Boat Theft??

[David Hunt]

Here's one I haven't seen on the board before-



Have any of you had your boat and/or trailer stolen?

From the dock, home, on the road?



My wife and I were talking about it last night and I said I have never seen anything on the board about it. I have seen the comments about gear being stolen, but not about boats or trailers.



david......

 

[Texas Transplant]

Saw the information earlier in the year where the pro had his entire rig stolen: Boat, motor, trailer, all gear and tow vehicle. SUV was recovered (badly damaged) but nothing else. Worst part was that much of what was stolen was not covered by insurance since he was in business. Therefore, since he did not specifically have business insurance to cover loss by theft . . . .



We have a problem at our local lake whereby people are stealing stuff out of vehicles parked in the ramp parking area, while they are on the water. Even some reports that trailers have been stolen - empty - while fishermen are on the water.



Tex

 

[Rich Stern]

Sorry, we are drifting from the original question, but since we are talking boat theft...my neighbors up at Lake Hartwell had their two jetskis stolen. The jetskis were tied up to their dock. How bold were the theives? The scumbags actually made a seperate trip to the house with a truck to steal the trailers, too. They got nailed within a few days. Turned out to be druggies who were stealing PWCs from all over the area and selling them to get money for their habit. Vermin.

 

[Texas Transplant]

Rich - how can they be vermin, they (after all), were stealing jet skis!



Tex

 

[Dave Muniz]

I had an outboard stolen off the back of my previous boat. It was locked down too! I was selling the rig and had it parked in front of a friends house on a major road for exposure. The only reason they didn't take the whole rig (IMO) was I had removed a wheel and the coupler was locked. The dirt bag(s) cut the cable lock that I had bolted the motor to the boat.

My homeowners insurance covered it though and I made out better than I would have if I sold it outright. I had a heck of a time selling the boat wothout a motor and took a real beating on the sale. But that, as they say, is another story.



Dave

 

[Rich Stern]

Tex: I have a Polaris jetski. I would tell you more about it, but I have to go forage for nuts.



P.S. I keep a telescoping ultralight in the front compartment of the jetski...imagine getting cut off by a jetskier who then proceeds to start casting around your honey hole!

 

[Bill McElroy]

the HORROR!!!!!

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Being so close to the Canadian border we have a lot of theft rings that snag stuff here and skip back to escape. A few years back we had a rash of bigger/premium trailers, (bassboats, walleye boats, bigger tin, etc) that were being stolen at local ramps. Didn't matter if you had a lock on it either. They would unbolt the tongue off the trailer, had a 2" tongue and receiver of their own and rebolted the new one with no lock on. They were pros for sure. Imagine coming back from fishing and having NO trailer to put the boat on. Then what???? As far as off the topic.... at the NY Fed tourney a few years back, the morning of the tourney found a LOT of guys missing props, one was missing his whole lower unit, a few TM's and the guys that were foolish enough to leave gear, rods and finders locked in the storage found pryed lids and no gear. Really sucked. I would like to find the culprits and give those old boys that got robbed 5 minutes alone with the thieves! LOL That would be justice. I insure everything! Especially contents. Since I found 2 kids trying to get into my boat last year in the wee hours of the morning, I know park my boat right next to my dogs run and leave him out at night in the summer! A great deterrent thus far.

 

[Texas Transplant]

Anyone that is a serious fisherman, and owns a jetski, probably knows how to operate it within the 'rules of the road'.



Got another example yesterday afternoon of why some people should not be allowed near the water. Nice young lady (mid to late 20's maybe), at the lake/ramp with her new jetski. She had the trailer backed down to the ramp, and ready to load up. Asked for help with her rig. She got it part way on the trailer, and then couldn't figure out how to get it all the way on. Soooooo, one of the guys there launching his party barge, waded out and attached the bow line and proceeded to crank it up about 8-9 feet onto the trailer.



Next she proceeds to drive completely around the parking area, and parks in the boat launch prep line to put on the transom ropes and get it ready for the trip home.



Tex

 

[Pierre Voisine]

Being so close to the US border we have a lot of theft rings that snag stuff here and skip back to escape. A few years back we had a rash of bigger/premium trailers, (bassboats, walleye boats, bigger tin, etc) that were being stolen at local ramps. Didn't matter if you had a lock on it either. They would unbolt the tongue off the trailer, had a 2" tongue and receiver of their own and rebolted the new one with no lock on. They were pros for sure. Imagine coming back from fishing and having NO trailer to put the boat on.





hehehe Rob!!! Why would Canadians steal you boats ???



We had some guys here get caught steeling lots of boats parked in the yards. They would use dry ice to freeze the locks and hitch balls, tap them with a hammer and run off with the equipment. Lock or no lock if they want it, they will take it.



Pierre

 

[Rob LaMoy]

It was from Montreal Pierre. There are a lot of big theft rings that come down for boats and motorcycles, now cars too! LOL I see what you mean, I should have been more specific. If I recall correctly the motorcycle thefts were the Quebec Hells Angels, who also had a HUGE drug smuggling biz going on just across the border. Funny, DEA, DEC, State police etc would stop fishing boats and pontoons but would leave those big a$$ cigarette boats running down alone! GEEEEE I wonder which ones had the drugs??? Yeah, my money is on the 14' V-hull with the 9.9 HP on it driven by the retired school teacher! LOL

Pierre, if we were closer to NYC, the post would likely have been "being so close to the city..."

 

[TrepMan]

There was a "ring" of thieves down here on Allatoona a few years ago. Their MO was to find a ramp where there was only 1 or 2 trailers just after dark, idealy looking for folks they think are single boaters (maybe they staked the launch out earlier in the day). They would then take OUT the valvestems from both of the trailer wheels. The unsuspecting boater would go to back his trailer into the water, find 2 flats, unhook the trailer and head home/store to get new tires. Then the crooks would come back, re-install the valvestems, pump up the tires and steal the boat/trailer.



I don't know if they caught the guys, but I ALWAYS check my valvestems when I pull out and IF I get a flat in the parking lot I know what to look for first!

 

[Larry Harp]

I heard a car alarm in the middle of the night and thought about all my gear in the boat parked in the driveway with just those cheap little locks holding back the great un-washed. Like most of you have stated, locks no matter how good, are never completly theft-proof so I was thinking how easy it would be to rig a simple alarm to the lids that hold the more expenseve tackle. All it would take is a few button switches wired to a horn wired to the battery. Not exactly Fort Knox but I think most theives would be suprised by the noise and make a swift exit.

Have any of you ever installed an alarm on your boat?



Harpo

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

I have used one of thore portable alarms that you can put on your door at a hotel/motel. Pretty easy to rig up a little hidden system whereby if the cover is moved it goes off. Never had it go off yet (and yes I still have my tackle). LOL



TOXIC

 

[Rob LaMoy]

I think Cabela's sells a locker alarm for boats. I don't recall the price but I do remember seeing it. As for me, I lock the lids, then am putting a Loc-R-bar on it, and then put the cover on it at night. Usually that is enough to send them to the next boat. If they want it badly enough, they will get it, that's what insurance is for.

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Rob, I have a problem drilling holes in my boat ANYWHERE!! It's just a thing with me. It's the logic behind my jeep with the soft top on it....there is no way to stop them, so don't make it so they destroy your vehicle/boat to get at what they want. Likewise, if on the road, don't be lazy, pull your gear and take it in the room with you if you are in doubt.



Are you going to mount the "through the hull" plug for your new Guest charger? I put all of the hardware on the plug but couldn't make myself get out the hole saw. LOL It'll be there for her new owner!!



TOXIC