Is your boat safe in its marina, at its mooring, or on its trailer? Is it safe from both extreme weather and theft an/or vandalism? What do you to secure your vessel from the bad elements or weather and society?
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
L
LaDonna Bubak - Planet Catalina
Boat safety
My former marina was very (too?) secure. Locked gates, the whole bit. The boats were much safer than the cars in the lots! What's ironic is that about 2 months after the liveaboards in the marina successfully lobbied to have the gates locked 24/7 (used to be open during the days), a Catalina 36 was stolen right out of the marina! There were a few robberies but not when I was there. I moved a couple of months ago to a much less secure but much cheaper moorage area (hard to call it a marina - it's more of a floating home moorage with a couple docks for boats). I do feel comfortable though because of all the floating homes. To secure the boat I simply tie up with dock lines & lock it up. BUT..I don't leave anything in view if someone were to stroll by & look in. We had a windstorm here last weekend so I made sure the lines were strong & not chafing through. I also spent the night down there to make sure if anything happened, I'd be there. The tarp I have over my boom didn't even flop around too much! LaDonna
My former marina was very (too?) secure. Locked gates, the whole bit. The boats were much safer than the cars in the lots! What's ironic is that about 2 months after the liveaboards in the marina successfully lobbied to have the gates locked 24/7 (used to be open during the days), a Catalina 36 was stolen right out of the marina! There were a few robberies but not when I was there. I moved a couple of months ago to a much less secure but much cheaper moorage area (hard to call it a marina - it's more of a floating home moorage with a couple docks for boats). I do feel comfortable though because of all the floating homes. To secure the boat I simply tie up with dock lines & lock it up. BUT..I don't leave anything in view if someone were to stroll by & look in. We had a windstorm here last weekend so I made sure the lines were strong & not chafing through. I also spent the night down there to make sure if anything happened, I'd be there. The tarp I have over my boom didn't even flop around too much! LaDonna
G
Gary Jensen
boat "IS" safe
I keep my boat at Brickyard Cove in Richmond Ca. (Bay Area). It is very safe there---so far. I attribute the safty to the fact that there are live-aboards. Not a lot, but about 15%. That is just enough to keep things safe. In addition the harbormasters office is elevated and can pretty much see the whole Marina. I know that the harbormaster does not watch all the time,however his positioning, I feel, helps in the security that we enjoy!!Gary
I keep my boat at Brickyard Cove in Richmond Ca. (Bay Area). It is very safe there---so far. I attribute the safty to the fact that there are live-aboards. Not a lot, but about 15%. That is just enough to keep things safe. In addition the harbormasters office is elevated and can pretty much see the whole Marina. I know that the harbormaster does not watch all the time,however his positioning, I feel, helps in the security that we enjoy!!Gary
M
Mike s/v Chute the Breeze
Safety
I have my own 50' slip right out my patio doors so, I guess it is about as safe as my condo.. Nothing is safe if they want it bad enough!! We have 56 condos w/slips behind gates and there are about 10 of us that live here full time and we look after everyones toys during the weekdays that most are not home. We've not had any problems knock on wood.. Besides that it is -4 right now with 25kts blowing down the lake!! if they want it now come and get IT!! Mike Michigan City, IN
I have my own 50' slip right out my patio doors so, I guess it is about as safe as my condo.. Nothing is safe if they want it bad enough!! We have 56 condos w/slips behind gates and there are about 10 of us that live here full time and we look after everyones toys during the weekdays that most are not home. We've not had any problems knock on wood.. Besides that it is -4 right now with 25kts blowing down the lake!! if they want it now come and get IT!! Mike Michigan City, IN
B
Bob Camarena
Reasonably Safe
I keep my Catalina 30 at a private marina owned by the Stockton Sailing Club in Stockton, CA. The harbor is fenced with a card-operated gate. The dock ramps are not gated. We have had some equipment thefts but, to the best of my knowledge, no boat thefts or vandalism. The equipment thefts seem to occur when there is high public traffic such as large regatta weekends, etc. I don't take any special precautions other than locking the boat and periodically checking my docklines for wear. Our weather is relatively mild and we're a protected, inland harbor. Our biggest risk is flooding in times of high run-off from the mountains into the San Joaquin River. So far, the levees have held.
I keep my Catalina 30 at a private marina owned by the Stockton Sailing Club in Stockton, CA. The harbor is fenced with a card-operated gate. The dock ramps are not gated. We have had some equipment thefts but, to the best of my knowledge, no boat thefts or vandalism. The equipment thefts seem to occur when there is high public traffic such as large regatta weekends, etc. I don't take any special precautions other than locking the boat and periodically checking my docklines for wear. Our weather is relatively mild and we're a protected, inland harbor. Our biggest risk is flooding in times of high run-off from the mountains into the San Joaquin River. So far, the levees have held.
