TO LOCK OR NOT TO LOCK?

[mjk1040]

Well I do a little of both and even one better! Sometimes if I remember, I lock it, sometimes I forget and leave it unlocked and sometimes I'm in another state of mind and leave the door wide open! My fear is they are still there when I come back, to drunk to leave? Never a lack of booze on board! Well that will keep the thieves wondering! LOL Mike

[Lyndon670]

As a police officer, I say lock it.

I lock min every time I leave. Nobody has a spare key for my cabin, I keep one on the boat in a hidden compartment. Only the marina manager and one of my best buddies who docks beside me knows where the hidden key is. This stops "nosey" marina staff from boarding my boat.

As for the theft issue, locking you boat will make the theives that are "more than transient" to go and find another boat. They are looking for a quick grab and dash, they do not want to spend any more time than is necessary to grab a stereo or TV and be gone.

The criminals that are going to smash your boat door are typically vandals - it is an opportunity crime. These would typically be drunk teenagers that are egged on by each other. If they end up on your boat, it doesn't matter what you have locked. If they cant get in, they will probably find something else on your boat to destroy. I read an article last week about a boat that was torched in a marina by these type kids, and the police later caught them.

I have LED lights on timers in the cabin, that also helps. My aft cabin night light turns off and on every hour for 15 minutes after 10pm during the boating season. My salon lights come on at dusk and shut off at 1130pm.

Lock it up, makes no sense to leave it unlocked.

[Viper]

Thanks for your reply Lyndon. I was looking forward to your input specifically because of your background. It'll be a hard change for me to lock up based on my previous experience noted above but I'll certainly give it some thought.

[cpoint]

I keep mine lock, and am at a place where I would have thought I was safe. And in the past left it unlocked accidentally, I mean literally door wide open for a week. Nothing happened, but about 2 months ago, while dinghy was behind it, with motor tied to the dock with so called strong security lock, some idiot (or idiots) came by took the motor, but were kind enough to leave the dinghy. Filed a police report for the record... I would keep it lock still, with bunch of cameras pointing to it now

[mjk1040]

Guess we'll all have to be a little more diligent locking up! Would love to put camera's up, but our marina wifi only works half the time. Mike

[RGrew176]

When I am at my marina or any marina I keep it locked. At the moment it is unlocked because they will need to get into the boat when they start working on the transmission. Anything of value I removed and brought home for the winter. Not much there to take now.

[Ramsport47]

I keep it locked during the week while we are at home working...mainly because Cedar Point Marina is attached to Cedar Point Amusement Park which gets millions of visitors per year, and you never know who'll be wandering down the docks. While it's stored in it's heated building, I keep it unlocked...mainly because I work there and check on it almost daily. Hasn't been a day gone by since it's been out that I haven't seen it. The boat takes me to my happy place!

[Viper]

Qr Bbpost.... Hasn't been a day gone by since it's been out that I haven't seen it. The boat takes me to my happy place!

Same with me Kenny. I'm not on her every day but pretty often just to get my fix. I'm talking about the boat. I sure miss her, again, the boat.

[waybomb]

Mine's parked right in front of my place and I lock it up.

The bridge had no protection, it's just a sunbrella enclosure, so somebody could steal all of it.

Neighbor had all his fishing gear stolen one year.

I don't think you can stop a thief unless you are right there.

And if I were I have a nice Mariner shotgun ready!

[Viper]

Has anything changed for you since the last time we discussed this? Winter layup coming again. Locking up for the winter or no?