I know it is a pain and the extra work is tiresome at the end of the day, But I take my down riggers off the boat, put them in a special canvas bag that I bought for them, and lock them in the back seat of my pick-up. Just a safty deal.
They are expesive to replace, as we all know. It only takes a couple of minutes to put them back on when I am ready to use them.
I always worry about parking the boat in a store parking lot. I don't want to come out and find them gone on my way out to go fishing.
Glad your Scotty showed up in the just in time. If you leave them on the boat, a safty chain and pad lock is not a bad idea. I am working on how to do that to mine just for short trips from my house to the local fishing hole.
