securing a boat abroad,

[Nostrodamus]

I know there are quiet a few live aboards on here that will probably leave their boats to go back to the UK for Christmas and there are those whose boats are based abroad.
Now don't laugh because actually I think it is a pretty good idea but a boat came in and before they left for the airport they hung towels on their guardrails to make it look like someone was living aboard. The best bit was that it was a German boat with the towels out.
Do you do anything to help protect your boat or just lock it and leave?

 

[Koeketiene]

Do you do anything to help protect your boat or just lock it and leave?

How is that any different than when you keep your boat in Britain?
Some people in the UK I know live hundreds of miles away from their boat and are lucky if they get to spend some time aboard once a month.

 

[Nostrodamus]

How is that any different than when you keep your boat in Britain?
Some people in the UK I know live hundreds of miles away from their boat and are lucky if they get to spend some time aboard once a month.

As a liveaboard abroad you do not live hundreds of miles away as your boat is your home and may have a lot more possession on than one you only visit occasionally. Most of these cannot be taken in hand luggage so are left aboard.
You may, like us be wintering in a new marina each year where you don't know others who will watch your boat and it will be a marina probably far less secure than those in the UK.

 

[rallyveteran]

You may, like us be wintering in a new marina each year where you don't know others who will watch your boat and it will be a marina probably far less secure than those in the UK.

Sounds like you didn't choose your wintering spot very carefully.

Security has always been high up my list of criteria, and I have felt (and been) safer abroad than in the UK. The worst theft we have ever experienced was when GBP2000 of equipment was stolen (to order) from our boat ashore in a Hamble marina which had CCTV and a 24 hour security guard. The police suspected an inside job!

 

[Mistroma]

OTT Approach

I always believe in a layered approach to security (same as IT systems).

1) There's only one rather long approach road and seaward side has pretty good security due to the adjacent car park full of new cars being exported. Police launch was tied up in marina overnight 2-3 nights when I visited.

2) The marina is also in a dock guarded by port police with cameras (including the approach road).

3) My boat is out of the water and sitting in a closed yard next to CCTV and about 3m from the door where the marineros and night watchmen hang out.

4) Good lighting all around the yard at night

5) Anything big and expensive is padlocked in place and I made it very awkward to unlock anything (need to move things, crawl into spaces and reach up to unlock). Even using bolt cutters would be difficult (but not impossible).

6) Yacht alarm monitors the boat hatches, lockers etc. and will text me (I can call yard 24hr number or dock police).
Extract of last status update via TXT below
YACHT Sentinel
MISTROMA MMSI=235074713
BOATBATT=12.8V
VBATT=4.1V
TEMP=14
GPSFIX=YES
TIME=02:12:02 DATE=25-11-12
LAT=?? ??.???? LONG=??? ??.????W
SOG=0
COG=89

7) There are more attractive targets nearby
8) Additional measures (not saying)
9) Further measures (def. not saying)

Ok, so I'm paranoid (but they might be out to get me). I think I'm fairly happy to leave the boat where she is until next year.

 

[tcm]

Sounds like you didn't choose your wintering spot very carefully.

Security has always been high up my list of criteria, and I have felt (and been) safer abroad than in the UK. The worst theft we have ever experienced was when GBP2000 of equipment was stolen (to order) from our boat ashore in a Hamble marina which had CCTV and a 24 hour security guard. The police suspected an inside job!

Like it was your wife perhaps?

I've just had an apple mac pro, iPhone and toughbook nicked so loads more than 2k, dammit. Leaving towels - they'd steal them as well!

 

[temptress]

......
Do you do anything to help protect your boat or just lock it and leave?

It's all very subjective and the answer is it depends. One of the downsides of the lifestyle is that you maybe can not leave your boat unattended. We have in the past just left the boat locked up with doubled up lines and asked the marina to 'keep an eye' on it, only one of us travels while the other stays on-board or we just can't leave it at all until we get somewhere else.

You need to asses the situation and make your own call.

 

[wazza]

I always believe in a layered approach to security (same as IT systems).

1) There's only one rather long approach road and seaward side has pretty good security due to the adjacent car park full of new........................
...........
Further measures (def. not saying)

Ok, so I'm paranoid (but they might be out to get me). I think I'm fairly happy to leave the boat where she is until next year.

You are definitely paranoid, but with good reason... your baby seems safe enough. I certainly don't blame you for all the precautions, if you can why not..
Sounds as though George Clooney, Brad Pitt & mates would have trouble nicking anything from your boat

 

[sarabande]

what about these clever cctv systems which call you up on a private phone if there is a problem. Or even one which takes pics inside the yacht and mails them to you.

Henryf is an expert but Lenseman also has a a phone system.

 

[BrianH]

My boat lies all winter unattended and unvisited in an Italian marina I am a part-time livaboard; a softy who likes to live in a warm house during the winter months, which can be miserable in the northern Adriatic.

The present boat, and its predecessor, have been so abandoned for 32 years without any security devices on board. I have never lost a single thing in that time.

