Scared On The Boat

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LifeAtSea

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30 Jun 2004
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I'm on my boat right now. It's dead early but I can't be bothered to go out and get pissed. I could lie in my boat forever and a day. I love the momentum. It's so relaxing. Only bugger is all the sounds outside. I'm sure Robert DeNiro is prowling upon the deck. I'm a little shit-scared and was wondering how to lock the boat from inside. All I can seem to do is pull the companionway cover thingy closed but it doth not lock. It's not so bad being unable to lock it in Japan because Japan is so safe but if I drift off tonight and end up in Ipswich, then I'd much rather sleep knowing that I was locked in.

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Put some fittings on the inside of the hatch and washboards, so that you can provide yourown security when onboard, such as a hasp and staple
3821125.GIF

or some form of bolt
3821400.GIF


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I agree with you about the motion - sooo relaxing. It's only the desire for caffiene that lets me drag myself from the V berth.

Perhaps I haven't got enough imagination - or maybe I've just been lucky, but I've never felt the need to lock myself in - even in Ipswich, but I can see your point, especially for world cruising

A few general thoughts - firstly, whatever you use MUST NOT be self locking or capable of locking itself accidentally. Imagine being in mid channel in a building sea. The VHF, lifejackets, oilies, etc are below, within easy reach, as are the engine keys. Everyone's in the cockpit when a bigger than average wave hits and the hatch slides shut and locks. This is when you realise that the hatch key is below as well...

One easy solution is a simple bolt mounted vertically on the washboard that will slide up to block the hatch. Don't put it the inside of the hatch, even horizontally (see scenario above :-( ). If you're not happy with the strength of screws to fix it, use coach bolts that can't be unscrewed from the outside and nylock nuts.

If they still want to get in, they will, but if they're that determined, they'll get in no matter what you do!
 
Depends which way you drift from Japan to Ipswich. If you drift round the Horn and up the Atlantic then you will probably be OK until you get here. If you go the other way, watch out for the Red Sea. Full of towel heads with Kalashnikovs.

Can I have some of whatever it is you are on? /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.
 
Hey, what is wrong with Ipswich? according to the local council Ipswich is a very quiet peaceful town, it has some of the best tourist attractions in the UK.
Believe that and you will believe anything...LOL

Joking aside and having lived in Ipswich all my life, it is a bit of a dump, but i don't think it is such an unsafe area that you need to lock yourself in, no worse then anywhere else.. IMHO.

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One of those canned air horns is excellent for attracting attention in a marina, if it doesn't scare the P*** out of an intruder first. Not much good in the middle of the ocean but very effective in populated areas. If you don't have one you may consider getting one. Should have it anyway for signalling.

Paul

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Knowing that you are a 'female of the species' I find your terminology a bit OTT. Perhaps you would be better served if you directed your invective at the prowler instead of towards us. Or at least use the odd asterisk! Or am I being oldfashioned?

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One used to be of delicate disposition when faced with the usage of the English language, but coming into contact with and having to deal thereafter with the 'head', one quite lost the knack in avoiding such coarse words as 'pissed' and 'bugger'. Apologies but I'm no lady. I do, however, have immpecable table manners and always say thank you to my hosts.

Re: the other replies
Thank you very much for your advice. I can't scroll up to check the name at the moment but the person who can sleep within an unlocked boat and feel no sense of vulnerability, well, I admire you your trust of others and I will remember your words and try to knock my over-active imagination on the bonce. I have absolutely nothing to worry about in Japan but saying that, I still wonder! There might be a weirdo in the neighborhood and I rather stick out like a sore thumb. Especially with all the cursing I do!
I'll still probably fit a small lock but will make sure that it's one that can't cause me any distress, whether I be below or above.

Thanks again!

<hr width=100% size=1>www.virtualtourist.com/m/807ed/
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by LifeAtSea on 06/11/2004 19:44 (server time).</FONT></P>
 
We all have to deal with the heads on our boats, yet somehow we manage not to be completely uncouth. If my opinion makes me oldfashioned - HOW HAPPY I AM! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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You're basement essex scum? Doesn't show atall! Honest!!
But seriously, I never lock the boat when aboard and I am of the very scaredy cat school of person! I can understand your mild concern though, being a lassie. But the advice about ensuring you cant be locked out or in accidently, is sound advice. IMHO


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I'm not really from Essex, just thought I'd give Ole Misery Guts something to feel even happier about.
I haven't mentioned 'the briefcase' yet but upon the quayside where I keep my bike, there is a briefcase. I saw it yesterday and was dying to bust it open. Last night, under cover of dark, I went back to the briefcase and shook it and then tried to open it. Alas, it was locked. This morning, the case was still there but it's locks had been forced open and all the millions of yen that most likely was stuffed within it, was missing.
Sigh! That was my potential lottery win!
So, if there are folks around this desolate place at night who are willing to mess with dodgy looking briefcases, then I think that I will invest in some sort of jamming device for when I'm in the cabin.
Great advice from all, as usual.
It's a beautiful day - almost like summer. Can't believe it's November. I'm lying on deck with a chilled port! Can't be beat! Will hose down JD next weekend! Tee hee!

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I must admit to never chilling my vintage port! But different strokes etc! Yes if you are really worried and not winding us up again! then I think a wee catch on the washboards is a good idea!
Never took you for a chicken! you should have grabbed the briefcase and hid it for later!! You just would never make a good thief! Bye, have fun!

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Fastnet 79 Report...

...recommended that hatches and washboards should be capable of being secured in place from inside the boat, so that in the event of a roll when the crew has battened itself down below, they don't open up/fall out, and allow the boat to flood.

As a result several suitable locking devices hit the market shortly thereafter. One or more must still be around

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
 
Best advice I can offer is FACE your fear. What is it? Only when you have done that, and well, can you possibly know what you need - to sleep easy, locks or no locks! Maybe you would feel alot better if you felt sure you could punch an intruders' face in? A kick in the sweet peas usuallly works but then again, if I was attacked by a woman, I would be scared too. Seriously though, it is sad to say that fear is doing more harm to most people these days than any other damn thing on the planet which is actually real and happening. You could also try a night light and intruder alarm outside on deck, they are small nowadays and cheap, but very noisy.
Mike

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I think a little night light will do the trick. And a stiff drink to knock myself out. Actually, I felt no fear at all on the Friday night because I was absolutely sozzled with sake. And now that I've discovered that there is a flat bridge instead of a really f%$#$#@$ huge and steep red bridge, that I have been struggling up for the past 3 weeks, I will more often than not, go out on the piss on both Friday and Saturday nights. This will quite bury this totally uncalled for slight fear of being alone in such a desolate and industrial area. One must also remember that this is Japan and crime is the lowest that you'll find anywhere on the planet, despite discarded briefcases littering the landscape!

Thanks to all of you for the advice!

<hr width=100% size=1>www.virtualtourist.com/m/807ed/
 
I'm a new guy to this forum, I usually read and don't post but I can't believe what I'm seeing here. There sure is a wierdo in the neighbourhood and it's LifeatSea. This lady, if it is a lady must be winding you guys up. Read her posts - she aint scared of anything! She's got more balls than a prize steer an she's got you twisted around her little finger. Wise up guys - I've got a 4 year old who plays these kind of games - but she will grow out of it!

<hr width=100% size=1>Good to go!
 
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