Boat security in the Caribbean

[Tin Tin]

We are planning to revisit the Caribbean next year.
What's the current situation when it comes to 'boat security'.
I've been browsing noonsite.com and everywhere there are warnings about theft (both aboard and dinghy/outboard).

As we are on a budget (retired), we were planning to anchor most of the time whilst there.

Are there areas/islands to avoid?
What additional security precautions do you take? If any.

 

[macd]

It might be helpful, Tin Tin, if you could clarify which part of the Caribbean you're contemplating visiting, since it is quite large (about the size of India). The Lesser Antilles, where most boats from Europe seem to visit, is but a tiny fraction.

 

[Monique]

Noonsite.com.... select country or island and you'll get all info you need.

GL

 

[Heckler]

Noonsite.com.... select country or island and you'll get all info you need.

GL

Its been interesting watching Youtube vlogs in a big way that the safety of the bloggers and their equipement doesnt seem to be an issue in the Carib.
Likewise the stories about checking in and out, seems again not to be an issue
Stu

 

[Roberto]

Have a look here as well, for what it s worth


https://safetyandsecuritynet.org

 

[john_q]

Noonsite.com.... select country or island and you'll get all info you need.

GL

You can also check https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/ for the latest news

 

[TQA]

I am retired and have been wandering around the Caribbean the last 8 years. I was out here for a few years in the 90s. As far as safety is concerned it feels much the same except for the risk of an armed boarding which although rare seems to be on the increase.

Lift your dinghy at night and lock it if ashore at night. I don't bother locking mine during the day but lots do. I think dinghy and OB theft is down a little but the figures were skewed by a very active thieves in Trinidad and St Marten both currently inactive.

Venezuela is a no go zone. I no longer stop at any anchorages North of Young Island Cut in St Vincent. Vieux Fort and Soufriere are also off my list for a the noo.

But I cruise elsewhere anchoring out and feel safe although I do lift my dink. at night.

 

[Roberto]

I've been browsing noonsite.com and everywhere there are warnings about theft (both aboard and dinghy/outboard).

y.

Having some direct experience about a few places which noonsite classifies under "piracy warning", my impression is people having written some reports were trying to catch up with a missed adventurous life after having been denied some victim role in Pirates of the Caribbean; being "attacked by pirates" sometimes warms some dull days.
Also, quite a few seem to find normal:having a stroll in suburban whereabouts with the latest Canon hung around their neck, gold necklaces, etc etc, oh how many we met, then it's: Oh Gawd they stole my camera! Our dinghy was stolen it only had a brand new 15hp Yamaha Enduro engine..
Despite having spent months and months in "piracy prone" areas, with a quality of human contact which left me/us in tears when leaving, the one time I was "attacked" was in civilised france, inside a marina.

Anyway, safety/security considerations are very personal, I suggest to take advice from people having an approach similar to yours

 

[RupertW]

I will always be wary now after a colleague and her husband were boarded at anchor off St Lucia and her husband killed but it hasn't changed our Caribbean plans as I don't know what I could have done differently except maybe sticking to busy chartering anchorages only and where would be the fun in that.

 

[sailaboutvic]

We never been to the cribs but we have had friends and know people who have , email we had have been an eye opener at times , in one case , each boat takening turns at watch and calling the group if they see any on going .
On the other hand they seen to enjoyed their time there and would return .

We have to be a bit careful what we read on the net I not saying not to take note , for every one or two bad reports there be hundred good ones which are not reported .

Re dinghy and out board thief , I know of four cases in the last two years in Europe, one in Greece .
The days are well and truly over when you can go out and leave the boat open or leave the dinghy unlocked .

 

[Tin Tin]

Noonsite.com.... select country or island and you'll get all info you need.

GL

If you re-read my OP you will see that I have been doing exactly that.
It's what I read on noonsite that led me to ask the question.
There are security warnings for pretty much every island.

 

[Tin Tin]

It might be helpful, Tin Tin, if you could clarify which part of the Caribbean you're contemplating visiting, since it is quite large (about the size of India). The Lesser Antilles, where most boats from Europe seem to visit, is but a tiny fraction.

The plan: cross from the Canaries to St Lucia (the ARC route - but not as part of the ARC).
And work our way up from there (to St Maarten - or the BVI if time allows) before returning.

