Tips to protect your boat and marine equipment from thieves

(Image credit: Collier County Sheriff’s Office)

With boating season in full swing, deputies with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office were out and about earlier this week talking to boat owners about protecting their vessel and marine equipment from theft. And although these deputies hail from North Naples, Florida, their safety and security tips are pertinent to any and all boating enthusiasts – no matter where your boat is docked.

Here are some safety tips on how to protect your boat and property:

Keep the cabin locked and the curtains closed.
Remove keys from the boat. If on a lift, turn off the breaker in the home to disable it. Raise the vessel to the highest level to make it more difficult to board from your dock.
Install an alarm system and tracking device to aid in recovering the vessel in the event it is stolen.
Install motion sensor lights or make sure the areas around the boat are well lit.
Install surveillance or game cameras and test them to make sure they will capture the face of an intruder.
Cameras are often placed too high and often don’t capture faces. Add signage indicating the property is under surveillance.
If possible, store your boat in a locked garage, building or secure storage facility. If that is not possible, secure the trailer to something with a case-hardened chain and a quality lock.
Keep valuables and electronics in a secure location.
Take pictures, record your serial numbers or engrave your driver’s license number or other distinctive marking on your valuable property for identification purposes.
Do not leave official documents about your boat (registration, title, etc.) on the vessel.
Remove the steering wheel if the boat won’t be used for an extended period of time.
Ensure you have identifying information about your boat (serial numbers, hull number, make, model, etc.) readily available in a safe location if it is needed for reporting a theft or identifying your belongings.
Don’t leave fishing equipment or gear outside. It takes a thief only minutes to steal it.

Happy and Safe Boating!

(Source: Collier County Sheriff’s Office)