Yacht security - marina berth

[horatio_nelson]

Great replies so far, good food for thought.

Any suggestions for a decent lock for hatch / washboard? Something that requires more than a screwdriver to break open

Ta

 

[Robin]

We were 'done ' with 11 others one stormy night in winter at a secure YC marina in Poole. After that and because plod warned they will come again after you replace stuff on the insurance, we fitted a very loud PIR alarm below and a rape/shed alarm ( has a grenade style pull pin to set off) to the sliding hatch, together with professionally made alarm warning labels. The scum did return and bypassed us but not our then berth neighbour who had replaced his honda genny etc after the first break-in only to lose it all over again. I also bought a cable lock alarm from Force4 and wound the cable in/out of the bridge deck harness eyes, the hasp/staple lock and a couple of coachroof cleats, the alarm on this would sound if the cable was cut. I also fitted a flashing red LED that shone cross the conpanionway inside like a laser beam and visible through the smoked glass washboards. We were not done again after that but others were. The YC security with swipe card access and CCTV didn't stop the scum who apparently arrived from seawards. Out thieves stole stuff easily sold down the pub rather than expensive electronics etc and luckily got in without too much damage done but others had more money to spend on repairs than replacing the stolen items.

Here in the USA, different boat of course, but we have a similar system, with an electronic keypad with flashing LEDs visible through the polycarbonate sliding hatch and also have some very conspicouous alarm installed warning labels strategically placed on the sliding hatch.. Anyone working on the boat, with our permission, knows our 'access code' and is told to enter it on entry below to prevent the alarm going off and again on leaving to reset it ,albeit that the keypad is actually a dummy though it beeps convincingly when it's keys are pressed. The idea is if a workman gets talkative in a bar about where/what his work is or engages in pillowtalk he is likely to say stay clear of boat 'xyz' it is alarmed. I did that because despite electronic gate locks on each marina dock and nightime security patrols there were recent isolated incidents of local alcoholic homeless seeking overnight shelter on board some boats. One lady alcoholic and druggy who was also a schizo apparently was caught red handed on board the boat opposite ours twice in two weeks, each time the police having arrested her let her go after she spent a night in jail.

This is my dummy keypad (on the US Amazon site) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007I91546/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Stemar]

If they want to get in, they will. I'd rather they got in with little damage to find nothing worth nicking than destroyed the companionway to find nothing worth nicking.

I do like the idea of the loud alarm, though. I'll have to think about how it might work on Jissel. Would a PIR alarm work inside a cockpit tent, or would it be set off when the tent moves in the wind?

 

[Robin]

PIR motion sensors detect movement of infra red source our PIRs have been fitted below, in one case with a second alarm siren as well ( which would go off if unplugged from the main unit or the cable cut. The noise in the cabin with both sirens going was quite painful at IIRC > 130dB. I doubt however if like with car alarms in the street anyone outside would take any interest other than mild annoyance, but hopefully the guilty party would decide that somewhere else would be a better bet. The rape come shed alarm we had also was fitted to the sliding hatch such that if the hatch was moved more than an inch it set it off, trying to deter actual entry below. Our current boat has a full cockpit enclosure and I have thought of putting a PIR in that but so far have not but I might put a motion sensor operated LED floodlight in there sometime. as I believe that generally thieves do not like to be visible to others and a brightly lit conservatory might do the job, abeit possibly making it easy for the intruder to locate and remove the light source.

 

[Coaster]

...light fingered visitors already in the marina (often with a strong french accent)...

I have been quietly told by several members of staff at our last marina that the small number of thefts, from boats there, often coincided with the presence of visiting French boats. I have no first hand knowledge of such thefts but the people telling me about them have otherwise proved entirely reliable.

 

[jakeroyd]

Just a point that may have not been covered.

IMHO you need just enough security (hasp + padlock etc.) to comply with your insurers requirement for the vessel to be secure but not so much that massive damage is done if there is a break in.

