Hi everyone,
Question about boat security.
Most of us using quite expensive equipment on board (GPS, laptops, TV and etc.).
When boat on marina alone are you using just usual locks or some special electronic security devices?
What are you usually do when park you boat on some new transit marina and go to discovery new place? Do you keep some body on the boat or just lock everything and go?
What about when you trailing you boat long distance, any security measures or concern?
Boat Security
1. Make sure your boat insurance covers added equipment, such as TV and GPS. No insurance company wants to cover computer equipment, it seems.
2. If possible, take valuable stuff with you.
3. Take gear from the cockpit (such as GPS) and hide it in the cabin.
4. Put a SMALL lock on the hatch, so they can hopefully pop it off without damaging the hatch and hatch board. Not much point in having a lock that's stronger than the material it's locking.
5. Make sure those in nearby boats know who goes with your boat. Introduce yourself and crew.
6. Install a car alarm that flashes the nav lights and masthead light (through diodes so you don't join them), and sounds a horn. Waves might set off a motion/shock sensor so that's probably not a good idea. Need some kind of door switch on the hatch or a proximity switch on the lock hasp.
That's about all I can think of off the top of my head.
--
Moe
2. If possible, take valuable stuff with you.
3. Take gear from the cockpit (such as GPS) and hide it in the cabin.
4. Put a SMALL lock on the hatch, so they can hopefully pop it off without damaging the hatch and hatch board. Not much point in having a lock that's stronger than the material it's locking.
5. Make sure those in nearby boats know who goes with your boat. Introduce yourself and crew.
6. Install a car alarm that flashes the nav lights and masthead light (through diodes so you don't join them), and sounds a horn. Waves might set off a motion/shock sensor so that's probably not a good idea. Need some kind of door switch on the hatch or a proximity switch on the lock hasp.
That's about all I can think of off the top of my head.
--
Moe
-
Catigale
- Site Admin
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Admiral .............Catigale 2002X.......Lots of Harpoon Hobie 16 Skiffs....Island 17
- Contact:
Agree with all of Moes comments about taking/locking stuff up...couple of additions...
1 The same way you have to research the water aspect of a trip, if you are cruising you have to research the landfall versions of the trip too.
2 Dock/moor near boats more expensive than yours...not too hard
3 GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS - highly recommended!
Personally any place where its recommended practice to:
" After securing at mooring, spread broken glass on deck to repel barefoot intruders at night from shore" wont be on my cruising list soon..
1 The same way you have to research the water aspect of a trip, if you are cruising you have to research the landfall versions of the trip too.
2 Dock/moor near boats more expensive than yours...not too hard
3 GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS - highly recommended!
Personally any place where its recommended practice to:
" After securing at mooring, spread broken glass on deck to repel barefoot intruders at night from shore" wont be on my cruising list soon..
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Jack O'Brien
- Captain
- Posts: 564
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:28 pm
- Location: West Palm Beach, Florida, 2000X, Gostosa III
Security
Seriously, for short-term protection, get a dog.
But get the right one and train it. A smaller dog sails well, and can be left aboard alone as long as you would leave it alone at home. You don't want a yapper or one with little sense of possession which would not guard well. Be careful not to bake it if you park the boat in the sun.
If you need long-term protection, a switch on each hatch and a pressure sensitive floor mat in the cockpit can be used to sound a horn or siren and turn on lights. A time-delay relay can keep them on and shut them off as desired. A key lock master switch you can access without setting off the alarm arms and disarms the system. Radio Shack used to have all this stuff in 12vdc including yellow strobe lights, motion detecting burgler alarms, etc. Some of these ran on 110vac - if available - and internal and/or external battery backup.
But get the right one and train it. A smaller dog sails well, and can be left aboard alone as long as you would leave it alone at home. You don't want a yapper or one with little sense of possession which would not guard well. Be careful not to bake it if you park the boat in the sun.
If you need long-term protection, a switch on each hatch and a pressure sensitive floor mat in the cockpit can be used to sound a horn or siren and turn on lights. A time-delay relay can keep them on and shut them off as desired. A key lock master switch you can access without setting off the alarm arms and disarms the system. Radio Shack used to have all this stuff in 12vdc including yellow strobe lights, motion detecting burgler alarms, etc. Some of these ran on 110vac - if available - and internal and/or external battery backup.
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Sloop John B
- Captain
- Posts: 871
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:45 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Florida 'Big Bend'. 02x Yamaha T50
Darren and I were just getting into this thieves in the night stuff on the MN pirate boat thread.
