbers, dead chicken heads, and maybe you'll scare off potential thiefs... insurance may be an option too... or leave the gear in the boot and install a heavy duty padlock on the boot... i reckon if you have all of the above you'll be 100% covered... (if you want to go sci-fi, install electric shock system, and maybe video surveillance...)
I lock the boot that it can't be opened from inside the car and you can only open the boot with the key.
Start by removing all kite stickers and anything visibly kite related from your car.
Cover spare kites/boards with towels etc. Open the glovebox showing nada inside.
Advertise your car belongs to a kiter with noice big stickers and leave kite gear visible and you can expect more attenion from scum suckers.![]()
Has anybody had just kites pinched from cars? Are they targetted by thieves (non-kiters) hoping to get anything of value?
People into kiting wouldn't steal kites, as being a kiter means you're into the ocean/loving life, that kind of thing? I would have thought they'd be far beyond stealing another kiters stuff?
hehe .. maybe you could disuise your kite by puting it in a bag which says "Fertiliser" or "Potatoes", or "Dirty Laundry" ![]()
ive got a decent sized cheapo tool chest from supacheap auto, doesnt quite fit in my car unfortunately (i bought it for something else), but a smaller one in the boot, with a padlock, and somehow fixed to the car possibly would mean you kite sits secure in you boot IF they can get into your boot, keeps all the salt and sand etc out of the boot aswell.
Even if they can get to it, make the b@stards run off with a big tool chest, not just a kite in a backpack, and should this be the case? leave a few housebricks in the bottom to slow their getaway and make them work for it![]()
Make sure there's plenty of traffic and pedestrians around your carpark, then you should be right leaving your gear in your car. I park on the road at St kilda and usually am in such a hurry to get out i leave my wallet sitting on the passenger seat (sometimes with doors unlocked
), and haven't had a problem with theft so far. Even left my keys sitting on my roof the other day, felt like an idiot when i got back to my car, but nothing missing, so meh...
Two words:
Doberman Pinscher
Leave one on the front seat with windows down. Nobody's that stupid to put hands in a car like that. You could leave the crown jewels on the front seat in Woodies and they'd be safe. ![]()
KH
Really no need to bring 2 kites to beach here in WA. Make up your mind before you go and that's it. Too many kites being stolen in WA at the moment............don't know what the kn problem is but is bites.
Thieves.....This is the exact reason why I make the NEW bags - black and inconspicuous.
The bags don't need to stand out like dogs balls on the shop floor like some bigger brands desperately need.
The disappearing trick is done by rolling them over so the logo doesn't show in a car. Its cool you can hardly even see the black inconspicuous bags in tinted windows.
Standing around your car with Anemometers talking about how good your kite n PFD is, plastering panels with brand stickers and loud music while your rigging up etc, will all draw attention to your vehicle pretty much guaranteed. ![]()
Thieves are only going to break into your car if a) they think there is something valuable in it, or b) it's so easy for them to do that they might as well have a go.
Park your car in an open spot with a bit of traffic about.
If you park in a multi-level car park (at work or whatever) then park under the lights so the inside of the car is in shadow. Park near the lift or exit where there is a bit of traffic about to discourage thieves.
Don't put any stickers that advertise expensive, stealable stuff of any kind.
Put all your gear in the boot. When you buy a board consider getting one that will fit in. (I have two that fit neatly across the back of my wagon.)
Get your windows tinted black.
Get black gear bags or get a bit of black fabric to cover the gear if it is not in the boot.
Don't drive a slightly older model of Holden or Ford. Apparently they are popular with thieves because there is a market for spare parts.
Nominate your gear on your house insurance for cover away from the house.
i have a wire mesh net that i bought to lock my soft panniers on my motorbike should be easy enough to fix on something in the boot. will slow the pricks down.should be able to buy at any motorbike store.
I was up the Gold Coast surfing,my mate left a spare surf board in his car with about 4 inches of the nose sticking out the window with the window wound up tight against it.
When we came in all the locks had been smashed on his car ,
but they couldnt get in to steal the board,
So the evil pricks just snapped the 4 inches of nose off his board and left it under his wind sheild wipper blade.![]()
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At least now the board fits inside the car with all the windows up though.
Someone else had the best idea ever on a similar thread a little while ago. Put all your gear into those pink bins with 'sanitary napkins' type stickers on it. You know the ones. Only question is how to get these bins new..
i keep my older kites in pillow cases as most the zippers on there bags have rusted out garbage bags work well also
Drive an hour north or an hour south of the metro area and find a beach where you can drive up onto the sand. No one around to flog anything. You can even leave the radio on and an esky in the back to stop for a drink without having to land your kite.