broken into

[saltyanchor]

My boat has been broken into via the fore hatch

Now, the boat is 1970's standard and only a fibre glass hatch etc - not a nice strong alloy one.

The boat is one the East coast near Mersea, but on a very cheap and lonely, isolated swinging mooring.

Not a lot if anything was taken. I now realise this is the second time it has happened - the first time I assumed I had not secured the hatch properly.

Kids breaking in? Or is my boat such a mess (Yes) that no one wanted to venture too far in - there was some valuable stuff in there - brand new bolt croppers on seat left untouched?

What goes on here?

Anyway - hatch is now chained, bolted and braced down - I've got to now secure the main opening more securely or else they will be damaging their way in via that entrance next - b**t**ds.

I had been on holiday and boat had been left for a month.

I do not use the boat enough and am now thinking of selling up and going back to dinghy sailing until all the family has grown up and is old enough to come with me, and I am richer and can keep a boat in a less isolated spot.

ANY COMMENTS / ADVICE MOST WELCOME


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[snowleopard]

if your valuables weren't taken it's unlikely to be someone stocking up for a boat jumble. 2 alternatives come to mind- kids having fun or a couple looking for privacy. in either case more effective locks will put them off.

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[celandine]

I bought a very effective boat alarm from Solartrack Dagenham Tel: 020 8595 1218. I use this in conjunction with a flashing 12v l.e.d (a few pence from Maplin)
The sounders are Y-junctioned into the ventilation ducting from the engine space and are thus invisible. It makes a lovely 'orrible noise if triggered.

Mick

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<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.marinersboatyard.co.uk>Boatyard</A>

 

[William_H]

Some thing you must do is lock up outside lockers especially if you keep tools which may be used to break in. For wash boards and hatches Aluminimu is far stronger than plywood which can be kicked in. I feel that more robust hatches are better than an alarm however in the end it is a matter of luck. Stick with the boat and mooring its a lot cheaper than changing. regards will

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[saltyanchor]

Thanks all - nm.

nm.

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[alan43]

It's a problem not confined to the UK. My Top Hat (1970, 25ft), on a swing mooring in Broken Bay NSW, was also entered through the fore hatch, and everything of value taken.
I didn't realise how much I had spent in the gradual accumulation of all those useful bits & pieces until I had to gather prices for the insurance claim. It's worth having an up-to-date inventory at hand when you renew your insurance to ensure that your cover keeps in step with the accumulation of equipment.
My experience with insurers is much happier than Nigel's. I just submitted the list & costings to Club Marine, and had the cheque within a week for the whole amount apart from the agreed excess and a very modest reduction for 'wear & tear'.

It's not necessarily true that moving to a less out-of-the-way mooring location would give immunity from such intrusions. A colleague of mine has a friend with a boat moored in one of the bays of Sydney Harbour, fairly close to the shore alongside a popular public park. The owner recently lost his keys, and the two of them spent the best part of a Saturday morning with files & hacksaws getting through the padlock securing the companionway. They were in full view of numerous people, both from the shore and from passing boats, but were not challenged at any time.
One would have hoped that someone might have been curious about a couple of guys trying to force entry to a boat.

My view on security is that you want to make it too hard for the opportunist, but not so secure that a determined villain would wreak severe damage to gain entry.

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[Stemar]

"you want to make it too hard for the opportunist, but not so secure that a determined villain would wreak severe damage to gain entry"

My sentiments exactly. I think my most effective security device is my cockpit cover. It's a royal pain to fit and remove, but I think (hope) that in a crowded mooring, opportunists are more likely to go to the next boat rather than spending the time to hack it to pieces before they can start breaking into an old'un.

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[saltyanchor]

points noted - ta

BRING BACK A DECENT PENAL SYSTEM I SAY.

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[Guest]

Alan43 is right .....

Some years ago one of the mags posted a photo with the caption ... "Do you know this man ?" The photo was a guy stepping of a boat in a marina carrying the tender outboard on his shoulder. In the photo were various people sitting in cockpits nearby ......

There is no guarantee of security anywhere ...... same with cars / houses etc. Who reacts to alrams nowadays when they sound - except possibly to remark asomething to effect - shut that row up !!!


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[Guest]

Now we\'re talking !!! nm

*

<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[Rabbie]

I read in todays Portsmouth News that a gang of toe-rags were in the process of sailing off a vessel that did not belong to them from a local mooring recently. Luckily, they were hailed by an owner on an adjoining boat, after which they apparently 'abandoned ship' and took off across the mud - leaving the boat to drift. Fortunately, they were soon apprehended by the local constabulary. I would like to think that the punishment would fit the crime ...... but!. (Anybody know more about this story?)

<hr width=100% size=1>A day not spent on my boat is a day in my life wasted.

 

[bob_tyler]

Bring back hanging! I really mean it, this is no bulshit. Too much of today's PC is due to the Human Rights Crap. Cancel the Human Rights Act or whatever the useless EC act is called.

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[Guest]

In the days of ....

if you as young lad was caught by local plod doing something you shouldn't - he clipped yer ear or a sharo rap with his cape ..... you certainly thought twice about doing it again.

Today - where is respect and discipline ? I have 2 really great boys and I am proud of both. BUt when they were younger and at school..... particularly one - he came home after some do-gooder social worker had held a class ------ Dad you're not allowed to shout or hit me .... if you do - I can report you to the police ..... Now don't get wrong idea - I was not a violent or physical person so took this really badly. I always reagrded myself as fair and decent and only resorted an occasional tap when really necessary. My answer was that next time I would also have car ready to BOTH go to police and I would own up to it without delay ...... I also offered to meet this person at the school to ask if she had children etc. and any realexperience of the real world.

My parents were strict - BUT I had greatest respect and love for them. Pity that this seems to be out of fashion.


<hr width=100% size=1>Nigel ... and of course Yahoo groups :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/

 

[Memphis_Chung]

A heartwarming story for you all: My friend's tender was stolen from Emsworth the other day and used on a "crime spree" - it was taken around many other boats and loaded with swag. Unfortunately for the moron's involved, they hadnt checked their tides and they got stuck on some mud and had to be rescued by the coast guard!

Cosmic justice.

<hr width=100% size=1>Quit the job, sell the house, sell the kids, sell your wife, go sailing.......

 

[bob_tyler]

And what happened to the tea leaves? A little slap on the wrist (metaphorically of course, a real slap would be assault), don't be naughty, go home.

Bring back the Cat-of-Nine Tails or how about the Arabic chop off the hand (without an anaesthetic of course)

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[richardandtracy]

There is one further deterrent:

Severe rust streaking and a general air of delapidation, this can be camoflage, painted on to look right at 50 yards. No self respecting theif will go for a boat that looks as if the owner holds his trousers up with binder-twine - especially if there is a costlier looking boat nearby.

Regards

Richard.


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[aitchw]

Problem is no thief is self respecting and even less respectful of others. There is no solution to this one. It is just a matter of luck. What makes it worse are external signs of goodies on board. It can't be helpful to have VHF aerials, radar and wind gennies all visible and likely to attract attention.

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