Boat Security!

[Warren Kaplan]

Dan Shaw touches on an intersting subject in his post "Dorchester Bay..Not so good". He asks if anyone locks their boats to a mooring. I guess with a rope pennant a determined thief with a sharp knife wouldn't be deterred. Anyone ever have a boat stolen? I have. I used to keep a little racing Buccaneer Champion 18 on a mooring at Fire Island (New York). It was gone late one season nowhere to be found until 6 weeks later when the Coast Guard called me and found it 5 miles down Great South Bay pounding on the rocks. A boat doesn't just disappear in GSB for 6 weeks unless someone grabbed it. I know of no great way to keep a boat secure if its moored a 1/4 mile out in a large mooring field. Private clubs may have better security for their moorings and slips, but boaters come and go at all hours of the day and night (fisherman from before dawn to after dark) so its hard to know who belongs and who doesn't. My boat, not being in a yacht club, is in a slip that has lots of strangers coming and going. I suppose someone could slip the dock lines and tow her out of there without even raising an eyebrow of the surrounding people. Does anyone have any good advice for securing a boat, especially at the more "public" marinas?

Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27



Setsail728@aol.com

[Dave]

I don't think that there is a way to secure a boat. We have had some problems around the Gloucester area also with some gas tanks missing and other small stuff. But, the only thing that i do is make it so they can't start her. At least that way they have to work alittle if they want her. Maybe you could get Lojack for a boat?

Dave
25' CD R&R

Dan Shaw touches on an intersting subject in his post "Dorchester Bay..Not so good". He asks if anyone locks their boats to a mooring. I guess with a rope pennant a determined thief with a sharp knife wouldn't be deterred. Anyone ever have a boat stolen? I have. I used to keep a little racing Buccaneer Champion 18 on a mooring at Fire Island (New York). It was gone late one season nowhere to be found until 6 weeks later when the Coast Guard called me and found it 5 miles down Great South Bay pounding on the rocks. A boat doesn't just disappear in GSB for 6 weeks unless someone grabbed it. I know of no great way to keep a boat secure if its moored a 1/4 mile out in a large mooring field. Private clubs may have better security for their moorings and slips, but boaters come and go at all hours of the day and night (fisherman from before dawn to after dark) so its hard to know who belongs and who doesn't. My boat, not being in a yacht club, is in a slip that has lots of strangers coming and going. I suppose someone could slip the dock lines and tow her out of there without even raising an eyebrow of the surrounding people. Does anyone have any good advice for securing a boat, especially at the more "public" marinas?

Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27

ddsailor25@ureach.com

[Nautical Traditions Offic]

Captain Kaplan,

Put a large sign on her with the following message:

This vessel protected by Smith & Wesson two days a week.
You figure out which two days!!!

In all honesty, and not joking, locks keep honest people honest, if someone wants it, there's not much you can do.

Dave Stump

[Warren Kaplan]

Captain Kaplan,

Put a large sign on her with the following message:

This vessel protected by Smith & Wesson two days a week.
You figure out which two days!!!

In all honesty, and not joking, locks keep honest people honest, if someone wants it, there's not much you can do.

Dave Stump

Captain Stump,

I once had occasion to post a sign in the window of a building reading "PIT VIPERS LOOSE INSIDE". Proved quite effective. I agree with you. If someone wants your boat there's not much I can think of to stop them from getting it. Dan's idea of a LoJack is interesting at least for the recovery phase of it. I don't know if salt air would play havoc with its mechanisms but I'll tell you this, there's a million nooks and crannies on a CD that could hide it. Hook the signal to the mast head antenna and it may be traceable for miles.

Warren



Setsail728@aol.com

[Bill Goldsmith]

<nm> >8^)




goldy@bestweb.net

[Will W.]

I had a motorcycle with an alarm system that would call a designated telephone number when the alarm was set off. I don't know if they make one for boats but it was made by Cobra and cost about $250 5 or 6 years ago. Also, while locks only keep honest people honest, more locks might make some other boat a more attractive to a would be thief. Unfortunatly I concur with the other respondents. If someone wants it bad enough, it's gone, alarms and all.

Will Wheatley
s/v Suzi Q
CD 25

Dan Shaw touches on an intersting subject in his post "Dorchester Bay..Not so good". He asks if anyone locks their boats to a mooring. I guess with a rope pennant a determined thief with a sharp knife wouldn't be deterred. Anyone ever have a boat stolen? I have. I used to keep a little racing Buccaneer Champion 18 on a mooring at Fire Island (New York). It was gone late one season nowhere to be found until 6 weeks later when the Coast Guard called me and found it 5 miles down Great South Bay pounding on the rocks. A boat doesn't just disappear in GSB for 6 weeks unless someone grabbed it. I know of no great way to keep a boat secure if its moored a 1/4 mile out in a large mooring field. Private clubs may have better security for their moorings and slips, but boaters come and go at all hours of the day and night (fisherman from before dawn to after dark) so its hard to know who belongs and who doesn't. My boat, not being in a yacht club, is in a slip that has lots of strangers coming and going. I suppose someone could slip the dock lines and tow her out of there without even raising an eyebrow of the surrounding people. Does anyone have any good advice for securing a boat, especially at the more "public" marinas?

Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27

willwheatley@starpower.net

[Ken Cave]

I have my boat at Cap Sante Marina at Anacortes Wa., and have had a slip there for almost four years without a problem.

Reason? During the hours when the office is not open they have a guard on duty that is patrolling the docks during the winter months, and two guards (one on the water) during the summer months.

Not much gets by these folks!!

Look for a marina that has this kind of security and you will find a good one for your boat! By the way, this is a public marina run by the City of Anacortes!

Ken Cave



bcave@whidbey.net

[Mark Yashinsky]

Start w/ the common sense items that need to be done for cars parked in public places. Things as making sure the boat is locked up COMPLETELY (cockpit lockers, hatches dogged, etc), no loose items that easily "walk" (gas tanks, cup holders, MOB devices, etc), dont advertise (what you have on board), dont leave any money that is visible (toll money, for instance). Just kidding on the last. Try to make her, not stand out in the crowd. An alarm could be cobbled up, assuming someone would respond to it and the battery didnt get drained. Shame isnt.

[Bill Goldsmith]

I agree that if someone wants the boat badly enough they will be able to take it. But my only experience with theft/vandalism says alot about the security built in to Cape Dory construction.

The only incident we have had at my YC in many years occurred two years ago. Apparently, some misguided youths walked the docks and broke in to about 8 yachts. Two power yachts had windows shattered. Others had the doors kicked in. A couple of sailboats had the thin plywood companionway boards kicked right through.

Then they met their match, Second Chance. Obviously they were not going to kick in the companionway boards made of 3/4" solid teak set in heavy teak channels. There were some slight pry marks around the hasp hardware, but they obviously gave up.

Strangely enough no one reported anything of consequence missing. That's why we all think it was teenagers looking for booze or money. They did not even steal the radios/stereos/gps etc out of the boats they were able to get into.

Obviously even a CD can be broken into with a hacksaw or a big bolt cutter. So if the thief really wants the boat, or really wants to get into the boat they will succeed if stealthy enough.

The lesson here is that the heavier construction of the CD will tend to deter casual theft and vandalism (which probably makes up the majority of these incidents); those inclined to perpetrate these acts will gravitate toward easier marks, such as powerboats with easily shattered windows or sailboats with thin companionway plywood boards.

All the best,

Bill Goldsmith
Second Chance
CD 27 #173 1980

Dan Shaw touches on an intersting subject in his post "Dorchester Bay..Not so good". He asks if anyone locks their boats to a mooring. I guess with a rope pennant a determined thief with a sharp knife wouldn't be deterred. Anyone ever have a boat stolen? I have. I used to keep a little racing Buccaneer Champion 18 on a mooring at Fire Island (New York). It was gone late one season nowhere to be found until 6 weeks later when the Coast Guard called me and found it 5 miles down Great South Bay pounding on the rocks. A boat doesn't just disappear in GSB for 6 weeks unless someone grabbed it. I know of no great way to keep a boat secure if its moored a 1/4 mile out in a large mooring field. Private clubs may have better security for their moorings and slips, but boaters come and go at all hours of the day and night (fisherman from before dawn to after dark) so its hard to know who belongs and who doesn't. My boat, not being in a yacht club, is in a slip that has lots of strangers coming and going. I suppose someone could slip the dock lines and tow her out of there without even raising an eyebrow of the surrounding people. Does anyone have any good advice for securing a boat, especially at the more "public" marinas?

Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27

goldy@bestweb.net

[Mark YAshinsky]

Just read a news story from Gannett's LifeStyles wire about thieves and vandels targeting Houses of Worship. Vehicles being stolen from parking lots during Services, security systems being installed, etc.

[Mark Yashinsky]

Maybe we could combine the ant problem below (Boyd) w/ this security problme and come up w/a solution. "Warning, Guard Ants on Duty". Even better, combine it w/ Goldsmith's one about Plum Island Research Vessel, "Warning, Very Large, Mean Guard Ants on Duty". Now, if they were to get loose.....

[Don Carr]

The best marine attention getter I know of is a 406Mhz EPIRB. Just set it up to trigger when the offender tries to abscond with your boat. The trick is to find a triggering method that you , the owner won't set off. Believe me the CG will be on the boat very quickly.



carrds@US.IBM.COM

[Dave]

That is a good idea, but I don't think that coast guard is there for our serurity. They have enought to deal with on a day to day basis with just people calling in false destress calls. But on the other hand if you could have something like that but call the police, then that is something to look into.

Dave

The best marine attention getter I know of is a 406Mhz EPIRB. Just set it up to trigger when the offender tries to abscond with your boat. The trick is to find a triggering method that you , the owner won't set off. Believe me the CG will be on the boat very quickly.

ddsailor25@ureach.com

[Will W.]

I would check with the Coast Gaurd before doing anything that might involve them. There may be some legal issues there that might land you in jail next to the theif.
I am sure that there is an alarm system out there that would fit the bill, and if used with a solar charger battery drain shuoldn't be a problem.

William Wheatley
s/v Suzi Q
CD 25

The best marine attention getter I know of is a 406Mhz EPIRB. Just set it up to trigger when the offender tries to abscond with your boat. The trick is to find a triggering method that you , the owner won't set off. Believe me the CG will be on the boat very quickly.

willwheatley@starpower.net

[Neil Gordon]

Why wouldn't Lojac work on a boat?


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



cdory28@aol.com