Helm Storage Area question

[T&M2619]

There is a storage area with helm unit and it's lockable and came with keys.  But here's the odd thing, there is a seat in front of the helm (actually attached as one unit with helm) but when you pull the seat cushion up for storage there, you can see straight through to the lockable area!  So much for a lockable & secure area!  

Does anyone else have this or did Bennington make a mistake and should have enclosed the section with the seat?

Can't show you a photo until this weekend when we take the boat out.

 

[lakeliving]

Interesting. I have an S and the backrest does not flip up on the helm side. I wonder if that is a new change with the seating and if so...a miss.

 

[T&M2619]

Interesting. I have an S and the backrest does not flip up on the helm side. I wonder if that is a new change with the seating and if so...a miss.

Yes, I think a panel should have been  put between the locking area and the strorage area under the seat in front of helm.  No point in locking as all you have to do is pull up the cushion and reach in.  We will show it to the dealer & see what their take is on it on Saturday.

Another thing the mfg. forgot was the sticker that shows the details on boat and the occupancy maximum, which is required on the boat & is to be placed by the helm/throttle area.  That we told them about & Bennington is sending.

Thanks for your response & comment!  

 

[Remediation]

On the fishing model, the helm seat lifts up because there could be another live well in the area.  It is one large area under the helm.  The reality is the little latch that locks the door would take a screwdriver and 2 seconds to defeat.  It is not really lockable storage under the helm. Don't leave it on the boat if worried about theft.  

 

[T&M2619]

On the fishing model, the helm seat lifts up because there could be another live well in the area.  It is one large area under the helm.  The reality is the little latch that locks the door would take a screwdriver and 2 seconds to defeat.  It is not really lockable storage under the helm. Don't leave it on the boat if worried about theft.  

Thanks Remediation for your explanation.  Just seemed a little silly to give you keys for an area that is not going to be secure with being able to access all by pulling up the seat cushion, then it's just wide open to all.  The only time I would have used the lockable area was if we were to pull up to a marina or restaurant and wanted to leave something for short amount of time.

 

[SEMPERFI8387]

Yeah, those locks just keep honest people out ...

 

[Bill N]

If you wanted to make it secure, you could install a dead bolt on the bottom side of the seat cushion that you could reach from the helm door.

 

[ssc]

That had to be a "Here's your sign" moment when you raised the cushion.  Along the same mindset: When I was dating my first Ex-wife, we went back to VA to visit her parents. Her dad took me around and introduced me to some of his friends. We went to one gents place and he was showing me his barn/work shop. It was very nice with walls of tools hung on pegboard. He had one whole side of steel cabinets with a master lock on every cabinet. I counted 42 locks. As I was standing there listening to him brag on his tools and the valuables he had locked in the cabinets, I kept looking at the tools and smiling. I tried to be polite. He then made the mistake of asking me what I thought.

I guess I should have said very nice, but being a young man with a bit of a devious past, I asked him why he had all the cabinets locked? He said to keep his items safe. I smiled and he wanted to know what was funny. I said, "Then why do you have the keys hanging on the pegboard?" He said he didn't and what the hell was I talking about. So I walked over to where he had 6 bolt cutters hanging. They ranged in size from small to over 4 feet long. I said these look like keys to me. My father-in-law to be, said "Smart kid." I understand the bolt cutters were then locked up.

Cheers, Steve

 

[Link]

I am sure that there are some bad apples in the barrel but I feel that most boaters respect other boaters and I for one is not overly worried about theft from my boat.  When we are at courtesy docks stopping at a restaurant or bar often items are left on the seats and as of yet no problems. 

Damn, hope I didn't curse myself

 

[tyjy]

We put in two plastic bins with covers in that space, side by side. HOWEVER they are too large fit through that seat opening, they had to put in through the lockable door in the helm console, one by one. The seat is never locked and can be opened at any time, but we only store items like towels, picnic items, sunscreen...basically nothing very expensive in there. Because those bins are larger than the seat opening there's no way to have access to the items behind the locked door (or behind the bins)...unless you have real criminal intent, probably easily, pried the door open or bashed it in or something. That said, we don't really store anything of particular high value on the boat while moored at our (city owned) marina. ie: all fishing poles, tackle we bring home, too much to lose! (the use of bins in many areas in our boat, for us, is to keep things dry)

 

[clrd]

I also have the same helm, but I have the live well under the seat so there is no access to the lockable storage area from the seat.  I do use this live well for storage a lot of the time, because I have two other live wells I can use for when I am fishing.

 

[SEMPERFI8387]

I am sure that there are some bad apples in the barrel but I feel that most boaters respect other boaters and I for one is not overly worried about theft from my boat.  When we are at courtesy docks stopping at a restaurant or bar often items are left on the seats and as of yet no problems. 

Damn, hope I didn't curse myself

Yeah, but who's gonna steal empty beer cans?   :blink:

 

[lakeliving]

They are worth 10 cents each here in MI

 

[T&M2619]

Appreciate your comments, stories, & helpful suggestions, as always!  

 

[Spoiledrotten]

I am sure that there are some bad apples in the barrel but I feel that most boaters respect other boaters and I for one is not overly worried about theft from my boat.  When we are at courtesy docks stopping at a restaurant or bar often items are left on the seats and as of yet no problems. 

Damn, hope I didn't curse myself

I agree about the boaters being respectful of other boaters. It's the non-boaters you have to worry about. At the yacht club in our area, some bored people went out on the dock during the night, ran some water hoses into a couple of the boats; one being a brand new ski boat, filled them with water and sunk them. Those are the ones that have no respect for anyone, and are a total waste of good air.  

And I'll agree, those "lockable" helms are just for looks. The plastic door could be ripped off with bare hands. I don't really  believe one would even have to have a screwdriver. Like my Jeep; don't leave anything on it if it's valuable.

 

[SEMPERFI8387]

Couple years back the ranger informed us some kids got on the docks and sliced up some boat seats and covers and then decided to take some craps on them too ...... I think..... no, I know I'd be in jail if I caught them.  :angry:

 

[Rockie69]

Good thing they left some DNA. Stupid little sh!ts!

 

[lakeliving]

Couple years back the ranger informed us some kids got on the docks and sliced up some boat seats and covers and then decided to take some craps on them too ...... I think..... no, I know I'd be in jail if I caught them.  :angry:

I would do to them what they did to the boats!!! I wish we had "real" punishments for those who commit crimes. If the punishment is severe, the crime isn't worth it. Probably a good thing I am not in charge. Once the chain gang got done clearing the trash from the side of the roadway they would graze like cattle eating grass for their dinner. Then they would walk back to the prison in bare feet. No rides in a van with a/c.