However, the following is true:
1. Northern Italy.
2. Floodlit at night.
3. Regular (one-hourly) marinero inspections during daylight.
4. Regular security guard inspection throughout the night.
5. Cockpit tent cover (from doghouse roof) securely fixed.
6. Bagged inflatable and its outboard out of sight in cockpit locker.
7. Plotter, normally mounted on doghouse chart table, stored below in locked cabin.

 

[clyst]

As a liveaboard abroad you do not live hundreds of miles away as your boat is your home and may have a lot more possession on than one you only visit occasionally. Most of these cannot be taken in hand luggage so are left aboard.
You may, like us be wintering in a new marina each year where you don't know others who will watch your boat and it will be a marina probably far less secure than those in the UK.

Most experienced liveaboards have a dedicated high value items secure store . Consider glassing in a purpose made strong box in the bilges if you have room or behind berth cushions..

 

[chinita]

I don't even bother locking mine. Mind you, like most Portuguese Marinas, Lagos is very secure. Unlike Spain; particularly those marinas close to ferries to Morocco. Near Gib.

Does the marina you are in have stores you can rent on a short term basis? Lagos does.

Have you considered wintering in Portugal? Crime rates much lower. Good breakfasts too. Lagos is good, but expensive. not as expensive as replacing all the nicked stuff though. All relative I suppose.

Enjoy UK, I am leaving on Wednesday, thank God. Portsmouth to Santander, just in time to beat the first snows.

Can't wait to get back to the security and safety of Lagos (in Portugal).

 

[maxi77]

I don't even bother locking mine. Mind you, like most Portuguese Marinas, Lagos is very secure. Unlike Spain; particularly those marinas close to ferries to Morocco. Near Gib.

Does the marina you are in have stores you can rent on a short term basis? Lagos does.

Have you considered wintering in Portugal? Crime rates much lower. Good breakfasts too. Lagos is good, but expensive. not as expensive as replacing all the nicked stuff though. All relative I suppose.

Enjoy UK, I am leaving on Wednesday, thank God. Portsmouth to Santander, just in time to beat the first snows.

Can't wait to get back to the security and safety of Lagos (in Portugal).

The trouble is poor old Nostro thinks the Algarve is like Blackpool, but I agree in general crime is low and marina security is good.

 

[capnsensible]

Interesting how there is a presumption that Spanish Marinas are not secure. Certainly has not been my experience.

I would appreciate any confirmed stories over, say, the last 5 years so I can print a warning in our Pilot Book, the Straits Sailing Handbook.

Mucho ta.

 

[chinita]

Relax, I am only winding Nostro up.

However, I do remember having a drink on a mate's boat in Almerimar when a North African chappie walked up and tried to ride away on my mate's bike which was next to the boat. He dropped the bike when an empty wine bottle hit him on the head.

 

[WF36]

I don't even bother locking mine. Mind you, like most Portuguese Marinas, Lagos is very secure. Unlike Spain; particularly those marinas close to ferries to Morocco. Near Gib.

Does the marina you are in have stores you can rent on a short term basis? Lagos does.

Have you considered wintering in Portugal? Crime rates much lower. Good breakfasts too. Lagos is good, but expensive. not as expensive as replacing all the nicked stuff though. All relative I suppose.

Enjoy UK, I am leaving on Wednesday, thank God. Portsmouth to Santander, just in time to beat the first snows.

Can't wait to get back to the security and safety of Lagos (in Portugal).

Happy days I will be down on the 31st. Cant wait.

My RIB is safely in a locked garage under apartment block - with security, no worries being away from it 45 weeks of the year.

 

[Nostrodamus]

The trouble is poor old Nostro thinks the Algarve is like Blackpool, but I agree in general crime is low and marina security is good.

The biggest crime in Lagos is the money they charge you to stay there. Real live Dick Turpins disguised as smiling women in the marina office. I think they should all wear striped t shirts and carry a bag marked "swag".
It wasn't the only problem we had there. They have gates on the marina for a reason... to keep some of the locals out.
The problem we had is in our blog here.
http://www.cygnus3.com/index.php?p=1_58

 

[GrahamM376]

I don't even bother locking mine. Mind you, like most Portuguese Marinas, Lagos is very secure. Unlike Spain; particularly those marinas close to ferries to Morocco. Near Gib.

Does the marina you are in have stores you can rent on a short term basis? Lagos does.

Have you considered wintering in Portugal? Crime rates much lower. Good breakfasts too. Lagos is good, but expensive. not as expensive as replacing all the nicked stuff though. All relative I suppose.

Enjoy UK, I am leaving on Wednesday, thank God. Portsmouth to Santander, just in time to beat the first snows.

Can't wait to get back to the security and safety of Lagos (in Portugal).

We just leave the boat locked up as usual on the mooring. Far less crime there compared to UK, particularly out of season when ****** visiting boats are rare.

Back there in 13 days

 

[chinita]

That is the worst 'F' word I have ever imagined !!

 

[tri39]

In thirty years cruising the Channel and Med, the only time the boat has been entered was in Chichester harbour! Plus I had a dinghy nicked from Emsworth marina, but then I shouldn't have been leaving it there.
In the Med since '89 I have lost nothing. I suspect Med marinas/boatyards are as safe if not safer than UK ones.