Flybridge Theft??

[FWT]

There have been a few theft threads lately.

And on another popular forum there was a thread about a boatyard hit with MFD theft from consoles on boats in the yard. Garmins were the target. It sounded as if they were center console boats in the yard.

Which brings me to the question:

How rare or common is it to have theft of MFD's or other valuables from the flybridge? In marinas during the season, or from yards when on the hard?

The thing about news broadcasted nationally via the internet, and via message boards, rare things can appear to be commonplace.

Thefts of dingy motors seem to be not uncommon. I'm curious about flybridge electronics.

 

[Lollygag1]

Our marina was hit a couple of years ago, mainly electronics and fishing gear.

 

[Comodave]

Never had an issue with theft here. We normally don’t even lock the boat and we usually leave the keys in the ignition. But we live in a small town.

 

[kchace]

This sort of thing is always a concern of mine, but at the same time I’m not so sure how much can be done about it. In my case, I’m on a mooring along with a lot of other boats on moorings, right next to a marina and in an area with lots of boat traffic. For someone to target my boat they would have to specifically boat over in plain view of many people, houses, etc. I feel that once someone boarded my boat with bad intent, how would a locked teak door matter? I would imagine they would have at least rudimentary break in tools, crow bar, big screwdriver etc. fortunately in my area there have been extremely few cases of boat equipment theft.

Ken

 

[kthoennes]

We're also in large but relatively safe marina, never have had a theft issue that I recall. I suppose you can try to secure your boat, but good luck as a practical matter in most marinas. Somebody could boat or swim or canoe over to our dinghy and motor away with it pretty easily. We usually keep it tethered to the swim step cleats and no lock on the motor. Lots of dock neighbors though and we all know each other. The dock gates do lock but you can easily climb around the gates, or just boat or swim to the boats.

I guess I could do a padlock on a stainless steel cable instead of the nylon draw string in the helm pod cover on the flybridge -- but the cover is canvas, just takes a utility knife. I could lock the salon hatch, but just takes a ball peen hammer or pry bar on the glass deck hatch over the forward berth. Of course I have the luxury of being trapped above a dam on the Missouri -- if somebody ever did know how to fire up the boat and motor out of the slip and the yacht basin, they're trapped (well, 26 miles trapped). I just think in general boats, especially bigger boats, just don't lend themselves very well to anti-theft measures.

Wouldn't mind if somebody stole the Norcold refrigerator that doesn't work anymore...

 

[MYTraveler]

I have never had a theft issue anywhere in the Sea of Cortez, Puerto Vallarta, southern Cal or the Pacific northwest (in a wide range of marinas). I am not sure it matters, but the boat has many cameras, some of which are easily spotted from the outside. I have video of people looking at my boat and can see when they see a camera, which is when they instinctively look away, try to look inconspicuous, then look at another boat, then leave. I also keep a bait rod (kind of like a bait car used in the police reality shows) relatively accessible in the cockpit. That has also never been stolen, but one of the first things I look for when returning to the boat is my bait rod.

My boat was once on a dock in Mexico from which another boat's FLIR camera (an expensive model) was stolen from atop its tower. The wires were cut and left dangling. My FLIR was not touched. There was enough reason to suspect an inside job that the boat was kicked out of the marina.

On the other hand, I have had high-end fishing reels disappear at the conclusion of multi-day trips with hired crew. Those reels are kept in a place not easily surveilled by cameras. Now it is the crews job to do a reel inventory before and at the conclusion of a trip. Haven't had a problem since.

 

[PM]

Here in the midwest dew and night rain are a concern so I put my mooring cover on every night. It takes about 15 minutes but keeps everything dry. Nice to not have to haul charts,binocs, etc down every night. It is always in place when we are gone.

It fits kind of snug and the only way to get under it is to wiggle like a snake. Plus it is light darkening so a flashlight would be needed most of the time.

Not worth the theifs time.

pete

 

[BDofMSP]

Never had an issue with theft here. We normally don’t even lock the boat and we usually leave the keys in the ignition. But we live in a small town.

