Security on board, especially when overnighting

[vizwhiz]

I have a couple questions about security aboard...in particular, thieves trying to steal stuff off yer boat when you are moored or in a slip in an unfamiliar marina overnight...the "locals" helping themselves to bits and pieces of things they can lift, or even taking off with yer kicker while you go to dinner... Wifey and I took a walk around a marina the other day just for fun to see the big live-aboards, check out the larger sailboats in slips, etc. and realized that there are quite a few in the "live-aboard" community (no offense to anyone on here) that didn't appear...safe. One of our "dream" weekends would be to sail to the local marinas and harbors for overnights just for fun...go to dinner, putt-putt out onto the water to see the sunset and watch the moon...then anchor up in a sheltered area for the night...

And the second question, and I know this may sound a bit...paranoid?...but does anyone do anything in particular for personal security especially when sleeping aboard? Has anyone had, or heard of, a dangerous encounter when on the water? Is there a way to keep people from boarding yer boat, or to at least be alarmed for that? Just wondering... (I plan to carry "personal protective measures" anyway, but I'm just wondering if this is an issue out there...)

Thanks.

[waternwaves]

35 years of sailing.......4 shots fired..........no successful pirates, ... no boardings, no equipment lost.

or was that 35 shots at 4 boarders..........????? I cant remember.

seiously,
the only time I have had problems like that with boats is during equipment breakdowns enroute to other locations. But I would take everything off the console every night, or cover it during the day if tied up at a dock.

Tho, there was a FRED MEYER Store landscaped parking lot with a sprinkler that got us good while sleeping in an open bowrider one night when the truck broke down.

And I did have a problem with river otters and sea otters coming aboard at two locations, until I put a board across the transom of the X.

[TAW02]

Never in all my seven years of cruising have I had any fear of being stormed by bandits, pirates or the like. Have had suspicious types beach up to islands in the night where I was beached likewise. But figured them to be rowdy fishermen types. They tend to keep to themselves.

I don't keep a firearm aboard for security or otherwise. Don't think dope runners want a slow sailboat to run drugs, so they are looking at speedboat types if anything.

Just the same, I do sleep real good with my flare gun close by. It's a 12gauge pistol type flare gun that shoots red flare cartridges. Those thing not only attract A LOT of ATTENTION, but no one wants to be shot by them either.

And they are perfectly legal aboard boats no matter where you go

Walmart 36 dollars and comes with 5 flare rounds.

[c130king]

I once pulled into the Jacksonville Landing in Jacksonville Fl and there was a guy there...pretty sure he was a "homeless" guy...but he was "catching" the boats as they arrived at the public wharf and helping to tie them off. And then of course he wanted a "Tip". Didn't really need his help but he did help so I gave him a fiver and he left.

There were a few homeless guys "sleeping" on the benches nearby as we stayed there overnight...three Macs at last years Jax Mac Get-Together. But they didn't bother us. I was sort of worried that they might come looking for a handout.

So do be aware of your surroundings when at public places like that.

Jim

[dennisneal]

We secure any high value item, like our Garmin chartplotter, from the cockpit while we're away from the boat. In addition, the Admiral wedges the companionway hatch cover closed with an adjustible boat hook before we go to sleep.

Frankly, I think that thefts from boats in a marina are pretty rare.

Use a few common-sense precautions.

[Chinook]

One good strategy, which Joshua Slocum described in his book "Sailing Single Handed Around the World" was to scatter tacks around the deck at night. It worked well for him and might be effective, provided that the intruders are barefoot. (He did this at Tierra del Fuego, where the locals didn't wear shoes). Seriously though, we've never had a problem, although it was something my wife did worry about when we first got the boat. Many marinas address security through locking gates at the head of the dock. While they're no guarantee against unauthorized entry, it does help keep out the casual vagrant.

[Rick Westlake]

I only have four summers' worth of history on this, and all on the Chesapeake Bay. But I haven't had any problems either.

