Avoiding Theft and Vandalism

colobear

New member
We're about to get our new 22' cruiser and I have been avidly reading everything on the site. We look forward to beaching, mooring, or anchoring at many places throughout our region. But being a naturally suspicious/cautious type I worry about just beaching or mooring our new luxury (for us), and walking off to a picnic, hike, etc. Likewise I wonder about leaving a dinghie. Am I being paranoid or do I have to worry about some S.O.B. messing with the boat, lines or dinghie? LOML (and I) would be really upset to come back and find the dinghie gone with the boat 100' off shore or worse, finding the boat cut loose and floating away.

What do you do? Can you put my mind at rest or should I stay in sight of the boat?

Thanks.

Colobear
 
Colobear, In our area, I think it makes a big difference where you go. For instance, Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles would not be good. Echo Bay on Sucia is fine. Picking a spot frequented by boaters, hikers and those who enjoy the outdoors makes all the difference. The fact that you're on an Island helps too. We've never had anything stolen or vandalized in the San Juans, Gulf Islands, Desolation Sound or the Broughtons. I worry even less in Canada.
Roger
 
That's why I pay for insurance.... I don't own things I can't replace...not that I want to replace anything...but I refuse to worry about such details... I don't think most places you will go with a C-Dory are any threat...probably the most threatening will be parking at a mall while enroute... or something like that.... heck...pay insurance and don't worry... it will ruin your enjoyment... the odds of anything going wrong are really slim...

Life it to short to worry...Buy a Bula shirt and PARTY !!!

Joel
SEA3PO
 
I agree with Joel on the insurance approach to the issue on this and the other thread.

As far as the door goes, the hinges can be removed from the port side or a thief can force the lock with a crowbar, so about the only way to block the door shut would be to place a flat metal bar over the door with padlocks on both sides and hasps that are protected. Not foolrooof, of course, but it might discourage them enough to move on to another, easier victum.

The burglar alarm is tricky to install and temperamental in use and its necessity and advisability depends on the relative dangers where you leave the boat.

In my case, the marina has night security patrols and almost never has break-ins, except for one forray of stereo burglars to rip off all the expensive high powered sound systems out of the wakeboard and ski boats. Came in by boat. Never caught.

There is perhaps a very small outside chance someone who really wanted a C-Dory coluld come in and steal the entire boat, but they'd have to have a suitable trailer and take it out of the local area to use or sell it. Would take some planning and organization. Most local rip-off artists are crank-heads and can't think that far ahead.

Locking loose things up inside the cabin and covering them up out of view eliminates most "crimes of opportunity" from non-professionals (fellow boaters).

In marinas where there are live-aboards, making friends with them so they will casually watch your boat and recognize strangers would be invaluable. The same for fellow berthers with occasional usage, but to a sopmewhat lesser degree.

Pay for the insurance and realize you can not only replace anything but use the opportunity to upgrade your boat and / or equiment.

Life's to much fun with a C-Dory to lay awake at night and worry about something you can't entirely control. Dream instead, if you will, of how you'd replace the gear that some idiot made your insurance company pay for. (Get your deductable in an acceptable range to make this work, of course!)

Joe.
 
I have been broken into twice in the last 6 months in sept they got he fishing rods and the screen for the c-80. in decmber they took the radar dome. in both cases this was done in my back yard. I have flood lights that shine right on the boat so they could see what they where doing. Since thatn I have added a alarm system. I have had a lot of false alarms since then but nothing else stolen. Ihave never worried about the boat while at a marina. we often leave it at docks while we go explore. Just lock the door and put ever thing away.
 
I think you got a neighbor kid helping you out.... I would start watching EBAY.. I think I would invest in a video surveilance system...

Joel
SEA3PO
 
I'm with Joel, the neighbors are probably a bigger threat than most of the folks who happen by while you are out on the water. I even got away one time with leaving my truck and trailer at the county ramp on marine drive in portland over a long weekend. I was amazed. That area is tweekerville, and I really had a sinking feeling returning to the ramp. I expected the worst, but refused to let my concerns stop me from being on the water in that area.
 
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