Actually I'm not too concerned about traditional prates as I am about just general break in and burglary. I've been thinking about installing some sort of burglar alarm system on the boat to sound a high pitch alarm and turn on the spreader lights if someone sets foot in the cockpit. What about a motion detector or a pressure pad. Has anyone installed anything like this?
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Be very careful!
A piercing car alarm type siren will not make you popular at any marina. Harbor masters will occasionally come aboard and move a boat in the mooring field because of swing, shifting, ect. I had a bottle of scotch that was stolen at a very reputable marina, actually they left the bottle but emptied it. Usually thefts are inside jobs, buy a good lock, take home any portable gps, radios, or valuables and my advise pass on the alarm.
A piercing car alarm type siren will not make you popular at any marina. Harbor masters will occasionally come aboard and move a boat in the mooring field because of swing, shifting, ect. I had a bottle of scotch that was stolen at a very reputable marina, actually they left the bottle but emptied it. Usually thefts are inside jobs, buy a good lock, take home any portable gps, radios, or valuables and my advise pass on the alarm.
theft
An audible would be quite annoying to your fellow marina neighbors. If you are very concerned about theft, i would 1.)change my marina, 2.)lower my insurance deductible, and 3.)leave nothing of value on deck. A bright light hooked up to a motion sensor might do the trick, if u can adjust the sensitivity to disregard birds, otherwise your battery will pay the price. I have found that a little bit of trust goes a long way in the boating community...maybe i've just been lucky...
An audible would be quite annoying to your fellow marina neighbors. If you are very concerned about theft, i would 1.)change my marina, 2.)lower my insurance deductible, and 3.)leave nothing of value on deck. A bright light hooked up to a motion sensor might do the trick, if u can adjust the sensitivity to disregard birds, otherwise your battery will pay the price. I have found that a little bit of trust goes a long way in the boating community...maybe i've just been lucky...
Crime onboard
I agree to leave nothing on deck or in the cockpit for thieves to take. In the marina we currently in we have had some crime and several people have added alarms. They really haven't helped, just annoyed everyone and forcing them to have it ring inside the boat. Only problem no one can hear it. Just think about car alarms. When we used to live in the Wash DC area we heard so many car alarms that went off without being burglurized that after a while one of the neighbors came by asking if anyone saw the car thieves. No one did because afer a while of hearing the alarm go off falsely we just ignored it. The car was gone!
I agree to leave nothing on deck or in the cockpit for thieves to take. In the marina we currently in we have had some crime and several people have added alarms. They really haven't helped, just annoyed everyone and forcing them to have it ring inside the boat. Only problem no one can hear it. Just think about car alarms. When we used to live in the Wash DC area we heard so many car alarms that went off without being burglurized that after a while one of the neighbors came by asking if anyone saw the car thieves. No one did because afer a while of hearing the alarm go off falsely we just ignored it. The car was gone!
Captain Bil
it was after reading your web site that I became concerned about burglary. I'm really not worried about my marina there is very little theft here except for boats on the hard during winter. But when I start cruising later this year, I am more concerned especially having someone board the boat at night while I'm sleeping. I know what you mean about car alarms but since alarms are not frequently used on boats, I would think one going off on a boat would draw more attention unless of course they go off too often unnecessarily. Even if the alarm was only in the cabin, it would alert someone on board if they were boarded.
it was after reading your web site that I became concerned about burglary. I'm really not worried about my marina there is very little theft here except for boats on the hard during winter. But when I start cruising later this year, I am more concerned especially having someone board the boat at night while I'm sleeping. I know what you mean about car alarms but since alarms are not frequently used on boats, I would think one going off on a boat would draw more attention unless of course they go off too often unnecessarily. Even if the alarm was only in the cabin, it would alert someone on board if they were boarded.
Motion alarms
Radio Shack has motion sensor alarms that are small, easy to turn off & on, effectively loud, and inexpensive. Positioned carefully, they can cover entrances & hatches, but still allow you to get up and use the head in the middle of the night without waking up the anchorage. (Beware, however: One or two false alarms with these things, and you'll be considered as welcome as a fleet of PWC's.) Like car alarms, this may be a case of the solution perhaps being worse than the problem. (We've all heard car alarms go off with the passage of a loud motorcyle by the sensitvely equiped vehicle. Does anyone call the police?) Joshua Slocum's anti-theft remedy may still be quite effective -- spreading tacks, business end up. The Swiss Family Robinson approach - rigging up a bunch of bells (or the ship's bell?) to a light tripline should also work.
Radio Shack has motion sensor alarms that are small, easy to turn off & on, effectively loud, and inexpensive. Positioned carefully, they can cover entrances & hatches, but still allow you to get up and use the head in the middle of the night without waking up the anchorage. (Beware, however: One or two false alarms with these things, and you'll be considered as welcome as a fleet of PWC's.) Like car alarms, this may be a case of the solution perhaps being worse than the problem. (We've all heard car alarms go off with the passage of a loud motorcyle by the sensitvely equiped vehicle. Does anyone call the police?) Joshua Slocum's anti-theft remedy may still be quite effective -- spreading tacks, business end up. The Swiss Family Robinson approach - rigging up a bunch of bells (or the ship's bell?) to a light tripline should also work.
