Thieving B@stards!

[jamie N]

I'm really hacked off! Some lowlife has stolen the reefing hook from the boom of Stakkr. They left the shackle in place but unfastened, the main halyard which had been hooked onto the hook (as it were) was left blowing in the breeze. This on a pontoon at Inverness Marina where there is as much security as at any I suppose, However, this wasn't done by an outsider, this was a yottie nicking from another. I cannot convey how sad this makes me, as in the 50 years or so since I started sailing, I've never had anything nicked.
All I can do is to hope that it breaks and hurts them.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Doesn't InvMarina have security cameras? I know getting into the place is well protected !!

 

[tillergirl]

You have my sympathy. I know what it feels like. Last year, someone cropped the padlock, neatly placing it to one side, stole the captain's bunk and two mooring warps (one unused!). Replaced the washboards and pulled over the hatch and neatly placed the ensign and staff under the sprayhood. Another 'colleague'!

 

[rosewood]

It's a sadness that most boat thefts are by other boaters. People tend to blame scallywag wags from rough estates etc. but the person who pinched your stuff. And my stuff from Emsworth marina are nine times out of ten, other blokes who own boats. I feel for you. I've been there and it's a proper *******

 

[Seajet]

rosewood,

may not be relevant but have you seen the police ' Kraken ' alert that Emsworth and Chichester marinas have had Eastern European types with mobiles or walki-talkies apparently ' casing ' them recently ?

Apparently their main target is outboards.

As for fellow sailors, I'm sorry to say it is a fact of life that bungs etc go missing in dinghy parks, including those specific to certain boat types; not often anything more serious but it's still a rotten thing to do as someone may drive a long way then find their boat unsailable - I always take the bungs from my tender home as it also deters the boat being stolen for joyriding ( along with the big chain & padlock ) - I have holders for the bungs in the car so I hopefully don't leave them at home.

 

[Seajet]

Top Tip

Following from the ' thieving b@stards ' thread, I thought I'd pass something on I discovered.

I have a brass bung in my rigid tender, I expect a lot of classic dinghies use these.

I always take the bung home as one of the boat security measures - and the bung itself was over £14.00 the last time I bought one - and as I live in terror of driving 45 miles to find I've left the bung behind I have a holder for it in the car.

The red top from WD40 cans is just the right size, so one glued by the handbrake makes a holder I can glance at to assure myself I haven't set off without the vital bung !

 

[jamie N]

Sadly, I had to laugh at myself this morning; whilst on the boat I began cursing the thieving b@stard who'd also stolen my 'favourite' pliers.
Erm, they were in my hand.....!

 

[rosewood]

Sadly, I had to laugh at myself this morning; whilst on the boat I began cursing the thieving b@stard who'd also stolen my 'favourite' pliers.
Erm, they were in my hand.....!

It's how it gets you

 

[ffiill]

Do you mean Muirtown basin or the harbour Marina?
Sadly both are within reach of an area both as rough and overloaded with thief's as any other inner city area.
I used to work the area in my past life as a Social worker having previously worked both in inner city Manchester and Glasgow.
Bear in mind before blaming yachties that the harbour marina is 5 mins in a dingy from this estate just over the river.

 

[pmagowan]

Pity them. You can replace it but they can never get back their self respect.

 

[jamie N]

Do you mean Muirtown basin or the harbour Marina?
Sadly both are within reach of an area both as rough and overloaded with thief's as any other inner city area.
I used to work the area in my past life as a Social worker having previously worked both in inner city Manchester and Glasgow.
Bear in mind before blaming yachties that the harbour marina is 5 mins in a dingy from this estate just over the river.

Indeed it is opposite South Kessock, but if it was a 'neredowell' from there, they'd have taken stuff from the inside of the boat, such as the tools which were there at that time, or the radio, battery or kettle! Also, there are far more modern boats around me with lashings of shinies on them, that look the part. But to only take the reefing hook was an opportunity to replace something that had just failed whilst out sailing I think.
Bl00dy annoying though.

 

[Robert Wilson]

Pity them. You can replace it but they can never get back their self respect.

They wouldn't know what that is even if it came wrapped-up in their benefit cash.

 

[lustyd]

I'm really hacked off! Some lowlife has stolen the reefing hook from the boom of Stakkr. They left the shackle in place but unfastened, the main halyard which had been hooked onto the hook (as it were) was left blowing in the breeze. This on a pontoon at Inverness Marina where there is as much security as at any I suppose, However, this wasn't done by an outsider, this was a yottie nicking from another. I cannot convey how sad this makes me, as in the 50 years or so since I started sailing, I've never had anything nicked.
All I can do is to hope that it breaks and hurts them.

From your description is sounds like your shackle came undone and the hook is more than likely in the water next to your boat. Maybe I'm missing something but theft isn't my first assumption from the above.

 

[rich]

From your description is sounds like your shackle came undone and the hook is more than likely in the water next to your boat. Maybe I'm missing something but theft isn't my first assumption from the above.

Sounds more likely!

 

[jamie N]

No, that's not credible as it was http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/36738/Gael-Force-HR-Key-Pin-Shackles.html, under tension by having the main halyard attached to it.
However, I do have my ROV available and will do a quick survey later on beneath the boat. I'd do a CMD-Coulson apology if I find it of course!

 

[Seajet]

I'd do a CMD-Coulson apology if I find it of course!

What, insincere apology and the sort of shackle which lets go is actually just the sort of shackle you feel at home with ?!

 

[jamie N]

What, insincere apology and the sort of shackle which lets go is actually just the sort of shackle you feel at home with ?!

You've got me bang to rights squire!
I did do a quick dive and do feel reassured that the I don't have to tell lies in order to 'protect my image' as a secure shackler!

 

[Dave-Shafa]

My luxury yacht is in Inverness Marina.
I did not take your shackle. I suspect it has fallen off.

 

[NormanS]

I'm really hacked off! Some lowlife has stolen the reefing hook from the boom of Stakkr. They left the shackle in place but unfastened, the main halyard which had been hooked onto the hook (as it were) was left blowing in the breeze. This on a pontoon at Inverness Marina where there is as much security as at any I suppose, However, this wasn't done by an outsider, this was a yottie nicking from another. I cannot convey how sad this makes me, as in the 50 years or so since I started sailing, I've never had anything nicked.
All I can do is to hope that it breaks and hurts them.

It sounds highly unlikely to me that someone would go to the bother of unfastening a shackle, in order to steal your hook, and then not take the shackle. Is it not more likely that the shackle has come undone, and left the halyard "blowing in the breeze".

 

[Seajet]

It has been known, gits a lot richer than me have stolen my stuff; rather than buy a Big Gun I rely on ' what goes around, comes around ' !