Marinas in the Big Bend are small and neighborhoodish. I routinely walk past the 'owners and guests only' signs and stroll the piers looking at the boats. I march into the fenced boat yards similarly. As long as I appear middle/upper age, white, and look half intelligent, people are loath to challenge me with the thought I might be a guest. I see attractive equipment on dashes and bulkheads that could be removed with a turn of a screw driver. A padlock on a hatch is a sure sign no one is home.
This stuff is about as secure as all the things you have behind that little glass window on your back door.
I'm fortunate in a situation where I leave home for several days with the keys left in the ignitions and the doors unlocked. This is in case a pump is running too long, or there's smoke, or something has to be moved fast. Eight dogs lite off when UPS or FedEx show up. Neighbors stick their noses on their kitchen window and watch, in case it's a fake UPS guy. And we do the same when they go to visit.
Unless youre really loaded and flash expensive firearms and expensive pilferable items, the problem will be young boys who will take a dare/chance for a half quart of gin.
One thing that might repel these imp kids is a note printed with wobbly crayon scotch taped to the hatch: I love this boat as much as I love my life. If you love your life, dont f with it.
The good advice posted above is all we can do. Don't leave your jewelry on the back porch. Have your good neighbors keep an eye out.
Marinas in the Big Bend are small and neighborhoodish. I routinely walk past the 'owners and guests only' signs and stroll the piers looking at the boats. I march into the fenced boat yards similarly. As long as I appear middle/upper age, white, and look half intelligent, people are loath to challenge me with the thought I might be a guest. I see attractive equipment on dashes and bulkheads that could be removed with a turn of a screw driver. A padlock on a hatch is a sure sign no one is home.
This stuff is about as secure as all the things you have behind that little glass window on your back door.
I'm fortunate in a situation where I leave home for several days with the keys left in the ignitions and the doors unlocked. This is in case a pump is running too long, or there's smoke, or something has to be moved fast. Eight dogs lite off when UPS or FedEx show up. Neighbors stick their noses on their kitchen window and watch, in case it's a fake UPS guy. And we do the same when they go to visit.
Unless youre really loaded and flash expensive firearms and expensive pilferable items, the problem will be young boys who will take a dare/chance for a half quart of gin.
One thing that might repel these imp kids is a note printed with wobbly crayon scotch taped to the hatch: I love this boat as much as I love my life. If you love your life, dont f with it.
The good advice posted above is all we can do. Don't leave your jewelry on the back porch. Have your good neighbors keep an eye out.
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argonaut
- Captain
- Posts: 531
- Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:23 pm
- Location: '97 26X, Yammy 40 4s, Central Fla.
Here's one to make your hair stand on end, this story told to me by a marina owner rebuilding his 72 slips after our losing all of them in the last hurricane season. One of his customers down here in east central Florida had this humanity-affirming experience. His 32 footer was booted out of the marina, common practice when hurricanes threaten because slipped boats tend to do more damage to marinas than the storms alone. He sailed across the ICW to moor off the lee side of the barrier island, and made meticulous preparation, using serious mooring materials with multiple solid chain rodes. He carefully sealed her up then abandoned ship to wait out the storm on land. When he came back all that was left was the mooring buoy and two cleanly-cut mooring chains. Some bugger watched him make his final preps then made off with the boat before the storm and it hasn't been spotted since.
Anther guy, a personal friend of mine lost his sailboat after letting an interested buyer "try it out" overnight. Again, boat never seen since. Amazing to me anyone would steal a sailboat since these things do 5-6 kts on a good day and a 34 footer isn't (easily) trailerable.
Personally, I would not leave anything on board to invite thieves or which I couldn't stand to lose.
Wonder if "The Club" fits my Mac's steering wheel?
Anther guy, a personal friend of mine lost his sailboat after letting an interested buyer "try it out" overnight. Again, boat never seen since. Amazing to me anyone would steal a sailboat since these things do 5-6 kts on a good day and a 34 footer isn't (easily) trailerable.
Personally, I would not leave anything on board to invite thieves or which I couldn't stand to lose.
Wonder if "The Club" fits my Mac's steering wheel?
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waternwaves
- Admiral
- Posts: 1499
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:18 pm
- Location: X less in North Puget Sound -have to sail other boats for a while
finding a stolen boat
Wow, just like John B remarked.....this boat security thing got me thinking....
my guess is tho....that are boats are distincitive enough that we easily notice all versions of macs......and I know that even among other boat owners.... macs appeal to tinkerers much more than most boats... on the island here....we sure notice every little difference between our X's, and every time a new toy is added......
