: Do you feel that this owner plate would add much to deter someone looking to
: steal a kayak?

There's an interesting link on Woody's Trip Reports site where he lists stolen boats. It seems that a couple of boats stolen a few years ago were found/recovered.

Apparently the boats were bike-locked and hidden in the woods when they were found. These were commercially made boats with HIN's. The ID #'s didn't deter the thieves but did help in the recovery according to the account. Didn't say whether the thieves were also found.

So, ID's don't stop theft but can help in recovery afterwards.