Taking boat security seriously

A voyaging couple decides to invest in a high-end vessel protection setup

- REBECCA CHILDRESS

Sailing around the world for more than 12 years, through more than 50 countries, it seems we have been lucky to have not lost anything to thieves. But we feel one’s luck runs out at some point, and the worst will eventually happen. Rather than paying an insurance premium, we put that money into upgrading and maintaining our boat in a seaworthy condition. This year, our “insurance budget” paid for installing a real marine security system to protect our equipment and us from people who may be determined to carry our things away.

Dinghy outboards have always been targets, as have cellphones and cash, but now thieves are also very interested in marine electronics, scuba gear and other treasures found on most cruising sailboats — not to mention the boat itself.

It is time for cruisers, not just superyachts, to take the lead from landlubbers and beef up security aboard our boats. Otherwise, many of us will pay the price. People ashore lock their homes and cars, and have security alarms and services, yet many sailboats leave hatches open and doors unlocked while blissfully asleep in paradise. Innocence is waning though; over the recent years, tightening of security on cruising sailboats has been a trend.