You are NOT going to believe this

Drama Queen said:
We took our ignition keys home with us this time. Plus we chained our cabin door shut and chained our boat to the dock. So he or she will get the message they are NOT welcome.:smt013
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HUH? You use to leave your keys on the boat?
 
BigFish said:
Could you possibly use one of those trail cameras hidden somewhere on your boat? Their quiet, and can take multiple photos in seconds.
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Perfect idea. And cheap too. I have one of these in a digital version; takes photos like every 10 seconds whenever it detects motion, day or night. Doesn't make any sound. Got it for Christmas; think it was $99 or less. Though I have never before thought about using it other than deer trails, I guess there are other great uses for it!!
 
Morpheus said:
HUH? You use to leave your keys on the boat?
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regarding leaving the keys in the boat...it's not like they are up in the cockpit dangling from the ignition. They were locked in the cabin, that is where you turn the ignition on and off on our boat. I understand that you read this and think duh!! However everyone I know on our dock who has their ignition keys inside leave them in the cabin and just lock the door. So do I feel stupid??? Yes!! however I don't feel alone.

All dockmates have been informed and we have exchanged phone numbers and emails and all will be getting ahold of the marina owner.

I also understand wanting to catch this person, but I can't be there 24/7 and a camera would catch them taking out my boat again and being on my boat again. I just didn't want this stranger in home again. Not even to try to catch him. It's very easy to say now "yep, we should have left everything the same and just set up some surveillance or something." But at the time on a Sunday afternoon, not knowing what else to do but make it so they couldn't take it again sounded just fine.
 
Drama Queen said:
regarding leaving the keys in the boat...it's not like they are up in the cockpit dangling from the ignition. They were locked in the cabin, that is where you turn the ignition on and off on our boat. I understand that you read this and think duh!! However everyone I know on our dock who has their ignition keys inside leave them in the cabin and just lock the door. So do I feel stupid??? Yes!! however I don't feel alone.
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Oh ok, when I read your first post I was thinkin well yea if you leave the keys in the ignition what did you think, but now I see you were locking them in the cabin.

That totally sucks, but if the lock on your cabin is anything like the lock on my head door I don't know if I would trust it but still it's not like you left the boat on the side of a street it was in a marina with other boaters and boats I would never expect something like that, the gas getting stolen yes but to have someone not steal your gas but take your boat on a joy ride and dirty it up that is just awful.

I'm with the others, I'd lay in wait and shoot to kill and dump him overboard for the fishes.
 
I wouldn't beat yourself up over the keys. I think it depends on where you live. I know a lot of people who leave their keys in their boats and also leave their house unlocked.
 
HavingFun said:
I wouldn't beat yourself up over the keys. I think it depends on where you live. I know a lot of people who leave their keys in their boats and also leave their house unlocked.
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Which is the dumbest thing people can do (this is not directed at the OP)! You're basically saying come steal my property if you do something like this. The same goes for people who leave their keys in their cars. Even leaving keys in the car while locked in the garage is a dumb thing to do. C'mon people! Common sense goes a long way. Simple things like keeping valuables in a safe (jewelry, cash, check book, ID's, SS cards, etc), doors and windows locked on the house (1st and 2nd floors), cars locked, keys removed and stored in a central locking unit, putting lights on timers.... these all will deter a thief. Yes, of course all of these items could be defeated, but why make it easier for them?

It surprises me that people reading this thread admit they will continue to leave their keys in the boat, hidden or not. How much easier will you make it for a thief to steal it? I mean their signatures state their boat name, location, etc. It wouldn't be hard for someone with some internet smarts to hunt down your boat and go steal it with you providing all the valuable information for them. You might as well just hand over the keys.

Let's see... Checking here http://www.frappr.com/clubsearay provides me with some marina and boat locations, along with here http://www.clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10201&highlight=dock+location

See, it's not hard. I wish people would just be a little cognizant about the info they give out along with the security measures they practice.

Doug
 
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Drama Queen said:
All dockmates have been informed and we have exchanged phone numbers and emails and all will be getting ahold of the marina owner.
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Sort of like a Neighborhood Watch for your dock. There are several people who keep their boats on our dock and who are there a lot of the time. I've made sure to introduce myself and give them my phone number. I may not be there quite as often, but I keep my eye out for any new faces, and go introduce myself to them. So far, no nefarious doings, but friendliness can be the flip side of safety.
 
