Marine Theft

The most likely culprits involved in marine theft are relatively unskilled, young amateurs who strike where they find an easy opportunity. The best way to keep from becoming a victim is to make it difficult for someone to take anything.

• Remove anything easy to take from your boat, especially electronics and fishing tackle.
• Mark all your equipment in a concealed area with an ID number, so if the police recover the property, you will be able to identify it as yours.
• Keep a photo or video log of the interior and exterior of your boat. Open all drawers and lockers to show their contents. Store the log away from the boat.
• Make an inventory of your equipment, along with any serial numbers.
• If you have a small outboard motor, remove it, or add an outboard motor lock.
• Install a prop lock.
• If you have a personal watercraft, use heavy vinyl-coated cable and shielded locks to lock it to a stationary fixture on the dock. Always take the kill switch with you when you leave it.
• If your boat is on a trailer:
  • Store the boat and trailer in a locked garage or other facility.
  • If the boat is at home, park it out of sight.
  • If the boat is parked in the driveway, put another vehicle behind it.
  • Use a trailer hitch lock.
• If you need to leave any equipment on the boat, lock everything out of sight.
• If you have a hatch, install an exterior hatch lock.
• If you have sliding windows, install a length of dowel rod in the window track to keep it from opening.
• Never leave the keys on the boat.

If you find your boat, trailer, or gear missing, report it to the local law enforcement agencies and your insurance company.