Carpet tacks
Capt. Slocum figured this one out! If that's all you're worried about, spread some carpet tacks on deck and you WILL know if someone is trying to sneak onto your boat! If you have not read his book, please do. Too many other things moving around on a sailboat to be very effective as far as "motion sensors".
Capt. Slocum figured this one out! If that's all you're worried about, spread some carpet tacks on deck and you WILL know if someone is trying to sneak onto your boat! If you have not read his book, please do. Too many other things moving around on a sailboat to be very effective as far as "motion sensors".
Volumetric pressure alarms
The cabin pressue changes when the cabin is breached. I have a 1 min delay to find the kill switch, which is under the head. I also have a 1 min 100 dcbl horn located at the bow to alert my slip neighbors. The system shuts off and re-arms in 10 secs. Total cost: 30.00 for the horn 40.00 for the Vol. AP Gauge 8.00 for the relay swichtes.
The cabin pressue changes when the cabin is breached. I have a 1 min delay to find the kill switch, which is under the head. I also have a 1 min 100 dcbl horn located at the bow to alert my slip neighbors. The system shuts off and re-arms in 10 secs. Total cost: 30.00 for the horn 40.00 for the Vol. AP Gauge 8.00 for the relay swichtes.
Tom, Good Luck!
Is there anyone still talking to you in the harbor or Marina? I hope that you are on a mooring about a six pack from shore by dinghy. Your system would not last long at our dock. A 100 dcbl horn at 3:00AM would not be welcome and probably would not happen more than once. Jon McClain
Is there anyone still talking to you in the harbor or Marina? I hope that you are on a mooring about a six pack from shore by dinghy. Your system would not last long at our dock. A 100 dcbl horn at 3:00AM would not be welcome and probably would not happen more than once. Jon McClain
Essentials of a Marine Alarm Sysyem
I found this article about boat alarms (see URL) interesting. Followed his link to www.voicealarm.com and found some neat stuff. Seems there are motion detectors that use an upper and lower beam. Both beams have to have both broken to be real alarm. Might prevent false alarms from birds etc. Your system sounds good Tom. But what exactly is a Vol. AP Gauge?
I found this article about boat alarms (see URL) interesting. Followed his link to www.voicealarm.com and found some neat stuff. Seems there are motion detectors that use an upper and lower beam. Both beams have to have both broken to be real alarm. Might prevent false alarms from birds etc. Your system sounds good Tom. But what exactly is a Vol. AP Gauge?
Voice Alarm
The Voice Alarm goes way beyond what most of us would require, at a correspondingly high cost. Voice Alarm: http://www.voicealarm.com/index.html Basic System $ 599.95 Includes: Control Panel, 2 Button Transmitter, 30 Watt WeatherProof Speaker, High Water Sensor, Cabin Door Magnetic Switch, Armed/Disarmed Indicator, Key Switch w/ 2 keys, Warning Stickers 3" x 5", Instructions, Wiring Diagrams. Some ‘Extra’ Options: Cellular AutoDialer Notification System: $ 499.95 Transmitter / Receiver: $ 249.95 InfraRed Camera Monitoring System: $ 249.95 Technical Support: http://www.voicealarm.com/support.html Operators Manual (On-Line): http://www.voicealarm.com/pdf/Operation%20Manual.pdf By e-mail request (not on-line): Installation Manual Installation Tips Wiring Diagram
The Voice Alarm goes way beyond what most of us would require, at a correspondingly high cost. Voice Alarm: http://www.voicealarm.com/index.html Basic System $ 599.95 Includes: Control Panel, 2 Button Transmitter, 30 Watt WeatherProof Speaker, High Water Sensor, Cabin Door Magnetic Switch, Armed/Disarmed Indicator, Key Switch w/ 2 keys, Warning Stickers 3" x 5", Instructions, Wiring Diagrams. Some ‘Extra’ Options: Cellular AutoDialer Notification System: $ 499.95 Transmitter / Receiver: $ 249.95 InfraRed Camera Monitoring System: $ 249.95 Technical Support: http://www.voicealarm.com/support.html Operators Manual (On-Line): http://www.voicealarm.com/pdf/Operation%20Manual.pdf By e-mail request (not on-line): Installation Manual Installation Tips Wiring Diagram
Crime and boats
I did not mean to make it sound that crime is bad here. It does happen. In all of the time we have been in the Caribbean the crime rate has been very low when compared to the DC area. We saw some crime in the Marina we kept our boat in on the Chesapeake Bay. I was hoping to remind people that crime happens and it is easy to get lax or to drop your guard.Boats are easy targets and we sometimes forget to lock them tight and close up the hatches, not to mention all of the expesnive stuff we leave in the cockpit. We have been guilty of that too! Crime is one of things that it is easy to say it doesn't happen here or it only happens to the other guy. Excuse the cliche but ..'an onch of prevention'
I did not mean to make it sound that crime is bad here. It does happen. In all of the time we have been in the Caribbean the crime rate has been very low when compared to the DC area. We saw some crime in the Marina we kept our boat in on the Chesapeake Bay. I was hoping to remind people that crime happens and it is easy to get lax or to drop your guard.Boats are easy targets and we sometimes forget to lock them tight and close up the hatches, not to mention all of the expesnive stuff we leave in the cockpit. We have been guilty of that too! Crime is one of things that it is easy to say it doesn't happen here or it only happens to the other guy. Excuse the cliche but ..'an onch of prevention'
My thought
is to rig a personal type of loud alarm to the slider and hatch cover when on board, so as to wake you up. I have never had the need, but I have one from a Company named Quorum,(may no longer in business,) It is the size of a deck of cards, has a pull string to activate,If I use it I would attach to the underside of the slider,and fasten the string to the hatch board, when the slider is opened, the alarm will sound until you replace the pin. Battery powered and simple.
