Trespassing Help!

P

pinefd

New Member
Nov 9, 2008
4
Hi,

New member and new boat owner here, and glad to be aboard. I tried searching for this topic, but couldn't find anything, so please forgive me if it's been covered before.

We bought our first boat this year...a Sundeck 220, and we're loving it so far. We have it moored about 200 feet off of our beach, which is a beach that the whole neighborhood has access to. On a few occasions, we've seen some of the neighborhood teens (none of whom we know) climbing onto the back deck of the boat and sitting there, sunning themselves, diving off of, etc...basically using it as their personal dock. On a couple of occasions, they've even put the ladder down to facilitate getting onto the boat. We keep the covers on all the time, so they haven't gone into the boat...yet. We'll yell at them to get off, and to date, they've always complied, and are usually apologetic.

Any suggestions on trying to prevent this from continually happening? Thanks for any help you can give!


Frank
 
First, all I can say is WOW! I cannot believe people would be gutsy enough to do that regularly in the first place.

I guess the first "easy" thing I would do is try to get a sign made that you could hang on the back asking people to keep off. If that does not work you will need to get more drastic. Others may have better ideas, but that is all I can come up with for now.

-Ryan
 
Call the marine police next time, and let the kids explain why they are on someone else's boat without permission to them.

It would seem to me that this is no different than them letting themselves into your back yard and partying around your pool...

OR...

Next time that you see them on your boat, take your camera out there with you and take all of their pictures. If they ask what you are doing, simply explain to them that you are making a catalog of uninvited "guests" to show the police in the event that anything is lost, stolen, or damaged on your boat. Let them know that if anything at all happens to the boat, you intend to have the authorities interview them first.
 
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Does your neighborhood have an association or a board? If they do I would bring it up at the next meeting.
 
skibum said:
Next time that you see them on your boat, take your camera out there with you and take all of their pictures. If they ask what you are doing, simply explain to them that you are making a catalog of uninvited "guests" to show the police in the event that anything is lost, stolen, or damaged on your boat. Let them know that if anything at all happens to the boat, you intend to have the authorities interview them first.
Click to expand...
Survey says:

#1 answer.

Pass or play?
 
I know you are not in New Jersey. In Jersey, getting onto someone else's boat without permission would likely be a precursor to a visit to the hospital ER.
 
skibum said:
It would seem to me that this is no different than them letting themselves into your back yard and partying around your pool...
Click to expand...

That happens more often than you would think.

Many people don't keep dogs *just* for companionship.
 
Get a gull sweep, oh you said kids not gulls.....I would tell them once (as I would tell my kids) in a nice manner and explain to them they are tresspassing and that you are liable for them on your boat.......If they do it again, I would call the harbormaster and tell them you have spoken to them and they dont listen.....Let their parents get a call from the police and let them handle it........
 
We have had close, but not quite similar incidents over the years with our dock. We had neighbors telling their friends it was ok to us the neighborhood dock. This was despite a posted, "Guests are you friends who are with you, and trespassers are your friends without you", policy.

I echo Wetpaint's course of action, but would add that getting any meaningful change from the kids, or their parents, by just speaking to them is unlikely to happen. Speak to the kids, speak to the parents (if you know who they are), and then the next time it happens contact the harbormaster and let the police handle it. For us it unfortunately took the second step to resolve our problem.


Henry
 
Get this sign made then post it on the back of the boat where they can see it.


"PLEASE DON"T BOTHER THE SNAKES; THEY ARE HERE TO EAT VERMIN AND DO NOT LIKE TO BE DISTURBED. Antivenin bank and venom response unit information is available by calling (786)336-6600"
 
wow...on your swim platorm? that takes cojones! take photos, find parents, and call police.

5000 volts would be too difficult, although one helllll of a deterent.
 
Don't fight city hall. Even if you get people to stop now (thru any of the devilish methods suggested:grin:) someone else will do it next week or next month.

What I would do is have a full mooring cover made that covers the entire top deck of the boat including the swim platform. If the cover is made right no one will bother the boat or even know there is a swim platform under the cover. Plus, it will save the upper deck area from oxidiziing as well. I know of I had to leave a boat exposed to the elements all the time, I would have a mooring cover made for that reason alone.

Dave
 
Henry Boyd said:
I echo Wetpaint's course of action, but would add that getting any meaningful change from the kids, or their parents, by just speaking to them is unlikely to happen. Speak to the kids, speak to the parents (if you know who they are), and then the next time it happens contact the harbormaster and let the police handle it. For us it unfortunately took the second step to resolve our problem.


Henry
Click to expand...

I dissagree, not that it works everytime but I think if you talk with kids and explain what the issues are and why (theft) unfortunately you can't let them use your boat as hangout they do understand. They may even surprise you and keep an eye on your boat for you.
 
Some great suggestions here...I really appreciate it!

Since it appears to be different kids each time, and I don't know any of them (or their families), I'm not sure that just talking to the kids one or two at a time is going to solve the problem. The neighborhood association suggestion is a good one, but unfortunately, ours is as close to non-existent as it can get. I like the full mooring cover idea, and will definitely consider that as a last resort.

I think my approach will be to first put up a "No Trespassing" sign. If the problem persists, I may make up a flyer to put in everyone's mailbox making the neighbors aware of the problem, and asking for their assistance in speaking with their kids and guests. Hopefully, I won't have to go beyond those two steps.

And thanks again for all the suggestions...and the laughs! You sure made this newbie feel welcome. Stay tuned for my next thread..."How do I disconnect my boat from the mooring?" :huh:

:smt043


Frank


Edit: Another idea I thought of was to see if I could find a loud alarm type of siren (or a loud horn) that I could control remotely (when I see kids on the boat). Although it would be fun, and would likely scare the sh_t out of the kids, again, it's not a good long-term solution.
 
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Damn kids, how dare they enjoy the summer swimming.

Sugar is sweeter than vinegar.

How about suggesting the neighbors pitch in for a floating
swim platform and mooring anchor. Details can be overcome.
Now you would be a hero!

Welcome to CSR
 
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