Being pro-active in relation to theft prevention is certain to be highly beneficial when it comes to hiring a high-end sail or motor-driven boat for the boating vacations.
Here are some of the basic steps that can be taken to prevent theft:
Keys
Remember to be careful with the keys. A simple step that can be taken to avoid a potential threat is to be very careful with the keys and to make certain they are never left in the ignition slot when the vessel is unattended or not in use.
Lay-up
Secure the vessel in the most appropriate way. Whether the boat is on land or on the water there is a wide range of steps that can be taken to avoid theft.
Hitch Lock
If on land and the vessel is a trailer sailor, a high-strength hitch lock is certain to be ideal for giving the ideal level of protection for the short periods that the boat and trailer are left unattended. Although, if planning on leaving a trailerable boat for a significant period of time, you might want to look at removing one or two of the wheels from the trailer and securing the frame to an unmovable object with a heavy duty chain.
Secure Equipment
If you are mooring up in a quiet and secluded spot, you always want to make certain all items of equipment are safely on board. A tender dinghy for instance is often a target for theft, you really want to make certain that this item is stowed on board if possible or secured with a padlock and chain to the main vessel.
Marine Berth
If a boat is likely to be moored in a marina, choose a safe destination which is able to offer the ideal lighting and security. A full-time security service is likely to be most beneficial to guarantee the safety of the charter vessel.
Personal Items
Avoid leaving personal items, like the fishing equipment or portable electronics, on board the vessel when it isn’t in actual use. If you aren’t easily able to remove these items to a safer location, you should at least make certain that they are all concealed inside the cabin out-of-sight.
Anti-theft alarm and/or tracking system
A high-tech anti-theft alarm or tracking system installed is certain to make a motor-driven boat, sail boat, or PWC less attractive to attempt to steal.
Cabin Locks
A vessel can be made more secure by the rental company such as replacing the standard spring-latch locks with a more efficient deadbolt-type lock assembly.
Regular checkups
If planning to leave the boat unattended whilst ashore sight-seeing it can benefit to check on the boat at regular intervals to ensure it is safe.
In summary
A would-be thief will strike as soon as an easy opportunity is detected. By taking simple precautions it is possible to avoid theft of the boat or equipment. Make sure the proper preventative measures are taken to increase the time it would take to gain access and remove the boat from the mooring or place of storage.