Stolen boats, an open letter to KH

[DavidofMersea]

About 7 or 8 years ago I was in Tunisia, and I met an Englishman that had a Prout Snowgoose catamaran, which he claimed he had bought new 5 years previously. It soon become obvious that he knew very little about this Cat., and it looked to me as if he had stolen it.

I thought about contacting the Tunisian police, but I had no evidence, and I did not think that they would be interested

About 6 months previously, I had seen a documentary on TV about a company called CC Claims - these were insurance investigators. Amoungst other things they traced stolen yachts - I decided to talk to them.

CC claims sent me details of several similar yachts that had been stolen, but CC Claims had no trace of this Snowgoose being stolen, although they thought from what I told them, that it probably had been.

Most yachts are insured, but the monetary value is not the point. We all get very attached to our boats, I think it would be a great, if we could help each other protect our boats from theives

Now to the purpose of this posting - What if YM had a stolen yacht of the month section, giving details of the yacht and a photo. With an international circulation like YM, there would be no hiding place

What do other people think?

 

[Dipper]

There is a free web site at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yachtsearch.org.uk>http://www.yachtsearch.org.uk</A> that lists stolen boats but it needs a bit more input from victims to keep it active. Three boats are currently listed.

 

[snowleopard]

great idea

many years ago my boat was stolen. a notice was placed in multhull international and shortly afterwards we received a letter from a reader with a picture of our boat in the skaggerak. the police subsequently caught the thief in sweden.

even with such a small-circulation mag we got a result, i bet ym could do even better.

 

[DavidofMersea]

The problem with that website is that there is no reason why anybody should look at it. The three stolen boats were stolen in 1989, 2001 and 2001.

 

[Magic_Sailor]

Excellent

I think it's a good idea.

Could it also apply to this forum - top right, small picture.

I know YM has a large international circulation but I wonder what the "readership" size and spread of SB is?

Magic

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://hometown.aol.co.uk/geoffwestgarth/myhomepage/travelwriting.html>Click for website!</A>

 

[Guest]

Even better if there was a REWARD for a found boat (perhaps something could be agreed with the insurance company), I for one would keep my eyes peeled, and I am sure it could become an interesting and financialy beneficial hobby for others. There could however be the odd scuffle for the reward /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Dominic]

Re: Stolen- A White Plastic Sloop

Sounds a great idea - but the WPS (white plastic sloops) all look the same to me.

How many boats are stolen each year ?

 

[colvic]

I've been using a surveyor in Barcelona who asked for help from people I know in Spain to look for a stolen boat..was found in Gib. within a week and the finder collected 2800 Euro's for an hour or so checking the three marina's.

It's not just stolen boats but ones that "do a runner" without paying a bill etc..

Great idea, lets hope it's taken up.


Phil

 

[jmp]

I agree. this is a good idea but could it not also be extended to stolen equipment? If an owner is able to list the serial numbers of expensive equipment that has been stolen then perhaps the thieves would have more chance of being caught and also it would act as a deterant. Perhaps a sindicate of the insurers would fund any cost involved? How about it Kim??

 

[Magic_Sailor]

Re: Stolen- A White Plastic Sloop

Strangely, so do CWGs (Cramped Wooden Gaffers)

Actually I like all boats - including older ones but you attitude pissed me off.

I for one am fed up with reading these narrow minded side swipes. All boats are good and they all have their pros and cons.

Magic

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://hometown.aol.co.uk/geoffwestgarth/myhomepage/travelwriting.html>Click for website!</A>

 

[graham]

Re: Stolen- A White Plastic Sloop

Im not sure if Dominic was having a swipe at modern boats or just stating a fact.

If you published a photo of ,for example,a stolen Bavaria 34 ,there would be an almost identical one in every marina in Europe.
As the proud owner of a faded <font color=blue>blue</font color=blue> grp sloop with several distinguishing marks(bumps and scrapes) I feel quietly smug./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

I do think it would be a worthwile project though. Anything to make it harder for the lightfingered brigade has to be good.

 

[Guest]

AND HOW MANY DO? have serial numbers. Good that you have brought it to the attention of others, perhaps a good time just to note down the odd serial numbers and models, together with a few digital photo's, could be very important if the thieves strike.

 

[clyst]

Re: Stolen- A White Plastic Sloop

After reading your post ----narrow minded side swipes??? you seem to fit the bill exactly !!! Be a bit more tollerant to new users ol'chap you never know when you might be greatful of some advice from them!!

Cheers

Terry

 

[kimhollamby]

I'll mention your idea to Paul Gelder although there's also an option to run a stolen boat and equipment forum here; perhaps useful with the boat jumble season looming?

The company you mention (actually C Claims) are very good in my view. We used to work closely with the man behind it and for a while carried his listings in MBM. Around 90 per cent or more were trailboats.

 

[kimhollamby]

Re: Excellent

The total reach of the ybw.com websites is now safely in excess of 1m unique users annually and still growing.

 

[harvey]

Re: Excellent

Posting info on stolen boats in Yachting Monthly that are liable to be traced (ie distinctive) has got to be a good idea. You might even get the insurance company to pay for the phot!
John

 

[Dominic]

Re: Stolen- A White Plastic Sloop

It was not a narrow minded side swipe.

Most boats look very similar; only when you are close enough to read the hull identification number to they have their unique identity.

All the other indentifiers can be easily changed - name on removable dodgers - bolt on (and off) extras. Look at the name change thread - there is a trend against putting the boat name on the bow because it affects the second hand value.

Perhaps we need the Italian method of the registration number in very big figures on the bow.

It even seems a bit daft that the sail number is different to the registration number.

Now, just because I find most yachts are white and sloops with very similar configurations and they are all identical (to me) at 200metres you call me "narrow minded".

If you can the difference between them at that range you must have been a train spotter when you were younger.





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[Dominic]

Re: Stolen- A White Plastic Sloop

I was not having a side swipe.

At 200 metres most yachts are (once the thief has removed/changed the dodgers or other bolt on items) virtually identical.

Add in the resistance to affecting second value by putting the name on the bow and you have an invitation to theft since the yacht is so easily disguised.

I will confess to a sideswipe when I suggested that only a train spotter could tell the difference between certain models at range.

I do think that the project is a good idea BUT each owner will describe his yacht in terms of the items which I, as a thief, would immediately remove. Then we are left with the yacht only being identifiable when you are at 2 metres and able to read the hull number.


<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Dominic on 22/02/2003 19:02 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Dominic]

I honestly cannot tell..

I cannot look at a hatchback and tell you that it is Ford ABC 4.2 rather that the DEF 2.7

Or that a locomotive is "Humper " Class 4-2-8

Or that the Beneteau is "Quick Sink" 38.5 Drop Keel

And when I admit it he calls me "narrow minded".

What kind of anorak does he think is best ?

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[colvic]

Re: Stolen- A White Plastic Sloop

If it's any consolation, I think you're right. It must be good to be able to spot all the different types of boats at a distance, but all I can say about myself is that after almost 30 years messing about in them, the more I see it seems that there are even more designs etc. than ever.

I wouldn't have the nerve to approach a boat for a close examination on the off chance, but a friend did in Gib a few weeks ago, and decided he was wrong and the boat in question wasn't in Gib. 2 days later it was spotted in Marina Bay and the £2k reward went elsewhere, and poor old Glenn would have you believe he knows every boat on sight. Just goes to show.


Phil

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