But if my boat was stolen
, the predator part of my being says hunt the the
thieves down.... and if I lost the boat in the marina and was sure that someone had sailed off with it..... I would probably go on autopilot..
hop in the plane and hunt.....
and someone would find out how well they float stolen ....with lots of holes and taking on water.... and I know where the fuel tanks are.....
is it a crime to sink your own boat???? my understanding is only if there is a hydrocarbon spill or if you try to make an insurance claim....
Anyway...I think the points made earlier make sense... dont be the most expensive boat in the harbor, dont have general purpose pc's laying around..(another reason to use specialized marine equipment) marine equipment has a much smaller market..., lock things securely, dont take prisoners, and aid others in distress....
I gotta believe mariners/sailors are friendlier than most..... (it has definitely been my experience.... I have given many tows... worked on many others tollies, chrissies, and raysl.....) and whenever I absolutely needed something far from home, someone has stepped up with a way to get it....or get me to it...
and thieves of marine equipment... there should be a special place in hull......lol
but in my experience. I have only suffered from a deranged 13 yr old neighbor boy terroizing my daughters... and I dont think the boat was the primary target ...everything in the yard was.....
but one jerk with an icepick can do a number on a glass hull....
So what makes sense..... 20 ft of stainless vinyl coated aircraft cable and good locks???? I cant do the dog thing any more.....and there is no room for a brig on board....lol
or just stay away from anchorages.??? or just have a big enough property to keep the boat isolated from any unwanted visitors.???..I wonder.....
I think John has the right Idea.....
live in a great nosy neighborhood
keep big strong safes
know how to use all that 'special' equipment
be discrete...........
Enough of my ranting.... you guys have worried me enough tonight....
Watchin your backsides............. strong winds and good currents to ya..
Darren
my guess is tho....that are boats are distincitive enough that we easily notice all versions of macs......and I know that even among other boat owners.... macs appeal to tinkerers much more than most boats... on the island here....we sure notice every little difference between our X's, and every time a new toy is added......
But if my boat was stolen
, the predator part of my being says hunt the the
thieves down.... and if I lost the boat in the marina and was sure that someone had sailed off with it..... I would probably go on autopilot..
hop in the plane and hunt.....
and someone would find out how well they float stolen ....with lots of holes and taking on water.... and I know where the fuel tanks are.....
is it a crime to sink your own boat???? my understanding is only if there is a hydrocarbon spill or if you try to make an insurance claim....
Anyway...I think the points made earlier make sense... dont be the most expensive boat in the harbor, dont have general purpose pc's laying around..(another reason to use specialized marine equipment) marine equipment has a much smaller market..., lock things securely, dont take prisoners, and aid others in distress....
I gotta believe mariners/sailors are friendlier than most..... (it has definitely been my experience.... I have given many tows... worked on many others tollies, chrissies, and raysl.....) and whenever I absolutely needed something far from home, someone has stepped up with a way to get it....or get me to it...
and thieves of marine equipment... there should be a special place in hull......lol
but in my experience. I have only suffered from a deranged 13 yr old neighbor boy terroizing my daughters... and I dont think the boat was the primary target ...everything in the yard was.....
but one jerk with an icepick can do a number on a glass hull....
So what makes sense..... 20 ft of stainless vinyl coated aircraft cable and good locks???? I cant do the dog thing any more.....and there is no room for a brig on board....lol
or just stay away from anchorages.??? or just have a big enough property to keep the boat isolated from any unwanted visitors.???..I wonder.....
I think John has the right Idea.....
live in a great nosy neighborhood
keep big strong safes
know how to use all that 'special' equipment
be discrete...........
Enough of my ranting.... you guys have worried me enough tonight....
Watchin your backsides............. strong winds and good currents to ya..
Darren
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Miquel
For what it is the boat, I had been thinking in adding one of those systems based on a GPS follow up, so that if it would be stolen, you can easily trace where the boat is (some renting companies have those systems in their boats).
For the material in it, the only thing I don't remove is the VHF. The GPS, laptop and other stuff goes with me.
Fair winds,
Miquel
Culzean
For the material in it, the only thing I don't remove is the VHF. The GPS, laptop and other stuff goes with me.
Fair winds,
Miquel
Culzean
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NYharleyrider
- Deckhand
- Posts: 34
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 3:57 am
- Location: Rochester, NY 05 26M, 70 HP TLDI
- Contact:
I own a small trucking company and use these on all of my vehicles.
http://www.gpsonsale.com/vehicletrackin ... /index.htm
Best investment I ever made... but for the purposes of a boat and with an external antenna (which will look like any other gps antenna) you can install a locating gps unit hidden in your hull and rather than pay a monthly subscription fee there is an option available to pay as you ping.