is to rig a personal type of loud alarm to the slider and hatch cover when on board, so as to wake you up. I have never had the need, but I have one from a Company named Quorum,(may no longer in business,) It is the size of a deck of cards, has a pull string to activate,If I use it I would attach to the underside of the slider,and fasten the string to the hatch board, when the slider is opened, the alarm will sound until you replace the pin. Battery powered and simple.
Not a "marine" system but
it is cheap and looks effective for keeping an eye on your stuff. These guys have several packages for home automation. http://www.x10.com/products4/vk66a_ab49_lpd_cj.htm
it is cheap and looks effective for keeping an eye on your stuff. These guys have several packages for home automation. http://www.x10.com/products4/vk66a_ab49_lpd_cj.htm
If money is no object...
...I believe that they make a cellular based system that will alert you to "events" on your boat. It will make a phone call to your cell phone or whatever other numbe ryou put in. Then if you have an on-site dockmaster after hours, you could call them and have them check on your boat. I haven't found a link for it yet.
...I believe that they make a cellular based system that will alert you to "events" on your boat. It will make a phone call to your cell phone or whatever other numbe ryou put in. Then if you have an on-site dockmaster after hours, you could call them and have them check on your boat. I haven't found a link for it yet.
More on the X-10 system
You can get a motion sensor and use it to control a number of things. One is to start a video recorder and camera to record what is happening. Another is to activate a variety of other items - any or all of the following list - alarm, lights, phone dialer to call someone and notify them of the intruder, water sprinkler, rex-10 barking dog, etc. None of this stuff is too expensive. There is a lot of it on eBay.
You can get a motion sensor and use it to control a number of things. One is to start a video recorder and camera to record what is happening. Another is to activate a variety of other items - any or all of the following list - alarm, lights, phone dialer to call someone and notify them of the intruder, water sprinkler, rex-10 barking dog, etc. None of this stuff is too expensive. There is a lot of it on eBay.
Hatch Lock
Somebody on this forum some time ago suggested the following. Get a pair of the plastic fittings made for putting up closet hanger bars. Mount one on the inside of the flange on the after edge of the hatch and the other on the inside after edge of the cabin top. Get a stout wooden closet bar (2") and cut it to drop into the two fittings when the hatch is closed. The bar should be fore-and-aft when mounted. Nobody will be able to push the hatch back with it in place. Cost, maybe ten bucks and you can hang your clothes on it at night. This will ensure that nobody can get into your boat while you sleep.
Somebody on this forum some time ago suggested the following. Get a pair of the plastic fittings made for putting up closet hanger bars. Mount one on the inside of the flange on the after edge of the hatch and the other on the inside after edge of the cabin top. Get a stout wooden closet bar (2") and cut it to drop into the two fittings when the hatch is closed. The bar should be fore-and-aft when mounted. Nobody will be able to push the hatch back with it in place. Cost, maybe ten bucks and you can hang your clothes on it at night. This will ensure that nobody can get into your boat while you sleep.
Hatch lock
Garry, that was LaDonna that had that setup, and there are pictures of the setup in the catalina photo forum. Peter
Garry, that was LaDonna that had that setup, and there are pictures of the setup in the catalina photo forum. Peter
Burglar Alarm
Go have a look at www.marsetech.com of Marine Security Technologies in Glen Ellyn, IL. We represent Blue Ray Boat Security Systems of Australia. It is a GSM mobile phone based security system that monitors your boat, not only fir break ins but also for proper bilge pump function, battery monitoring. You can even remotely switch on your fridge, kill your engine (in case of theft) etc. The system can be adapted to your particular needs and is affordable. You can send an e-mail to jdk@marsetech.com for more info.
Go have a look at www.marsetech.com of Marine Security Technologies in Glen Ellyn, IL. We represent Blue Ray Boat Security Systems of Australia. It is a GSM mobile phone based security system that monitors your boat, not only fir break ins but also for proper bilge pump function, battery monitoring. You can even remotely switch on your fridge, kill your engine (in case of theft) etc. The system can be adapted to your particular needs and is affordable. You can send an e-mail to jdk@marsetech.com for more info.
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