Anchoring out is what I like. I have an inflatable, with oars, not a "kicker". I don't close the companionway at anchor; I have a heavy vinyl curtain that I snap on the edge of the hatch slider, if it might be rainy or chilly. My chartplotter stays belowdecks unless I'm on board.

I sleep in the port quarter-berth, aft of the galley. I keep my air-horn in easy reach, on the theory that if I heard somebody coming aboard I could blow it in his face when he looked down the hatch. With any luck, he'd rear back up into the edge of the hatch, stun himself, and then I could tug his arm and help him do a "face plant" into the cabin sole. (With better luck all around, it would simply chase him off!)

If I were really worried I'd carry pepper spray.

[sailor141]

A friend of mine had his sailmaster 6 horse stolen from the stern of his 26ft sailboat while it was backed into its slip. The motor was hanging onto the stern rail, not locked. We arrested the suspect later in possession of the 6 horse and a new 9 horse motor. That guy was stealing everything he could, using an aluminum boat to snoop around the dock at night. Thats why my is on the trailer in the back yard.

[pokerrick1]

I also stole a 30HP that night - - - which paid my bail and legal fees

Rick

[Catigale]

The only time I transom lock my kicker is when trailering

At 60 pounds, it would be really easy for someone to lift and drop it in the boot. Pita when I get to cuttyhunk and realize I have to fuss with the car keys over the water

[J.Teixeira]

Hi

The only thing I know of that happens some times is stolen motors. It seems to be organized crime...

For all the rest I think that most dangers come from ourselfs.

Sleeping aboard: anchoring... gas... beaching... ballast... (the list goes on and on...)

For example one of the most stupid and dangerous situations with intruders aboard was... after spending a night in a highway station park, we all went to breakfast in the coffee shop letting everything ready to go . When returned made a tour around the trailer to a final check, started the car and go...

Suddenly a man was shouting me to stop ...

I stopped and a woman came running in desperation to the rear of the trailer...

There was a 5 or 6 year old boy in the cockpit of "Ariane" happily holding the steering wheel. (Climbed in for curiosity ... probably hide from me...)

If things went wrong ... Lawsuits... Negligent homicide... Lawyers... Court...

A Nightmare

Jose

[SashasDad]

We were anchored in a shallow cove last summer at Elephant Butte in southern New Mexico last year and heard a noise in the middle of the night. I got up to check with my 1,000,000 candle power spotlight and found 2 people skinny dipping about 10 yards from our boat. They didn't steal anything, but I stole a few glances!

[Russ]

I think a lot of your concerns will hinge on where you are traveling.

I grew up cruising on Long Island Sound and we never locked or put anything away and never heard of issues. We also rarely stayed in marinas and when we did it was with a group.
In our current marina, I see people leaving all kinds of valuables out on their boats. GPS, kicker motors, portable gensets, iPOds, you name it. Nothing gets stolen.

If concerned, I would put easy grab items away like GPS, radios etc. Use a bicycle locks for expensive stuff that isn't easy to put away.

As for security, it's been discussed here. If I were traveling in the Caribbean, I might have a different view on weapons. But for most people it's a hard decision not to mention local gun laws. Are you willing to pull the trigger in the middle of the night at what might be a drunken boater lost and climbing on board the wrong boat by mistake?
My opinion is a flare gun makes a good multipurpose tool. If you find yourself alert and awake enough to choose that level of force, it is legal in all jurisdictions and would certainly stop an intruder. But before choosing it as a weapon, I would get familiar with handling weapons including using a flare gun.

--Russ

[Catigale]

I put a small locker in the cockpit of my which hides behind the cushion. It does lock, but it could easily be forced open.

I put the valuable electronics there - Ive never had an incident but I do lock up the bacon when Scott is around.

[restless]

there are plenty of losers about who will try and go for the easy cash. Round here thankfully it is still pretty rare and I probly ought to pay more attention to putting things away before I get stung.
Anyways, if aboard and there are well unwellcome guests clambering about it'd only take seconds to point my handy fresh-fish-device in a manner that ought to cause some serious intention reconsiderations



Seriously, the only beings that need to be wary are any plump bass that happen to be loitering around...