How many people have alarms...

[Gsailor]

...sirens etc fitted to their boats.

Time was when my tender was on the hard by its painter only... until vandals cut all tenders loose and then I used chain.

My first cruiser was held to mooring via a strop over samson post then it too became chain and padlock.

Shame. But 20 odd years ago there was also a police presence upon the water... now they have disappeared.

 

[Momac]

I guess no place is immune from crime but some places are worse than others .
Where do you go boating please . I would like to avoid it.

 

[NormanS]

As my boat is more than 100 miles away, it would have to be quite a loud alarm. However, I live in a moderately civilised country, so not needed. ?

 

[RupertW]

One good thing about keeping the boat in the Med then the Canaries is no need for any security on main boat or tender even when left on a beach.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We lock the main hatch, lock the outboard, but no other precautions. The main worry on our mooring is being hit by dinghies racing in the river. On our previous mooring, it was visitors tenders being thoughtlessly parked. Not much actual crime, though maybe if we had a shiny new tender it might be an issue. That is purposefully second hand.

 

[Sandy]

I am hoping that the patrolling armed police and the odd Frigate a little down stream are enough of a deterrent where I moor my boat.

 

[jamie N]

I'm in a marina, but do leave the boat 'open' to encourage airflow.

 

[capnsensible]

One good thing about keeping the boat in the Med then the Canaries is no need for any security on main boat or tender even when left on a beach.

Be a bit careful in the Windies though.

 

[RupertW]

Be a bit careful in the Windies though.

I’m very conscious of that - we are getting new locks fitted and just bought a length of chain for the dinghy.

 

[Refueler]

Langstone Harbour ..... kids had a great day dropping large rocks onto the upturned dinghys - smashing holes in them.

We called Police when we found our dinghy's unusable ... Police said they had very good idea who but not been seen to do it could not be questioned / approached.

Langstone Harbour ... mobo on drying mooring had his 70hp O/bd stolen of back of his boat .... so he put back the old 50hp with metal strips / locking bars and hand painted the cowl etc. That went as well - but this time - the transom was chainsawed out of the boat ...

Yachting World many years ago had a photo in a small article ... showed a guy carrying a dinghy outboard along a pontoon. Caption read :

Do you know this person ?

 

[Daydream believer]

''

 

[geem]

I’m very conscious of that - we are getting new locks fitted and just bought a length of chain for the dinghy.

Dinghy theft in Windies is the biggest issue. Mark the outboard with something that isn't removable. We engraved the boat name on the driveleg. Use a good engine lock, Not a padlock. Secure with chain. Theft from yachts is rare unless you are leaving it on a mooring unattended for weeks. Theft from other cruisers is more likely in most places rather than locals

 

[Paulfireblade]

I am in a Marina manned 24 hours but no security gates on pontoons, a couple of chart plotters have been stolen in the last year from wheel houses with relatively easy access (one I believe may not have been locked.) I have fitted an alarm which should go off if any of the hatch's or binnacle cover are disturbed with a solar powered siren well up the mast.

 

[LiftyK]

Do I have an alarm with siren fitted to my current boat? Such a disclosure doesn’t seem wise . However, I can say that I once had a break-in and items were stolen. Following that I fitted a pretty decent alarm to my boat. It had hatch sensors, movement sensors, a security loop for my dinghy and a bilge water sensor. Then it stopped working. Then I learned that the manufacturer had gone out of business.

My advice is to buy an alarm from a company you know will still be there to support you in the years to come. Alternatively, avoid alarms.

 

[Gsailor]

Do I have an alarm with siren fitted to my current boat? Such a disclosure doesn’t seem wise . However, I can say that I once had a break-in and items were stolen. Following that I fitted a pretty decent alarm to my boat. It had hatch sensors, movement sensors, a security loop for my dinghy and a bilge water sensor. Then it stopped working. Then I learned that the manufacturer had gone out of business.

My advice is to buy an alarm from a company you know will still be there to support you in the years to come. Alternatively, avoid alarms.

Good point, well presented.

A car alarm from a reputable firm?

With a blue strobe up high? Or orange strobe as Fisherman uses to prevent being run down as a last ditch attempt.

A siren in an enclosed space can be quite a deterrent; it can hurt your poor lugholes.

 

[jamie N]

Pity it does not work round corners.

Langstone Harbour ..... kids had a great day dropping large rocks onto the upturned dinghys - smashing holes in them.

We called Police when we found our dinghy's unusable ... Police said they had very good idea who but not been seen to do it could not be questioned / approached.

Langstone Harbour ... mobo on drying mooring had his 70hp O/bd stolen of back of his boat .... so he put back the old 50hp with metal strips / locking bars and hand painted the cowl etc. That went as well - but this time - the transom was chainsawed out of the boat ...

Yachting World many years ago had a photo in a small article ... showed a guy carrying a dinghy outboard along a pontoon. Caption read :

Do you know this person ?

As a born Hayling Islander, it wisnae me!

 

[DanTribe]

I have a hazy memory of a Yachting Monthly comparison test of alarms. They employed a reformed burglar to try to overcome them. He asked "by any means?"
"Yes"
On a very expensive alarm, he broke the lock and opened the hatch, the alarm went off and he stuck his screwdriver through it in one second.

 

[Refueler]

We all have those brain fade moments ....

My Snapdragon was broken into .... the forehatch had a 'habit' that if shaken - the draw-bolt could free and then hatch opened. Because of that - I used to lock the internal door to main cabin.
Whoever broke in ... got in via the forehatch, kicked through the cabin door - breaking the frame from the GRP.
Sail bags with sails ..... all my fishing gear ...... radio ... literally anything that could be put in the sail bags it appeared. I don't think they wanted the sails - it was just handy that the bags were much larger than the sails they contained.
This was when alongside bank at small private Farlington Yard .... Langstone - opposite the Incinerator complex.

I fixed door as luckily the frame had parted cleanly and could be resin'd back in place. The forehatch was then sorted ..

Later I decided to then fit an alarm ..... and this is where I had a brain fade ... I was in a rush to get done and then to airport to fly out on assignment. So I quickly mounted the alarm .... it was battery powered but could take 12v ..... but had no plugin for external power ... so I put + / - leads into the battery part ... and forgot to insulate the battery from the terminals - battery to hold the leads in place .....
Got home ... rec'd call saying that there was a delay and I could have a few more days before travel. Next day - I went back to the boat and found the alarm 'fried' !! If I had just insulated the battery from the terminals as I meant to !!

Just telling a story .....

 

[Gsailor]

Well it appears alarms are not considered necessary my many.

Thank goodness I am not a thief looking for boat bits.

 

[LadyInBed]

Alarm fitted - Yes. Deterred a break-in, but not before the cockpit cover was sliced up and some damage done to the door. I've now fitted a pressure mat sensor.