Stolen boats alert

[angelaquayle]

A note received from Surrey Police just now:

We are being targeted at the moment by a group of people who are stealing small boats and outboards in the night.
They have cut through chains to release boats which they appear to be hiding in backstreams to pick up later.

Please ensure your boats are chained (if nothing else it slows them down) and please record your boats Hull Identification Number (HIN) and outboard engine serial number in a separate place.

If you see anything suspicious please contact the Police 999 if they are present or 0845 1252222 to report suspicious activity.

We are currently looking for a white Sniper 10' Dinghy with T/T HOOP DE LEVEN on it.
A silver 15hp Honda outboard serial number either 1007820 or 1067820 model BF15LHE

Thank you
Jim Halstead
River Thames Officer
01276 454900

 

[Captain Coochie]

Do you think chaining up a boat is a good idea ? Ok it may stop it getting stolen but also stops normal boaters helping out if the spot a problem .
That was a serious question not aiming to pick holes in what you have said . Thanks for the warning /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[chuckaduck]

what we do is to disable the engine by reversing the coil leads we also use a couple of locks but the worry is always there having said that our binnie is now out of the water I will post that story later !

 

[Richard Shead]

For me the only way to secure a small boat / tender it is to chain it up I am afraid.

Gone are the days you could leave it a Kingston for a couple of hours to get your shopping...

 

[angelaquayle]

I think so - how would it stop boaters helping out if there's a problem, I don't understand what you mean? (sorry if this is dim?)

 

[Captain Coochie]

Ropes can be adjusted if river levels change chains cant . I know last year that other boaters adjusted my ropes when i left Cuchilo for a week because the river was flowing to fast to put her back on her mooring . Fair point chaining a dingy up and leaving it swinging but anything bigger ....
Saying that i noticed a NB at Sunbury has chained him self quite tight to a mooring ring , i was always told never to chain a boat up /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Brayman]

More and more people chain their boats just for an overnight mooring because of the number of mindless idiots about who think it's funny to send a boat floating off down the river.

Times have changed - unfortunately!

 

[Captain Coochie]

True , i dont suppose there is a lot we can do . Get your boat nicked or cast adrift by mindless idiots if you dont chain it up or get your cleats ripped out by the other mindless idiots going to fast if you do chain it up /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[No Regrets]

How about a chain with one of those springy straps?

Best of both worlds perhaps...

 

[rr_123]

... or take a chain to the perpetrators? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[byron]

I receive automatic notification about any boat stolen and reported to www.stolenboats.org.uk/ it never ceases to amaze me how many are stolen every day. I can only assume they are trundled into a container and shipped abroad.
Whilst it is a good system unfortunately they don't advise you when a boat is recovered although this is often posted on the web details. The other failure in the system is they do not supply a photo.