Boat Security & Theft Prevention
A boat is an expense that’s not lightly undertaken, which means it’s an investment you’ll want to protect as much as you can. Leaving your craft out in the open or unsecured makes it vulnerable to enterprising thieves, particularly if it’s conveniently stowed in plain sight on a trailer they can tow away under cover of night.
So how do you protect and secure your treasured vessel? This guide by Yankee Boating Center should get you off to a good start. We’re your local boat dealer, with locations in Lake George, West Haverstraw and Diamond Point, NY, so bring us any boating questions you may have!
Locate A Secure Facility
First off, don’t store your boat in your driveway or worse, on the street. Anyone can walk or drive by, scope it out and return when you’re not there to take it off your hands or do some damage to it if they’re feeling vindictive. Store your craft out of sight, either in a garage or shed or behind a tall fence. Orient your trailer so the hitch isn’t facing the road, which will make a thief’s job so much more difficult.
When storing your boat at a marina or dry storage facility, you’ll want to ask whether they have regular patrols or camera surveillance of the premises. You should also ascertain where the points of entry are and if they’re secured with locks or trigger alarms. Storing your vessel out in the open is risky; keeping it indoors dramatically reduces the chances it will be stolen.
Keep It Covered
Another way to protect your boat from theft in addition to weather damage, pest infestation and sun-bleaching is to keep it covered. A well-fitting cover will prevent animals from nesting inside your craft over winter, and if it’s also waterproof, then rain can’t get in and damage the interior. A cover can also be one more barrier between a thief and their goal. Lifting up and removing a cover will doubtless draw attention from other people in the marina or facility. An uncovered vessel is one that’s more likely to be taken.
Take Out Valuables
Another temptation on your boat is the presence of personal items, particularly anything that has high value. You wouldn’t leave a computer or jewelry visible in your car, would you? Don’t leave these types of things on your marine vessel, either! Typical valuables found on a boat include GPS units and other electronics, cameras, fishing gear, watersports equipment and binoculars. Stow these items away in locked compartments or take them out and keep them at home until you’re going out on the water again. You’ll also want to take out any paperwork that would be difficult to replace.
Install Your Own Security
If you have sufficient funds to do so, you can go the extra mile by installing your own security system on your craft. The market is saturated with different types of security, from motion-sensor alarms to video cameras and GPS tracking systems.
What you go with depends on how much you can afford to spend and what makes the most sense for your craft and where it’s stored. You’ll want to ensure that you’re purchasing something marine-specific, though, since your boat is a humid and damp environment that can damage unprotected electronics.
Got the means to secure a vessel, but still lack something to cruise in? We have a full inventory of new and used boats for sale, so pay us a visit at one of our New York dealership locations! Yankee Boating Center serves the Albany metro area, as well as the cities of Lake George and Haverstraw.