Locked or unlocked

[byron]

For years I have never locked my boat. On the VERY few occasions I have had nocturnal visitors they have entered, swiped the odd bottle and legged it. Other I know have had doors smashed in, patio doors wrenched off and all sorts of other damage.
I went down the other day to stick my licence on and it was quite obvious to me that some one had been aboard, cupboards opened, stuff moved etc. However no damage done and nothing taken. Not that there's much to take on a boat like mine.

So! How do others feel? Do they faithfully lock up or do they take the view that the Snots are going to get in anyway so why suffer a whole load of damage.

Yes! I am aware of the insurance stance on leaving a craft unlocked.

 

[Gavi]

Always locked. Thoiugh I must admit that yesterday we took the boat out and left the house open! We had visitors too... of the Jehova type thankfully (never thought I would say that).

 

[teddington_lock]

Did they pop in and leave you a 'Watchtower' on the coffee table ?

 

[Gavi]

Did they pop in and leave you a 'Watchtower' on the coffee table ?

Yes, they did leave some sort of kindling!

 

[Steve Clayton]

Get a battery operated PIR alarm. It's very loud in the confines of a boat. The would-be-thieves will leave a damn site quicker than when they arrived.

 

[oldgit]

So! How do others feel? Do they faithfully lock up or do they take the view that the Snots are going to get in anyway so why suffer a whole load of damage.


Must confess after we got turned over,(moored in the middle of the Medway) the only damage was to the patio door/glass they had smashed in order to gain entry.Bit of a mess inside,cupboards opened,draws inspected and most curious of all the floor hatches lifted to get in bilges,did think about leaving the boat doors open.About a week or so earlier the little darlings had merely cast the boat adrift.

 

[rosssavage]

Always locked and alarmed. Siren is inside the boat, so it's VERY loud in a confined space - won't stop em breaking in, but should get rid of them pretty quick! Also chain and padlock between boat and shore when we're out and about, so it should Stijl be there when we get back....

None of this will stop a real thief, but it should be enough for your casual opportunist to think twice and move onto the next unsecured boat. Sorry if that happens to be yours

 

[Vern]

Having come from the world of camping (tents), it is a worry to read of break-ins and worse, letting boats loose

Is either case a major risk or just one that we should all be aware of?

 

[gunman]

I do a sort of compromise, I do lock my hatch but with a smallish padlock. it will stop the opportunist but not do too much damage if it was forced.

I think it should satisfy the insurance, they basically said if someone has to damage something (lock included) to enter the boat they would cover it.

Come to think of it, I don't lock the boat to the mooring chain.

 

[Fantasie 19]

We had some problems at the beginning of the year at our club - break in, trashed the inside and then set it adrift - so this year I've taken to locking the boat to the anchor chain - I also have a small'ish padlock on the hatch - nothing that would stop a determined thief, but then my boat is small and tatty enough not to attract attention (I hope), and even if they got in there's nothing really worth nicking..

 

[gunman]

and even if they got in there's nothing really worth nicking..

Our Static Caravan got broken into a few years back, like you, there was nothing worth nicking. They took a brush, a few paltes etc but the value of what they damaged getting in far outweighed the value of what was stolen.

This lends itself to the school of thinking 'let them in to see thee's nothing to pinch!' but that's not realy an option with insurance either.

 

[rafiki_]

I think the key issue here is your insurance policy. It might state something along the lines that the boat must be secured or something. if unlocked, this gives them the opportunity to walk away.