 

[GrahamM376]

I have been quietly told by several members of staff at our last marina that the small number of thefts, from boats there, often coincided with the presence of visiting French boats. I have no first hand knowledge of such thefts but the people telling me about them have otherwise proved entirely reliable.

A German we met summed it up after he had been broken into - "we Germans equip our boats to go to sea whereas the ******** French go to sea to equip their boats".

I'm sure the offenders are few and I've never had worries about any French we've met.

When UK based I fitted a waterproof alarm switch on the instrument panel with a flashing led wired to it and alarm warning label on the washboard. Never had a problem but neighbours were broken into.

 

[Sailfree]

If you had an AWB moored in a marina, easy to walk straight onto, miles from home, with a standard fore hatch and the usual washboard / sliding hatch as the vulnerable access points, what security measures would you employ? Any recommendations or advice? Thanks.

Sensible suggestions and A-Team / McGyver fantasies welcome

I bought a key pad operated hut alarm from Maplins. Its battery operated and very loud. I bought a red adhesive fire alarm sign and cut it down to just "Alarm" and stuck it on rear hatch door. All the alarms/CCTV/paging systems will not stop a determined thief - physical security with bars and locks might but at what cost and what damage might a intruder cause.

 

[GHA]

and A-Team / McGyver fantasies welcome

The recently released arduino yun looks ideal for a project like this and generally keeping an eye on the boat from afar..
http://blog.arduino.cc/2013/09/02/arduino-yun-hardware-review/

Low power draw, attach some sensors, PIR , switch on the washboard etc, then the yun can set off whatever alarm you want to connect. But better than that, have a cheapo mobile phone as a hot spot or connect to the marina wifi and the yun can email or text you (and the marina office if you want) if something goes on. Or add a webcam and the yun can upload a pic or go live on YouTube.
Connect to the batteries and the yun will upload live voltage to web site, or email/text you if the voltage gets low, add a relay and you can turn on the fridge before you head down to the boat, etc etc.
Powerful little box.

 

[Fantasie 19]

A determined thief will get in, regardless. Not being funny, but unless the AWB is a bit special, there's not too much motivation to break in. Most important thing is to take anything of value home with you.

+1

Put a padlock on the washboards, and secure the hatch from the inside - any more than that and it says "I have valuables aboard" and the scroats will cause more damage getting in than the value of the stuff your trying to save...

 

[Bav34]

Most important thing is to take anything of value home with you.

So that will be my folding bikes, scuba gear, Sevylor kayak, tools, dinghy, outboard, radar, chartplotter, GPS, VHF, booze, Fray Bentos The list is almost endless.

Not really practical.

 

[TSB240]

Most of the recommendations are about trying to make your boat less attractive to be done over than others.

My experience of the use of Smart Water marking is very good and put an immediate stop to repeated burglary attempts in Student Accommodation.

Some marinas, insurance companies and Police forces are now actively involved in using this as a deterrent. Smart water can be used on items that are exposed to the weather in addition to easily removable and saleable electronic and electrical items.

 

[GHA]

How does everyone know a big lock will make the thieves think there's stuff worth pinching onboard?

 

[syc1]

I've just recently sold my 36' AWB. Had it from new, owned it for 10 years. At year 3 I broke the companionway lock. I bought a new at year 10 to keep the purchaser happy, so no lock at all for 7 years.

No unwanted visitors (that I know off), definitely nothing ever went missing! Was berthed in Haslar Marina.

 

[Robin]

So that will be my folding bikes, scuba gear, Sevylor kayak, tools, dinghy, outboard, radar, chartplotter, GPS, VHF, booze, Fray Bentos The list is almost endless.

Not really practical.