E
Echo Gulf
Safe & Secure!
Our marina has lockable gates (occassionaly they are even locked) at the entrance to each finger, but no fences beyond what is requred to keep tourists from falling in. The marina office provdes a 24 hr security guard during the summer, this, combined with regular patrols by the RCMP and the fact that we have several people that live on board has kept thefts and damge to a bare minimum. During the winter our pride and joy, a C27, resides in our driveway at the front of the house where it is almost impossible to approach it with out being seen. All the neighbourhood kids have been made aware of the dire consequences should they be caught playing street hockey within slapshot range of the hull. This may not be the salt chuck, but it does have it's advantages.
Our marina has lockable gates (occassionaly they are even locked) at the entrance to each finger, but no fences beyond what is requred to keep tourists from falling in. The marina office provdes a 24 hr security guard during the summer, this, combined with regular patrols by the RCMP and the fact that we have several people that live on board has kept thefts and damge to a bare minimum. During the winter our pride and joy, a C27, resides in our driveway at the front of the house where it is almost impossible to approach it with out being seen. All the neighbourhood kids have been made aware of the dire consequences should they be caught playing street hockey within slapshot range of the hull. This may not be the salt chuck, but it does have it's advantages.
M
Myrna Antonich
Safe in Seattle
We live 2 hours from our marina (Elliott Bay Marina), across the mountains so we decided to pay the extra bucks for the features of this marina. It also has the locked gates to each slip and live aboards all around us. Besides that this marina is in an out-of-the-way area. Cars of people just don't go driving by to gawk and look at the marina. The only thing at the end of this is the marina and a fancy restuarant. There is 24 hour security and they bring in their dock hands for extra hours if there is a storm abrewing to go around and do a double check on the lines etc. For instance, when Seattle got snow dumped on it big time a couple of years ago and a lot of marina's had damage, their people went around and shoveled show off of boats, etc to make sure nothing was in danger of sinking. On a regular basis they check the boats and lines a couple of times a day and if there is ever a problem, they would call. (so far nothing) When we leave the boat we always double line to both sides of the bow, dock side of the stern and then a spring line, bow to mid and stern to mid. May be a lot of lines, but better safe then sorry. We also have a daughter that lives in the area with access to the boat in case of emergency.
We live 2 hours from our marina (Elliott Bay Marina), across the mountains so we decided to pay the extra bucks for the features of this marina. It also has the locked gates to each slip and live aboards all around us. Besides that this marina is in an out-of-the-way area. Cars of people just don't go driving by to gawk and look at the marina. The only thing at the end of this is the marina and a fancy restuarant. There is 24 hour security and they bring in their dock hands for extra hours if there is a storm abrewing to go around and do a double check on the lines etc. For instance, when Seattle got snow dumped on it big time a couple of years ago and a lot of marina's had damage, their people went around and shoveled show off of boats, etc to make sure nothing was in danger of sinking. On a regular basis they check the boats and lines a couple of times a day and if there is ever a problem, they would call. (so far nothing) When we leave the boat we always double line to both sides of the bow, dock side of the stern and then a spring line, bow to mid and stern to mid. May be a lot of lines, but better safe then sorry. We also have a daughter that lives in the area with access to the boat in case of emergency.
C
Craig Cody
Live-aboard Security.
I feel that my boat is reasonably safe. I live aboard, and the finger has six other live-aboards. There is a card-key lock on the gate that closes off the main walkway, but it doesn't offer much security. People just walk in with people who unlock it. Most of the theft (very little) seems to have been perpetrated by people who come into the marina by dinghy. They just tie up alongside or behind a boat and offload what they want. I happen to think the best security available is live-aboards. We have a real neat little community on our dock, everybody knows everybody else. Of course, the coastal commission, in their infinite wisdom, limits the number of live-aboards to 100 in the entire marina (about 1200 slips). I'm so glad they are there to protect me.
I feel that my boat is reasonably safe. I live aboard, and the finger has six other live-aboards. There is a card-key lock on the gate that closes off the main walkway, but it doesn't offer much security. People just walk in with people who unlock it. Most of the theft (very little) seems to have been perpetrated by people who come into the marina by dinghy. They just tie up alongside or behind a boat and offload what they want. I happen to think the best security available is live-aboards. We have a real neat little community on our dock, everybody knows everybody else. Of course, the coastal commission, in their infinite wisdom, limits the number of live-aboards to 100 in the entire marina (about 1200 slips). I'm so glad they are there to protect me.