 

[Tin Tin]

Have a look here as well, for what it s worth


https://safetyandsecuritynet.org

Thanks for the link - now bookmarked.

 

[tcm]

The plan: cross from the Canaries to St Lucia (the ARC route - but not as part of the ARC).
And work our way up from there (to St Maarten - or the BVI if time allows) before returning.

It’s generally fine ... but stay in safe areas at night,really. Lock the dinghy every time cos in busy anchorages cos even non-thieves will un-tie your dink and oops no, it’s not ours... and lift it every night. Lock your outboard on the dinghy too. I kept some cash in the freezer to “confess” to if boarded. Others ensure they have a fake wallet to hand over, or no wallet and $20. You are wearing clothes worth more than most earn in a month, you are a billionaire if you have a boat, in their eyes. A stolen dinghy with outboard will pay off their drug dealer,and so on.

 

[RupertW]

Re dinghy and out board thief , I know of four cases in the last two years in Europe, one in Greece .
The days are well and truly over when you can go out and leave the boat open or leave the dinghy unlocked .

We've been lucky perhaps as we usually leave the boat wide open if we are in a marina and just off for lunch and don't lock the dinghy to quays - just tie it. I've seen very very few dinghys locked to quays.

 

[rickym]

We have been out here in the Caribbean for 5 years now. Yes, there is crime and we know personally of a couple who were boarded at anchor and violently robbed. (Tobago keys SVG)
We also have friends who's boat was boarded and robbed at anchor while they were ashore (Mayreau SVG) and another couple who were attacked at a dinghy dock late at night 0200 when returning to their boat (Bequia SVG).

Generally if you are sensible and take reasonable precautions you should be OK.

As people have mentioned there are a few dodgy places but there are villains everywhere, just make yourself less of a target as you do at home.

Over the years we have got to know many of the wonderful residents of these beautiful islands and get the 'lowdown' on what is going on.

Love the eastern Caribbean mon!

 

[sailaboutvic]

We've been lucky perhaps as we usually leave the boat wide open if we are in a marina and just off for lunch and don't lock the dinghy to quays - just tie it. I've seen very very few dinghys locked to quays.

I'm not the one to. Talk , I can be the world worst at locking up the boats , luckily my better half is a lot better , she forever tell me off ,
One place for dinghy is Siracusa, we left unlocked dinghy there for year with no problem ,
One night our friends got stolen and a week late another one , both where found minus engine .
But yes we do need to take more more care in this day and age .

 

[RupertW]

I'm not the one to. Talk , I can be the world worst at locking up the boats , luckily my better half is a lot better , she forever tell me off ,
One place for dinghy is Siracusa, we left unlocked dinghy there for year with no problem ,
One night our friends got stolen and a week late another one , both where found minus engine .
But yes we do need to take more more care in this day and age .

We lock the engine to the dinghy but of course it can get sawn off if the dinghy is taken. Dont kniw whether having a Torqueedo makes it more or less risky. Our Med sailing has been mostly Italy, Croatia and Greece and no real problems - we do lock the main boat if in town quays or leaving it anchored.

 

[TQA]

A Torqueedo will rank just above a Seagull 40 featherweight.

4 strokes below 40hp are not rated as desireable.

A Yamaha 8 hp upwards is top of the list.

There are some local anomalies, my 28 year old Johnson was stolen by someone in St Marten who specialised in parting out old Johnsons and Evinrudes. When the police raided his house it had upwards of 30 dismantled obs. He passed up a brand new unsecured Honda 40 4st and cut my security line to steal my old Johnson.

 

[jdc]

...You are wearing clothes worth more than most earn in a month, you are a billionaire if you have a boat, in their eyes.

I have only been to the Caribbean for one season so am much less experienced than tcm but my impression is that the poorer the community as a whole the more honest they are. In particular we spent a couple of weeks in Dominica, where pretty much nobody is rich in any way, and felt safer and more welcomed there than we did on richer islands. Unscientific, but actually St Lucia, Martinique and St Martin - all wealthy - felt much edgier than did Grenada, Dominica or Montserrat. The same was felt in other poor places like Cape Verde, Brazil and Suriname. So my conclusion is that dangerous is where there is an underclass surrounded by obscene wealth, safe is where everyone is poor.