Got the dreaded marina call today.

[sesmith]

We were on hour 2 of a 3 hour trip home from the marina when my phone rang. It was the marina manager...said our boat was sinking. I said, "Are you sure it's our boat? Slip 69? I just closed all the through hulls before we left." "Yes, definitely your boat. The water's in the cabin."

Recommendation was to call a local tow company there for help. I did, as we turned around and headed back. "What kind of boat?" the tow company asked. "Catalina 350". "Sailboat?", he said. "They don't usually sink. It's usually a powerboat." "Yea, I agree, and I closed all the through hulls, but they say MINE is sinking." "Is it locked?" "Yep. Yes, and you have my permission to do whatever you need to do to get in it."

As we drove back in shock and silence, my wife is thinking "I left my sewing machine in the boat. Now it's ruined. Shoulda brought it home." In the meantime, I'm doing some math...8-9' of water...4 1/2' draft. The top of the cabin should be just under the water. I wonder if the new solar panels that I just installed on the bimini will be above water line."

My wife broke the silence..."Call them back and make SURE it's OUR boat. I just can't believe it is."

I called them back..."Not your boat. We made a mistake. We have to call the owner of the boat that is actually sinking." Good for me, sad for the other guy, I thought.

Take home message? Maybe leave the boat unlocked so someone can get into it if an emergency actually happened? and 2...doesn't matter that it didn't happen, the actual call was real, and it really sucked.

 

[dlochner]

Those calls suck.

Leave the location of the key or combination with the marina. Our marina is in a low crime area, so we hide the key on the boat. Ask the marina to send a photo, it is easy with a cell phone, that way you can be certain the boat is yours.

A couple years ago the marina manager sent me a text with a video clip of water pouring out of the boat. I was puzzled and asked about the video. He said the bilge pump had been running for over 20 minutes and my boat was sinking. It was the water cooled refrigeration system.

Then there was the call on a bitter cold February morning about my lying on its side in the yard. It had blown off the jack stands and took 2 boats with it. That was not a pleasant experience.

 

[Newport Bob]

Can’t wait to hear how they still decided it was your boat even after you provided the slip number AND why you had to call them to find out it wasn’t your boat

 

[agprice22]

How about use a combination lock instead of a key? We use a combo; thus, we can let anyone into our boat over the phone.

 

[Ward H]

How about use a combination lock instead of a key? We use a combo; thus, we can let anyone into our boat over the phone.

Yep, that’s what we use and do.

 

[LeslieTroyer]

I use a alpha combo - which is a problem cause I’m sure people will remember the combo forever. Right @Ward H and @jssailem

 

[jssailem]

Not sure what you mean @LeslieTroyer.
Maybe you can PM me. You know my memory is fading.

 

[rpludwig]

that sewing machine comment is a hoot! Sounds like something my Admiral would say!!!

 

[Afrakes]

Our marina office has an entire wall with a painted layout of the facility. Each slip is numbered and there's hook for every boat owner to hang an extra set of keys or the combo for their lock.

 

[agprice22]

I use a alpha combo - which is a problem cause I’m sure people will remember the combo forever. Right @Ward H and @jssailem

Our lock has a changeable combo.

 

[Davidasailor26]

And if your companionway hatch has a built in keyed lock, store the key in a lazarette secured by a combination padlock.

 

[sesmith]

that sewing machine comment is a hoot! Sounds like something my Admiral would say!!!

She just spent many hours sewing 3M Dual Lock on the bimini to hold the 3 solar panels. They have bonded.

 

[sesmith]

Thanks for all the lock ideas. Yes, our keyed lock is built into the companionway boards. I was planning to hide a key in an outside lazarette, but hadn't thought of locking it with a combo lock...duh.

 

[JamesG161]

How about use a combination lock

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001B5YMDY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Had ours for 5 years, no corrosion, changeable and can be "tamper checked".

Tamper checked?
Leave a known set of numbers in position. Example: 9 1 1
When returning, if the lock is NOT set at 9 1 1, then someone has been trying to get in the boat.

Another tip..
Put a strip of velcro on the back of the lock and the other side stuck on the boat deck nearby.
Thus when you remove the lock, you stick it to the velcro and it is there close by.
The lock has stuck there in 7' seas too.

Jim...

PS: Our number is NOT 9 1 1

 

[JRacer]

And if your companionway hatch has a built in keyed lock, store the key in a lazarette secured by a combination padlock.

This is what I do. Spare key in the combo locked lazarette.

 

[Ward H]

I use a alpha combo - which is a problem cause I’m sure people will remember the combo forever. Right @Ward H and @jssailem

I remember.
Well, I think I do.
Maybe.

 

[agprice22]

We never got “the call,” but we did forget the key, had to buy a pair of small bolt cutters at the local hardware store, and cut off the old lock. Then we bought the 4 digit, changeable, combination lock.

 

[dlochner]

We never got “the call,” but we did forget the key,

That's why I leave the key on the boat.

 

[NotCook]

Then there was the call on a bitter cold February morning about my lying on its side in the yard. It had blown off the jack stands and took 2 boats with it. That was not a pleasant experience.

This is the call I always expected to get. For the first several years when we were on the hard, we were perpendicular to the prevailing winds. Frankly, I was surprised I never got that call!