Same up here. I've never taken the keys out of the ignition. We do lock the boat when we're going to be gone for days, but not if we just leave for the day. I've never heard of any theft at our marina. But Bayfield is 500 people and we're several miles outside of town so we don't even get the tourists.

BD

 

[mncruiser]

I used to lock my boat, until I saw what thieves did to a neighbors boat to get in. Completely destroyed the door and mounts for it...all to take a few bottles of booze and a tv/vcr combo. Boat was a late 80’s Carver. Parts probably impossible to get.

And this was last summer. Yep, a tv/vcr combo.

In another show of his wisdom, he did all this in a stolen truck, got stopped by the train that cuts off the Marina, and ran into the town cop on the other side of the tracks. Busted!

But, he got out the next day and went and robbed a local golf course. Not sure who is dumber now, the crook or the people that let him out?

My boat was covered with cockpit cover. It must have seemed like too much work to un snap.

After this I just left it unlocked. My door on the boat would be easy to break open, with probably $5000 to repair, if even possible? Cheaper to let them just take all my stuff.

I sold the boat last fall. If I would have stayed there I was going to do some alarm thing in the hope of scaring people away. But stopping them? Not really possible.

 

[PM]

I rarely lock the boat for day excursions away. Keys are always in the ignition. I have a couple nice binoculars which I sort of hide under a throw blanket or pillow. Tool box is too heavy, outboard is locked, cash well hidden. Not much else of value, if they want my DVD, fine, I'm ready for a new one anyway. Same with the little electronics, radio, Bose stereo, etc.

As for stealing the boat. At 8 mph it would be an O.J. Simpson slow speed chase.

pete

 

[FWT]

I used to lock my boat, until I saw what thieves did to a neighbors boat to get in. Completely destroyed the door and mounts for it...all to take a few bottles of booze and a tv/vcr combo. Boat was a late 80’s Carver. Parts probably impossible to get.

And this was last summer. Yep, a tv/vcr combo.

In another show of his wisdom, he did all this in a stolen truck, got stopped by the train that cuts off the Marina, and ran into the town cop on the other side of the tracks. Busted!

But, he got out the next day and went and robbed a local golf course. Not sure who is dumber now, the crook or the people that let him out?

My boat was covered with cockpit cover. It must have seemed like too much work to un snap.

After this I just left it unlocked. My door on the boat would be easy to break open, with probably $5000 to repair, if even possible? Cheaper to let them just take all my stuff.

I sold the boat last fall. If I would have stayed there I was going to do some alarm thing in the hope of scaring people away. But stopping them? Not really possible.

My wife is the sort with a high need to feel secure. The day I tell her the risks say we should leave the boat unlocked is the day it would have to go up for sale.

 

[FWT]

The online news stuff suggests south Florida is a hotbed of theft. Any comments on that area?

 

[psneeld]

One problem with leaving things unlocked....


Yes, yes a bigger deal to fix than replace some stolen stuff.


But...plenty of info out there that insurance will not reimburse you without a police report, if the police report says your boat wasn't locked, they may terminate your policy in today's climate and that same climate means you have to answer whether your insurance was ever terminated and good luck if you answer yes.


Sure you can lie at any time...but insurance fraud gets ugly and you never know how they (ins or police) may find out.

 

[PPandE]

The online news stuff suggests south Florida is a hotbed of theft. Any comments on that area?

I just had insurance quotes for both ft lauderdale and ft myers. The ft L quote was almost twice as much as the ft M. The agent claimed that was because of theft on the east coast.

 

[4fun1]

My wife is the sort with a high need to feel secure. The day I tell her the risks say we should leave the boat unlocked is the day it would have to go up for sale.

I feel your pain, if we leave the boat to go to.the marina store she locks it.

 

[ancora]

We're in a yacht club marina with one liveaboard on every dock, so we feel really secure.

 

[Hippocampus]

Pressure pad in cockpit under rug in front of door wired to lights and horn. $400. Done. Or there’s several vendors that sell really fancy set ups if you want the whole nine yards.

 

[Brooksie]

Pressure pad in cockpit under rug in front of door wired to lights and horn. $400. Done. Or there’s several vendors that sell really fancy set ups if you want the whole nine yards.