The per ping cost is about .25 cents which you can view on the internet.
Not a high price to pay for piece of mind and security.
http://www.gpsonsale.com/vehicletrackin ... /index.htm
Best investment I ever made... but for the purposes of a boat and with an external antenna (which will look like any other gps antenna) you can install a locating gps unit hidden in your hull and rather than pay a monthly subscription fee there is an option available to pay as you ping.
The per ping cost is about .25 cents which you can view on the internet.
Not a high price to pay for piece of mind and security.
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mark,97x
theft
the 
was hit by theives about 3 years ago it seems that they dont care for sailboats,but they got the motor,vhf,gps and anything else that would sell easily,in the case of myboat they just cut the ring on the hasp and it opened right up,i have replaced the ring ,and now have the cheapest vhf,and handheld gps,the new lock cost $1 at the dollar store,anyway on the brite side if they ever hit again it will allow me to replace the yamaha 
anyway the boat is probably safe and if its not to hard to get to they will just get the good stuff and leave in a hurry and thats the way it was 
was hit by theives about 3 years ago it seems that they dont care for sailboats,but they got the motor,vhf,gps and anything else that would sell easily,in the case of myboat they just cut the ring on the hasp and it opened right up,i have replaced the ring ,and now have the cheapest vhf,and handheld gps,the new lock cost $1 at the dollar store,anyway on the brite side if they ever hit again it will allow me to replace the yamaha anyway the boat is probably safe and if its not to hard to get to they will just get the good stuff and leave in a hurry and thats the way it was -
Jack O'Brien
- Captain
- Posts: 564
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 6:28 pm
- Location: West Palm Beach, Florida, 2000X, Gostosa III
Security
Nice to have good neighbors, etc. etc. HOWEVER,
down here in SE Florida, if it isn't under ten tons of concrete it is vulnerable to thieves & burglars.
Breaking and Entering Burglary cost me $1,000 last year in two separate events not covered by insurance over the deductible. My boat sits on its trailer next to a 4-foot high stone wall (which you can walk around at low tide) separating our sailing club from a public park in West Palm Beach. The neighborhood is waterfront condos and big homes with old, lower-middle class private homes across the street inland in a not-too-far-from-the-high-crime area.
The first time they pried three locks off a RubberMaid plastic storage locker between the boat and the wall. They didn't take the two outboard dinghy motors or the big fenders but did take the two 3-gallon gas tanks & hoses, motor carrier, 3-step stepladder and anything small of value.
The second time they pried the lock off the X's hasp without breaking the fiberglass but bending the hasp to where it needed replacement. They emptied the four PFDs out of the storage bag and used the bag like Santa Clause - i.e. they filled it with my toys. Looked at, but did not take, the ICOM remote mike; took the AM/FM/CD radio out of its mounting in the galley wall; got my tool box, 4-cell flashlight, 2 rain jackets, 2.5 pair water/deck shoes, new snorkle kit, clock, new binoculars, sunglasses, etc. Luckily, they didn't take the plastic box with the ICOM hand-held VHF, etrex GPS, windmeter, and other small electronic goodies. Maybe they didn't see it.
They were going for stuff they could pawn or sell easy, not marine stuff. There is no way I am going to completely empty and refill the boat every time we want to go out, although I don't leave the toolbox and small electronic goodies on board anymore.
There are streetlights in the park. The club has since installed floodlights on our side of the wall and no events since then. I'm in the process of wiring all the metal parts of the RubberMaid locker with an electric fence charger powered by an internal 12vdc battery. I have installed an electronic siren in the pedestal (the bottoms of the black plastic sides are cut off), a keyed switch in the stern, and have a big yellow strobe light on a long wire for placement on the sliding hatch cover. The 18-year old Radio Shack motion detecting burglar alarms go bonkers when they shouldn't so I will install switches on the hatch covers and use pressure-sensitive floor mats in the cockpit all hooked up to a time-delay relay and powered by the boat batteries. Only minimal power used (for the relay) unless activated. I have all the equipment from the 70's when I lived in Jamaica.
Too bad I can't leave my Doberman Pinscher on board.
down here in SE Florida, if it isn't under ten tons of concrete it is vulnerable to thieves & burglars.
Breaking and Entering Burglary cost me $1,000 last year in two separate events not covered by insurance over the deductible. My boat sits on its trailer next to a 4-foot high stone wall (which you can walk around at low tide) separating our sailing club from a public park in West Palm Beach. The neighborhood is waterfront condos and big homes with old, lower-middle class private homes across the street inland in a not-too-far-from-the-high-crime area.
