Boat security on a swing mooring..

[Searush]

It'd be jolly interesting if an amoral, utterly ruthless vigilante decided to discourage theft from boats in an area, by waiting inconspicuously on board, despatching the unauthorised visitors with a boat-hook or spear-gun, then quietly jettisoning their worthless corpses with a link or two of 1/2" chain to keep them within convenient reach of crabs' claws.

There'd be little benefit in trying to scare them, or actually duffing them up...that would make them into ruddy squawking little victims. Much better if they just disappeared forever...

Of course, I can't say I wish it would happen...that wouldn't be right...criminals have rights......but I reckon it'd be very interesting. I'd be fascinated.

So you're happy to risk a murder charge for a few quids' worth of goods then? :ambivalence:

 

[xyachtdave]

dancrane's post made me think of this.

A guy I know woke up on his mooring in the early hours after hearing strange sounds outside.

Two blokes in a tender had taken his outboard off the stern rail and were rowing away with it. He started his boat, chased and caught them and they just lobbed the engine in the river and said 'What outboard?'

How he managed to restrain himself from mowing them down with his boat I'll never know!

I've had a swinging mooring for 5 years, one attempted break in and no damage from dinghies etc. The weekend trot boat driving can be a bit.......'casual' though!

 

[Greenheart]

So you're happy to risk a murder charge for a few quids' worth of goods then? :ambivalence:

Not I. Besides, I don't have anything which attracts the buggers. But my conscience wouldn't stir at all if I learned that parasitic thieves had paid the ultimate price for their pains.

 

[NUTMEG]

Bu**er. This thread has just made me spend £19.99 with Maplins on a PIR for current boat. Paranoia?

 

[Greenheart]

Bu**er.

Butter? £20 worth of butter? What - to grease the decks? Like Joshua Slocum, but updated for health & safety - no tin-tacks, just make it really hard for the crims to get aboard?

 

[Poignard]

It'd be jolly interesting if an amoral, utterly ruthless vigilante decided to discourage theft from boats in an area, by waiting inconspicuously on board, despatching the unauthorised visitors with a boat-hook or spear-gun, then quietly jettisoning their worthless corpses with a link or two of 1/2" chain to keep them within convenient reach of crabs' claws.

There'd be little benefit in trying to scare them, or actually duffing them up...that would make them into ruddy squawking little victims. Much better if they just disappeared forever...

Of course, I can't say I wish it would happen...that wouldn't be right...criminals have rights......but I reckon it'd be very interesting. I'd be fascinated.

I'm not sure how making the thieves disappear forever is going to discourage others because the others won't know what become of the previous lot.

 

[Greenheart]

I'm not sure how making the thieves disappear forever is going to discourage others because the others won't know what became of the previous lot.

I'm pretty sure word would get around that nicking stuff isn't healthy in that area!

The idea is interesting (theoretically, I stress) because folk are often made to regret defending their property when it is threatened by determined, invasive criminals - whereas, an individual who goes proactively hunting down the thieves, would no longer be trying to do the right or reasonable thing - he'd leave morality behind and be in action-hero mode.

The difficulty would be, locating and contracting an actively vindictive, very discreet, energetic, resourceful murderer who isn't also a psychotic loony. Slight stumbling block...

 

[Rigger Mortice]

We're on a swinging mooring.
We always stow the obvious things like danbuoy and lifebelt down below. Curtains are closed to keep prying eyes at bay.
Locks on lockers and washboards. Beyond that I'm not sure there is much more you can do. We've been lucky and have never had a break-in.
I do sometimes wonder if it may be worth locking the mooring chain to the boat but how far does one take these things?

 

[wipe_out]

I'm pretty sure word would get around that nicking stuff isn't healthy in that area!

Something like this could possible be adapted to boats..

http://youtu.be/fDrzMGdYWZc

 

[Poignard]

The difficulty would be, locating and contracting an actively vindictive, very discreet, energetic, resourceful murderer who isn't also a psychotic loony. Slight stumbling block...

You would also have to be careful you didn't get into a contractual dispute with him

 

[Poignard]

I agree. Nothing of real value left on my boat. Never lock it. Anybody going to the trouble to board a boat on a mooring will be tooled up to get inside.

I think that's the best policy. When I was on a swinging mooring I reckoned it would be more costly and troublesome repairing the damage the thief caused when breaking in than replacing what he might nick.

 

[NUTMEG]

Butter? £20 worth of butter? What - to grease the decks? Like Joshua Slocum, but updated for health & safety - no tin-tacks, just make it really hard for the crims to get aboard?

GG!

 

[onesea]

'What outboard?'

How he managed to restrain himself from mowing them down with his boat I'll never know!

I think I would of had same problem. Do you think the coast guard would except the call "I have just found 2 swimmers they are acting rather aggressively". Just make sure they leave no scratches?

