Deterring thieves

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boatsRus

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A friend has had his boat broken into 4 times in the last couple of years. The boat is a centre cockpit forty footer on a fore and aft mid-stream mooring. The items taken on each occasion don't amount to much, but it all adds up.

He would welcome suggestions for how best to deter these thieves. They have broken in through the companionway, under cover of the cockpit canopy, and always in the dark. so he is looking for something to discourage the thieves from getting that far. Audible or visual alarms may not work, because the boat is not within earshot of any houses, but any other suggestions would be appreciated. What do the experts do?
 
I kept my boats on a swinging mooring just offshore for about 15 years. Several boats adjacent were entered by various means over the years but never mine. I think you have to be prepared to show these water-rats that you mean business. I had a bar of S/Steel 1/8"thick x 3"wide x 15" long with slots for eyes to take S/Steel padlocks with close hasps to stop bolt-croppering. Done properly, it needn't spoil the looks of your washboards etc too much, but better that than finding them smashed by the rats. I'm sure one look sent them elsewhere.
 
Deterring is going to be hard, if they know nobody's watching or listening.

Some sort of alarm like this one might help?
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After a spate of breakins on boats in the river I used to moor in I made a bed of nails out of thin plywood with sharp nails driven through it. This was placed under a bit of carpet at the foot of the companion step.It would have easilly penetrated trainers.

I binned the idea as it was more likely to get me than anyone else and if I did catch a thief they would probably torch the boat in revenge.

Even in a remote spot a loud alarm and strobe light is bound to worry them Get some stickers made up that say the alarm system automatically notifies the police.

Have some old chain handy to weigh down the bodies should you ever catch the scrotes /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
There may be some value in adopting what the white van men do - a sign saying all items of value have been removed from this vessel - placed prominently over the hatch.

Then in addition, a strobe light fixed beyond reach up the mast, with a simple connector at the hatch to start it. I doubt any intruder wants to work away on a boat with a strobe advertising his presence to all and sundry.

Finally, although I have always moored in a marina or similar, I take the view that a smashed cockpit and hatchway is going to cost me/hurt me a lot more than the loss of a few items that will be pinched for the sunday morning boot market. Some things, with great reluctance, have to be accepted to avoid the greater loss.

Good luck!

PWG
 
This may not be useful to you, but when I fitted a cockpit 12v outlet, I added an led to remind me if the circuit was on. I had the brainwave to make it a flashing red one, so now when I am at anchor at night, from a distance the little red wink looks like a car alarm has been fitted.
 
Brand all items of value with a soldering iron & advertise what you have done with a sign or take them off the boat & leave the companion way hatch unlocked so no damage.

An alternative is to Install a strongbox ( small gun box/cabinet ) & keep all the valuables in there, needs to be secured though so be mindfull of damge which could be caused if someone tried to forcefully remove it!

Dont underestimate the value of a loud alarm or flashing light, I doubt if many would stay around for long as thier nerve would be tested & most are probably opertunist thefts by petty thieves.

If however you do suffer a theft then offer a reward on EBay for information on your items stolen, you might even tempt the thief to get intouch hoping for easy money on unsalable marked (postcode etc) goods.
 
Best form of defence is attack - read that somewhere! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I know what it is like when the scumbags break into your boat, happened to me a year ago.This is an area where I dont reckon sharia law goes far enough.
 
Brilliant - I have a 12v socket on the instrument panel just above the companionway and with an ALARM sticker this will do a job. Where did you get the flashing red LED? Ta.
 
After my boat was broken into (new door £900)it's on an outside mooring, I fitted some solar powered lights that come on when its dark - it looks like someone is on board. So far so good, 3 years now with no trouble.
 
A few lengths of mackerel feather hooks strung about both in the cockpit and companionway . Just hung them up to dry them m'lud /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

A good easy and cheap alarm is a personal attack alarm . The type women keep in their handbag . Simple to attach a thread to the pull pin and the sliding hatch .
 
If they are using the cover of the canopy then remove the cover. Drop the cockpit canopy and the leave the area more exposed. If you want to protect the instruments or hatchway from rain then stretch a tarpaulin or canvas cover across the area. That way they have to remove the cover and then get to work on the hatch whilst in full view. It also has the benefit of protecting the hood and hence extending its life.
 
I had my boat broken into 4 weeks ago. Fitting better padlocks meant they caused more damage getting in. Infact the padlocks were intact. Washboards and runners smashed. I wonder to what extremes they would go to get in.

I like the Solar lights idea. I am also fitting a number of ear piercing devices and a strobe.

The remote alarm looks good but unfortunatley I don't have that amount of cash available thats why I'm on a swinging mooring and not in a marina. Plus I do actually like the peace and tranquility of my swinging mooring (Most of the time).

Also worth fitting an engine disabler or taking critical part home with you as after they'd cleared my boat they stole the westerly next to me.
 
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