Handheld airhorn w/ wire (monofiliment) diagonally across cockpit sole $40. Done waterproof and does not use electric power either.

 

[skyhawk]

Sail yacht florence on youtube had posted an attempted boarding a few weeks back...they're in malaysia somewhere.
this is something that seems to me would be more prevalent in big city areas of developed countries and very hit and miss in all these lower income cruising ports down in the islands, etc.... Something I've wondered about a few times....how do you really know when you pull into a new foreign or even domestic port?....
I recon at least domestic a person is more likely to have a street smarts read or feeling....but in foreign places not knowing the culture, etc... seems that it could be much more of an unknown....

 

[South of Heaven]

Happened all the time at my marina in Boston Ma. Having lots of drunken parties with young folks who are not boaters on the docks doesn't help. Lol

 

[Hippocampus]

We follow noonsite. Great resource. Please join and support. Also in just about every major harbor there’s a cruisers net on VHF. Crime is routinely reported and often discussed. Given when you first hit a new country you generally go first to the harbor(s) that are ports of entry so you get to listen and learn from other cruisers.

Some things are known to be dangerous. Like going from Grenada to Trinidad. It’s been that way since Venezuela been upside down. So folks get together and do flotillas as well as change their approach to stay away from Venezuela. Same kind of thinking if you want to go to the ABCs. Or many avoid St.Vincent. There was too much crime there so many people avoid it. But we did go there after checking where was safe and did fine.

Word of mouth is a great thing. The cruiser community tries hard to look out for each other.

 

[Art]

Locks were made to help keep honest people... well... honest.

Regarding boats and cars... if a crook really wants in... they are basically unstoppable.

Loud siren might put a chill in their bones... depending on how drunk and/or cranked they are.

When at dock, we don't leave our boat locked, just sorta looks like it is. Pull on the slider and it will open. We don't make it look like a "Rich" person's boat and leave blinds drawn.

 

[Greatlaker221]

Check out Pirate Lights. Motion sensors that trigger lights and a siren. Mostly for intruders while aboard. Easy DIY install. System works as advertised.

https://www.piratelights.com/

 

[FWT]

Thanks everyone for the responses.

Seems like the takeaway is, flybridge theft can happen, and does happen, but it isn't prevalent. First order of defense seems to be situational awareness, and don't advertise goodies. A simple canvas cover for the electronics is both functional as well as just lowering the target profile.

 

[Derek]

What mmcruiser says. Door usually costs More to repair that what is stolen. Anyone using SIMPLISAFE for $15/month? Seems like cheap insurance and works off cell signals if internet gone.

 

[slowgoesit]

Check out Pirate Lights. Motion sensors that trigger lights and a siren. Mostly for intruders while aboard. Easy DIY install. System works as advertised.
https://www.piratelights.com/

Greatlaker, seems like it would work, but at $395.00 a pop, seems pretty pricey.

What mmcruiser says. Door usually costs More to repair that what is stolen. Anyone using SIMPLISAFE for $15/month? Seems like cheap insurance and works off cell signals if internet gone.

Derek, I have a Simplisafe system that I installed/took out of my daughters apartment at college. I was seriously considering installing it on the boat. Probably only alarm the main door and hatches, not windows. Has Siren, motion detector, you can plug in a light to the motion sensor, etc. Can be used with, or without the monthly monitoring fee as well. . . . on the fence on this one . . .

 

[Andiamo2018]

Never had an issue with theft here. We normally don’t even lock the boat and we usually leave the keys in the ignition. But we live in a small town.

Um, I'd like to visit! Where is your boat berthed again???

 

[CarlF]

I think this is very much a southern Florida issue where there apparently is a somewhat organized business to fence the stolen units. If you have your boat elsewhere it maybe so rare as to be not worth the worry. I've never had a theft off my boat in 40 years.

But I did read that new Garmins are coming with a startup password and a sticker that says the unit is useless without the password. These won't be stolen since there will be no black market.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. CF. Not to worry. Some crook will find a hack or work around...

 

[BDofMSP]

Or steal them and throw them away once they find out there's no market. I doubt they research plotters before they go out thieving.