Mooring at a Marina

T

tom&shan

New member
C-brats,

Having never done this (justifing my question), once I get my C-Dory (its being rigged), when cruising the San Juans (or anywhere else for that matter), when you moor at a Marina, (here's the question), do you need to worry (I know its irrelevant in the big picture), about theft ?
I'm wondering if I go to Friday Harbor on a Saturday, moor the boat, go off for the night, and come back Sunday morning, will my radio, fishing rods, etc., still be on the boat? I don't think there is any where to lock up things on the 19.

Tom
 
Tom&Shan,
It is a risk anyway you go, the only thing you can do is try to minimise your exposer and hope for the best. What I mean by this is to take the items that are not bolted down and store them while you are away from the boat. This would mean leaving them say in your tow vehicle which could result in the same fate as leaving on board, it is a crap-shoot when it come to theft. I have stayed at marinas on my 22 footer and even with my locking door I am still a little afraid that something may walk away. I trust and count on the good side of people to respect others rights and personal property. Hope you have many great experiences and avoid those unwanted violations. Dan
 
dotnmarty":81xjuzib said:
That's another good reason for window covers and a mooring cover.
Click to expand...

Same with our camperback. Although the only real precaution we take when we're going to be away from the boat for a few hours is to put the generator inside. The only things we leave in the cockpit are easily replaced; the cabin door gets locked anytime we are away from the boat.

The San Juans feels better than many coastal places, because the great majority of folks there are doing what you are doing - cruising on boats. While there are bad guys anywhere, it seems that this is reduced when you are away from urban land-side places.

It's also a good reason to get to know the folks in the slip next to you - "Hi, my name's..." After a very short conversation, you know that they will watch out for your boat when you aren't there. And you will do the same for them.

Most boat thefts are crimes of opportunity. Friday Harbor is a big place with LOTS of people around... not the most comfortable situation for a thief. Keep things covered and put away... and have fun!

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Tom&Shan

It just depends a lot on the individual marina.

Some have security guards on routine patrols, are well lighted, and are in basically an upscale safe area. Others are not so well positioned or maintained.

For longer term moorage, having live-aboards around and getting to know them is a very good move in the neighborhood watch direction. And so is making friends with the night watchman.

My Sea Ray has a presssure sensitive mat and a 135 db alarm system on it, and I doubt anybody could get to the door without losing their hearing and allerting everyone in the marina and up on the I-% Pit River Bridge, too.

It goes a long ways if you just eliminate 'crimes of convenience' by storing things away out of sight. I keep my Honda EU 1000i generator on my CD-22 covered with an innocuous cardboard box under the dinette table to not tempt anyone.

You don't have a bulkhead or door, but about a year or so ago, B~C added a 1- 1/8" cam lock on the door to reinforce the standard issue Perko lock/doorknob from C-Dory. I added one of them, too. Since screws on the hinges can be simply backed out with a screwdriver, I suggested through-bolting the hinges with machine screws and aircraft Ny-lock nuts.

But then again, just like your house or your car, a determined thief or professional rip-off artist can get in anyway.

And this isn't funny, but one of our highly valued and respected c-Brats had the radar dome stolen off his boat beside the house at night when they were home, and others have lost motors in the night to professionals who unbolt them or simply cut them off of the transom with a chain saw!

I'm sure this is more than you wanted to know, but may be a heads- up needed by some.

Joe.
 
For the 19 I would do several things: Make a box which is lockable and bolted down (under a seat or bunk would do). Put the electronics and any valuables there--try and keep this as hidden as possiable. Get some 1/8" SS 8 x 18 cable, and a hand swedging tool. Make a series of cables either swedged around the reels and rods, or thru the guides etc. It just makes them much harder to steel. I would also put a very simple alarm on the boat. I like a piece of monofiliment, tied down on one end across the cockpit, the other end tied to a pieces of plastic, which keeps a roller micro switch open. When the microswitch is closed, by pulling on the monofiliment, it trips a relay and any 12 volt siren or strobe light can be attatched to this. All of these items are avaiable at Radio Shack for about $50. Put a switch under the gunnel to arm or disarm it. Tell the next door neighbor or the nightwatchman where this switch is in case of a intrustion.

We have never lost any electronics, but have lost several dinghies, outboard motors, oars, barbeque etc thru the years. We now lock or keep these items on the boat. I do take the electrolonics off the boat if we are going to be away, even at my home.

There are also a number of in-expensive motion detectors, which are self contained--these can be put in the cabin and prevent thieft.

I generally think the San Juans are pretty safe--but you never know. Do the best you can, have plenty of insurance and enjoy yourself.
 
The "Retriever" is at a municipal slip next to a public park There are no gates or fences to restrain the public. It seems like at least one boat per season gets hit.