You might even get away with "I have just hit unmarked unlit fishing boat in the channel. The occupants but they are acting very aggressive!"

Can you imaging there conversation with police?
"He sank your boat? Why?" - "We stole his outboard?"
"He was chasing you in your boat? Why?" - "We stole his outboard?"
"So you where fishing/ boating with no lights on a dark night and you got run over? and now you are threatening him for rescuing you?"

 

[born2sail61]

with a bit of creative thinking i'm sure the following could be adapted for boat use.chap i once worked with told me of a childhood prank.smear the thumb pad of a 'suffolk' latch in doggy dirt(sh*t) and embed drawing pin in it.victim comes along in dark,attempts to open latch,pricks thumb and promptly,on reflex,jams thumb in mouth.payback?

 

[Seajet]

Wipe out,

bearing in mind the open expanses of Poole, if I was fitting an alarm I'd make sure it had a blue strobe light up the mast, not just a siren.

I agree with not making the hatch too difficult for scrotes to get in; my Fathers' boat was broken into In Chichester, and they caused a lot of damage to the perspex sliding hatch.

The good news, and I know Dan will be truly horrified, is that they apparently damaged themselves quite badly doing it as the remains were covered in blood...

 

[William_H]

Well my little boat has been on a swing mooring for 31 seasons. It is fairly close to the shore. (little tidal change) Early on I had 2 break ins. I had a plywood wash board which was either kicked in or because I had left the back locker unlocked with tools in it they used screw driver to force it open. Just annoyong little things taken. I replaced the washboards with 5mm aluminium and no problems since.
Again long ago we saw from bedroom window a flare go up. I went down to the mooring to find a police man looking out to a boat with a dinghy attached. I unlocked and launched my dinghy and rowed the (very brave) policeman out to the crime scene. One youth was apprehended and put in my dinghy. On questioning he used the term "we" a few times. I was left with this kid while policeman climbed into the boat and emerged from the front hatch with another youth collared. It seems the first being left alone in the dinghy found flares that they had already stolen and tried one out. Not very bright. They had stolen all sorts of stuff ie more thna they could carry.
On another occasion I returned to my mooring after a sail to find the dinghy gone. Gr!!! looked around and found 2 kids in it further along the river. Chased them in boat. Came up next to them with boat hook brandished. They saw me coming and jumped over board. I did take a swipe but failed to land an "accidental blow" with boat hook. I did hook the dinghy though.
For the OP the main concern with swing moorings is keeping the boat on the mooring. Multiple tethers and checking of the mooring is essential. good luck olewill

 

[wipe_out]

For the OP the main concern with swing moorings is keeping the boat on the mooring. Multiple tethers and checking of the mooring is essential. good luck olewill

Yes, that's the next bit of research I have to do and work out what is best for my boat.. Being a 26ft motor cruiser I don't think the cleats are designed for this and probably not strong enough for bad weather (Something like this http://www.boating.com/files/cache/...-design1_1a87602384d748ee74c62774c03b1dc1.jpg ).. I am thinking the D ring in the bow is probably the strongest mounting.. Alternatively I could make up a harness that would use both forward cleats and the anchor cleat at the same time..

 

[Greenheart]

...my Fathers' boat was broken into In Chichester, and they caused a lot of damage to the perspex sliding hatch.

The good news, and I know Dan will be truly horrified, is that they apparently damaged themselves quite badly doing it as the remains were covered in blood...

Appalling. The only way to put these bedevilled delinquents on the straight & narrow, is by kindness. Your father should have put out milk and cookies on the saloon table for them.

It would be amusing if the dinghy the thieves arrived in, began suddenly to take on water, or just be detached from the scene of the crime and drift away. What would they do?

Imagine if their unattended dinghy, at the end of its painter, was suddenly engulfed in flame. Think of the expression on their faces - mystification and horror at being trapped aboard a boat they've broken into, while the fire draws the attention of the authorities.

 

[wipe_out]

Appalling. The only way to put these bedevilled delinquents on the straight & narrow, is by kindness. Your father should have put out milk and cookies on the saloon table for them.

It would be amusing if the dinghy the thieves arrived in, began suddenly to take on water, or just be detached from the scene of the crime and drift away. What would they do?

Imagine if their unattended dinghy, at the end of its painter, was suddenly engulfed in flame. Think of the expression on their faces - mystification and horror at being trapped aboard a boat they've broken into, while the fire draws the attention of the authorities.

dancrane, you have quite a vivid imagination.. Well done!!

 

[Greenheart]

dancrane, you have quite a vivid imagination.. Well done!!

Too kind, sir. Really, my boat is just duct-tape and a dozen empty lemonade bottles for buoyancy. At least...that's the image I've carefully arranged to deter the unwelcome...