R
Rod
Padlock
I live in Maine and my boat is moored right in front of my house so security has not been an issue. My main concern up here would be the SW (prevailing summer wind) and the fierce NW (prevailing fall and winter winds) I usually launch my boat in late April which is very early for Maine and don't pull till Nov. My mooring security is the most important factor. I bought a 4000# Granite block with 15 feet of Coast Guard chain on the bottom and 25 feet of 1/2 inch top chain.The mooring sits in 11 feet at low with a pure mud bottom. To secure my boat to my mooring I use two 3/4 inch Yale cordage mooring pennants with Kevlar chaffe guards. My Cat 30 has with stood winds in excess of 60 mph more than a few times. I usually take my sails and dodger down when high winds are predicted. As for hurricanes my boat stays put on her mooring. With only three other boats near by I don't worry at all. Like my mooring guy says "jeez yud puhl the bit out the boat for ya even lift ya bottom chain with that set up" I think he thought my mooring was overkill but I'm comfortable.
I live in Maine and my boat is moored right in front of my house so security has not been an issue. My main concern up here would be the SW (prevailing summer wind) and the fierce NW (prevailing fall and winter winds) I usually launch my boat in late April which is very early for Maine and don't pull till Nov. My mooring security is the most important factor. I bought a 4000# Granite block with 15 feet of Coast Guard chain on the bottom and 25 feet of 1/2 inch top chain.The mooring sits in 11 feet at low with a pure mud bottom. To secure my boat to my mooring I use two 3/4 inch Yale cordage mooring pennants with Kevlar chaffe guards. My Cat 30 has with stood winds in excess of 60 mph more than a few times. I usually take my sails and dodger down when high winds are predicted. As for hurricanes my boat stays put on her mooring. With only three other boats near by I don't worry at all. Like my mooring guy says "jeez yud puhl the bit out the boat for ya even lift ya bottom chain with that set up" I think he thought my mooring was overkill but I'm comfortable.
P
Paul Tourville
New moorings
Up here in the Merrimack River, Massachusettes we have a good way of taking care of any scumbags who get caught trying to steal a boat or its belongings, we bash their head in with a bat and put their feet in cement and use them for a new mooring. I know it sounds mean but we work hard for and on our boats.
Up here in the Merrimack River, Massachusettes we have a good way of taking care of any scumbags who get caught trying to steal a boat or its belongings, we bash their head in with a bat and put their feet in cement and use them for a new mooring. I know it sounds mean but we work hard for and on our boats.
C
Chris Bloor
Safety
Our boat was vandalized at our marina last winter during the Christmas to New Years week. Our marina is not gated, but the gated ones seem to be open in the wintertime anyway. Someone, probably a kid according to police, broke the hasp off the hatch cover to gain access, then tried to crowbar our easy-out stereo out of the nav station bulkhead. They got it out, but crushed it, and left it for us to find. Gee, guys, thanks a lot! Then they stole our tools, so they probably broke into the next boat using our hacksaw! We had shrink-wrapped last year, so there was no snow damage from the open hatch. There was, however, to another boat broken into that wasn't covered. Not much though as I understand it since it never got warm enough for the snow to melt before marina personnel got to it. Anyway, I feel like someone else mentioned earlier -- if they want in, they're going to get in -- to my house, my car, my boat..... Chris Bloor s/v Great Escape III C-42 #372
Our boat was vandalized at our marina last winter during the Christmas to New Years week. Our marina is not gated, but the gated ones seem to be open in the wintertime anyway. Someone, probably a kid according to police, broke the hasp off the hatch cover to gain access, then tried to crowbar our easy-out stereo out of the nav station bulkhead. They got it out, but crushed it, and left it for us to find. Gee, guys, thanks a lot! Then they stole our tools, so they probably broke into the next boat using our hacksaw! We had shrink-wrapped last year, so there was no snow damage from the open hatch. There was, however, to another boat broken into that wasn't covered. Not much though as I understand it since it never got warm enough for the snow to melt before marina personnel got to it. Anyway, I feel like someone else mentioned earlier -- if they want in, they're going to get in -- to my house, my car, my boat..... Chris Bloor s/v Great Escape III C-42 #372
C
CO Editorial
Final results
Final results for Quick Quiz ending 1/31/00: "Is your boat 'safe' at its slip/mooring/parking place?" 73% Yes (128) 14% No (26) 8% Safe from weather only (14) 3% Safe from theft only (6)
Final results for Quick Quiz ending 1/31/00: "Is your boat 'safe' at its slip/mooring/parking place?" 73% Yes (128) 14% No (26) 8% Safe from weather only (14) 3% Safe from theft only (6)
- Status
- Not open for further replies.