The first time they pried three locks off a RubberMaid plastic storage locker between the boat and the wall. They didn't take the two outboard dinghy motors or the big fenders but did take the two 3-gallon gas tanks & hoses, motor carrier, 3-step stepladder and anything small of value.
The second time they pried the lock off the X's hasp without breaking the fiberglass but bending the hasp to where it needed replacement. They emptied the four PFDs out of the storage bag and used the bag like Santa Clause - i.e. they filled it with my toys. Looked at, but did not take, the ICOM remote mike; took the AM/FM/CD radio out of its mounting in the galley wall; got my tool box, 4-cell flashlight, 2 rain jackets, 2.5 pair water/deck shoes, new snorkle kit, clock, new binoculars, sunglasses, etc. Luckily, they didn't take the plastic box with the ICOM hand-held VHF, etrex GPS, windmeter, and other small electronic goodies. Maybe they didn't see it.
They were going for stuff they could pawn or sell easy, not marine stuff. There is no way I am going to completely empty and refill the boat every time we want to go out, although I don't leave the toolbox and small electronic goodies on board anymore.
There are streetlights in the park. The club has since installed floodlights on our side of the wall and no events since then. I'm in the process of wiring all the metal parts of the RubberMaid locker with an electric fence charger powered by an internal 12vdc battery. I have installed an electronic siren in the pedestal (the bottoms of the black plastic sides are cut off), a keyed switch in the stern, and have a big yellow strobe light on a long wire for placement on the sliding hatch cover. The 18-year old Radio Shack motion detecting burglar alarms go bonkers when they shouldn't so I will install switches on the hatch covers and use pressure-sensitive floor mats in the cockpit all hooked up to a time-delay relay and powered by the boat batteries. Only minimal power used (for the relay) unless activated. I have all the equipment from the 70's when I lived in Jamaica.
Too bad I can't leave my Doberman Pinscher on board.
We've never taken the Icom fixed mount VHF out of the open Whaler when leaving it overnight in the boat parking lot in the tent-camping area of the state park or stopping for a meal while trailering. Surprisingly, never had it stolen, despite me leaving the easily removed mount screws on it, but we do try to pick a tent site that gives us a direct line of view to the boat.
The GPS/Fishfinder is a LOT more expensive and a different story. We never leave it, or the expensive Steiner binoculars, aboard, even when docking just to grab a meal onshore. Barb carries a padded canvas shoulder bag they go in and we take 'em with us. Same will be true for the iPod, handheld VHF or GPS, windmeter, etc.
For mooring the Mac in the state park next year, we'll probably leave the heavy $100 or so worth of Craftsman tools aboard. Maybe that, a MagLite, and our boat shoes will give them enough of a sense of accomplishment so they won't get pi$$ and vandalize the boat.
It's good they didn't damage your galley getting the radio out of it, Jack. I'm betting most thieves today know enough to carry those U-shaped radio removal tools. I can just imagine what they could do to the head wall getting an LCD TV off it, especially with the leverage of a swivel mount. I think I'd fasten the TV to the swivel mount with thumbscrews and post directions on how to remove it, if I had to leave it aboard.
Maybe it's different with Macs, but a lot of stolen boats are found with the outboards removed by cutting out the transom with a chain saw or sawzall, rather than spending the time to remove the bolts. That would suck.
--
Moe
The GPS/Fishfinder is a LOT more expensive and a different story. We never leave it, or the expensive Steiner binoculars, aboard, even when docking just to grab a meal onshore. Barb carries a padded canvas shoulder bag they go in and we take 'em with us. Same will be true for the iPod, handheld VHF or GPS, windmeter, etc.
For mooring the Mac in the state park next year, we'll probably leave the heavy $100 or so worth of Craftsman tools aboard. Maybe that, a MagLite, and our boat shoes will give them enough of a sense of accomplishment so they won't get pi$$ and vandalize the boat.
It's good they didn't damage your galley getting the radio out of it, Jack. I'm betting most thieves today know enough to carry those U-shaped radio removal tools. I can just imagine what they could do to the head wall getting an LCD TV off it, especially with the leverage of a swivel mount. I think I'd fasten the TV to the swivel mount with thumbscrews and post directions on how to remove it, if I had to leave it aboard.
Maybe it's different with Macs, but a lot of stolen boats are found with the outboards removed by cutting out the transom with a chain saw or sawzall, rather than spending the time to remove the bolts. That would suck.
--
Moe
yes, mine does. i have an amount of personal devices covered, and computers are not excluded (although i don't have one on board). my insurance is pantaenius, a very friendly marine insurance company. they are present in the u.s.market. the boss is a sailor.No insurance company wants to cover computer equipment, it seems.