I leave nothing in the cockpit and use curtains on all the windows. The window to the right of the door lock is stickered with a warning and, reveals a flashing red LED. Opening the door trips an alarm sensor - I didn't think a motion sensor would work on a boat.

So far so good.

Phil
 
I just park next to another boat with a lot more valuable stuff on it than mine. In the San Juans, that's easy to find!

But seriously, I take the stuff that's expensive an easy to carry - fishing poles and down riggers and leave them inside the boat when I walk away. However, I've been out at Neah Bay many a time and see people leave all sorts of stuff on their boats without much of a problem. I've heard of people loosing stuff from their trucks out there but not from their boats. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I've never had a problem.
 
The self contained motion sensors do work in the C Dory pilot house--or in a lower cabin such as in a sailboat or express cruiser. You aim the sensor so that anyone entering the cabin will enter the beam.
 
I built and installed a plywood door to seal the V berth area. Valuables get locked up when I have to leave. Removable hinges make it easy to take it off when not needed. It does not get in the way when under way and makes using the port-a-potty more private.
 
Tom & Shan,

In our two seasons of cruising, we've spent 90% of our time in the San Juans and have never felt threatened by break-ins. We do however lock our door and put our valuables away in the v-berth.
 
It's just money and stuff..... I figured out years ago that those were things that were pretty far down my list... so I buy insurance...and if something goes wrong I don't let it ruin my day...or vacation... it's a one-way trip..ENJOY !!!

Joel
SEA3PO
 
The problem with loss of items on a cruise is that often they are not easily replaciable. For example an American boarded our boat in broad daylight in Greece, started to agrue that we would take him to Italy, and as I was "removing" him from the boat, lifted Marie's camera. Equally as difficuilt a loss is that of anchors (I have know of at least 4 cases where some SOB cut the anchor rode and stole the anchor in the middle of the night--an arguement for all chain rode). Or the loss of electronics with charts which cannot be replaced at the point of the voyage were you are.
Or even worse ships papers, passports or clearance papers. There needs to be a "secure" place in every boat. It doesn't have to be a safe (but we did have steel safes glassed in our our larger boats)--but a lockable box which is difficult to break into.
 
We've cruised for 30 years, been in marinas and anchored out in many different countries, including Mexico and the Bahamas, and never had anything stolen. This includes week long trips to see sights, many overnights for the same purpose.

That being said, we don't do anything foolish (deliberately,) meaning we lock the cabin and portholes, and keep valuables out of sight. We also don't go into crummy situations, such as bad marinas, etc.

Go cruising, act as you would at home, and enjoy a new world.

Journey on, Boris and Judy
 
Well... our antenas give us away as to what either is...or could be inside. Like others have stated... just don't let stupid hurt...and cover what you can as to keep it out of the eyes of quick-grap theifs/thugs.

BUT.... if you have marina's to choose from, you might be surprised what local police reports from the address will show, or....just ask your insurance agent if they have differant rates for the marinas you could use...or plan to use...if you are so fortunate to have more than one to choose from.

It is all only stuff.... and other than the just general get over-it being mad of getting hit,,, then maybe we need to look at what things we value in life. Joel is target on here.... Bill and El have traveled how many miles....and would have for sure missed many of these places if worried about their stuff...
 
Marina theft is an odd phenomenon...

Years ago, I was having a set of batteries stolen each summer month from a slip near a camping area. I later moved across the marina lagoon (about 30 yards away from the original slip) and kept a boat there for 12 years with not a single thing stolen. So, as mentioned, opportunity is a major factor. I think the campers were just cruising around near their sites at night to find easy pickings, but would not take the trouble to go around to the other side.

Also, I used to keep a sailboat at Treasure Island Marina in Panama City ,FL and had not a single theft problem until one day, as I was running back and forth to the car, unloading the boat, in broad daylight, someone glommed onto my camera bag!

I usually take the easily removable stuff out of the boat in a gym bag type thing as I leave - gps viewer, depth finder display, and now the Raymarine E-80.

John
 
Knock on Teak, we have not had a theft, yet. I feel a little forethought when outfitting your boat can discourage would be thieves.

For example, Mount VHFs flush to a panel and double nut the brackets, For bracket mounted Radar receivers and such, use round headed metric allen head screws, Impossible to loosen with pliers and needing a seldom carried tool to be removed. Everything that's bolted down should be designed to be hard to remove. If they can't get it fast, they may move on.

Electronics stores have red blinking LEDs that draw just miliamps. Just seeing a blinking red light next to a door or helm is enough to repel or discourage some aspiring thieves.

Above all, carry good insurance and enjoy your C-Dory...
 
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