Agreed. The stuff we had nicked back in the the UK when our YC marina was seemingly targeted by local scum was of the easy/quick to sell in the pub for the price of a 'fix' by local druggies type. They stole my on board booze stocks, binos, a handheld VHF ( which without it's charger was of no use to anyone) and a 12v single sheet printer that was not worth much to anyone but very hard to replace. Others lost 'designer' waterproof jackets, car radios and music CDs ( both being harder to nick from cars these days). Several had damaged sliding hatches and washboard. Plod told me the local scrotes found boats an easier target than modern cars with standard fitted alarms and radios/cd players that need special tools to remove. They also told me they knew the most likely culprits but could do nothing without hard evidence. Our YC later instituted voluntary patrols and night watches and even water borne patrols and watches from the race start platform in conjunction with other local clubs and the marine police, all of which seemed to do the trick. Be especially aware when boat jumble times approach too we were told:disgust:

 

[Birdseye]

If you had an AWB moored in a marina, easy to walk straight onto, miles from home, with a standard fore hatch and the usual washboard / sliding hatch as the vulnerable access points, what security measures would you employ? Any recommendations or advice? Thanks.

Sensible suggestions and A-Team / McGyver fantasies welcome

Dont bother. If marina security is that bad move marina.

 

[Seajet]

I agree with the idea of ' just a big enough padlock to put off casual scrotes, but not enough to make a pro' dismantle the boat with a portable angle grinder ! '

I made all my expensive kit like plottter & radar displays quickly demountable so as to take it home in a padded laptop bag, but this does risk damage to the connections with the repeated in and out, plus dunking the lot if having an accident with the tender...

Years ago I heard of a boat at a local marina whose owner had listed the inventory at the chart table; when the b****ds broke in they ticked off each item as they removed it !

I think modern CCTV at clubs and marinas, possibly with a rota set-up to be ' night watchman ' is probably the way to go, but don't expect any help from plod; when my boat and 5 others were broken into - before CCTV -, we all stood back for hours expecting the ' Scene Of Crime ' WPC to take fingerprints, but all I got was " Oh that's far too much hassle, but do you mind if I take your shattered alarm, I get a souvenir from each case I attend " !

 

[Robin]

I agree with the idea of ' just a big enough padlock to put off casual scrotes, but not enough to make a pro' dismantle the boat with a portable angle grinder ! '

I made all my expensive kit like plottter & radar displays quickly demountable so as to take it home in a padded laptop bag, but this does risk damage to the connections with the repeated in and out, plus dunking the lot if having an accident with the tender...

Years ago I heard of a boat at a local marina whose owner had listed the inventory at the chart table; when the b****ds broke in they ticked off each item as they removed it !

I think modern CCTV at clubs and marinas, possibly with a rota set-up to be ' night watchman ' is probably the way to go, but don't expect any help from plod; when my boat and 5 others were broken into - before CCTV -, we all stood back for hours expecting the ' Scene Of Crime ' WPC to take fingerprints, but all I got was " Oh that's far too much hassle, but do you mind if I take your shattered alarm, I get a souvenir from each case I attend " !

CCTV is a waste of time, all it showed in our case was when they were there because all they saw otherwise was a club member taking a dog for an early morning walk and a bunch of scrotes wearing hoodies in the small hours.

 

[Seajet]

Fair point, but it might show something to call local owners - or marina staff - to frighten the scrotes off.

I am not suggesting any owner tries to tackle the scrotes alone, which might be a really bad idea as said scrotes may well be on drugs, armed with knives and rather keen not to be caught !

I did hear a first hand account from a boat owner on the Thames, where his club had repeated break-ins; the fitter members set up a night watch, and within a few days caught a chap, took him out in a dinghy with a chain wrapped around his neck, " we've had enough of your type ! "

They were bluffing, but he blabbed leading to the discovery of a lot of stolen boat gear.

Of course there might have been some awkward questions if the dinghy had got turned over !

 

[agurney]

About the only thing I would be tempted by would be a loud magnet door/ window alarm Maplin sell them. If they are going to break in they will get in but one of those might stop them going any further...

When I was broken into many years ago I had one of these alarms .. the ^%$s hauled just tore it off and threw it in the canal.
At that time I was in the habit of taking electronics home, however I had a pushpit mounted Decca aerial that they nicked .. and stole the matching Decca receiver from a neighbouring boat.