I had even thought about the fact I have talked to everyone on this site about "you know hey going down this weekend." or whatever. Thinking that someone could pick up on when I would be there or not. But ultimately I just think they were able to get onto our boat, I think they checked out other boats too. A guy on the next dock over was convinced things were different on his boat, but didn't have any proof. We are spreading the word to everyone we know at our marina and they are spreading the word to everyone they know. Before long everyone will know, it's not that big of a community.

I do beat myself up over leaving the keys......It really is just DUMB and inviting, even locked in the cabin. If we would have taken the keys with us they could have never taken the boat. And we are up to about 800 dollars worth of gas used now. Not to mention the hours on the boat that we didn't put there.

so take head all my fellow clubsearayers....no matter how confident you feel...take the keys:):thumbsup:
 
Drama Queen said:
I do beat myself up over leaving the keys......It really is just DUMB and inviting, even locked in the cabin.
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ok, Ill finally chime in on this point, since you seem to be blaming yourself.

Nothing...NOTHING...gives anyone the right to take what isnt theirs regardless of whether you left the keys or not. It simply isnt your fault one iota.

You are not alone, and most people i know leave the keys in the boat at dock, regardless of size of boat. If I ever decide to slip, the keys will be in the boat, because more often than not they would be left at home or lost otherwise.
 
Drama Queen said:
I do beat myself up over leaving the keys......It really is just DUMB and inviting, even locked in the cabin.
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Where were they in the cabin? The reason I ask is that I wonder if it is a person that knows the boat and has been on it with you.
 
they were in the ignition things (I can't think of a better word) we always just turn them off and turn off the buttons that coinside with them. I don't think it was any one we have had on the boat with us. There have been really few people that we have had on this year. I even thought it might have been a service tech from MM for a minute, but really it was probably a stranger.

No worries it won't happen again. I trashed all the open food, bleached the bathroom and washed all the bedding, vacuumed out the cabin, wiped all the seats down and all that good stuff. I hope that makes me feel better when I go back down.

You are right it gives no one the right to enter or use even if the keys were dangling on the cleat right in front of them. I just feel dumb because it could have been avoided. But it's all good now. I am over it really I am really I think I am.......
 
I'm not trying to be harsh here but please, stop bashing about leaving keys on the boat and write something constructive or nothing at all.

If someone wants to use or steal your boat it does not matter one bit if you leave the keys on it or not. If they break open your door and screw up your ignition switches, they have still got your boat and now you have more things to repair.

Locks keep honest people honest and a spare set of keys on the boat keep you from ruining a good day by having to drive home to get them.

As a suggestion, one of my dock mates has a small rectangular plastic container with a three digit combo lock, like you would see at a water park or beach. Just big enough for keys and maybe a credit card that he keeps on his boat. In an emergency, he has a spare set of keys and you wouldn't know what it was unless you were looking for it. Beats leaving keys with open access but also allows you to have a spare set when needed.

By the way, I try to never use more than an eighth of a tank, that way my neighbors don't know I used their boat.....
 
Was someone bashing about leaving keys on the boat? Do you leave your car/truck keys in your car/truck and lock it in your drive way?

Yes if someone wanted to steal it they would. This guy obviously didn't want to steal it he just wanted a test drive, maybe he wants to buy it.

I'm not bashing, and I don't think it's right someone used the boat. But I also do not think you should leave keys on it if your not going to be there even if they are locked up.
 
Cocktail Time said:
I'm not trying to be harsh here but please, stop bashing about leaving keys on the boat and write something constructive or nothing at all.

If someone wants to use or steal your boat it does not matter one bit if you leave the keys on it or not. If they break open your door and screw up your ignition switches, they have still got your boat and now you have more things to repair.

Locks keep honest people honest and a spare set of keys on the boat keep you from ruining a good day by having to drive home to get them.

As a suggestion, one of my dock mates has a small rectangular plastic container with a three digit combo lock, like you would see at a water park or beach. Just big enough for keys and maybe a credit card that he keeps on his boat. In an emergency, he has a spare set of keys and you wouldn't know what it was unless you were looking for it. Beats leaving keys with open access but also allows you to have a spare set when needed.

By the way, I try to never use more than an eighth of a tank, that way my neighbors don't know I used their boat.....
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Any suggestions as to where one might purchase such a small rectangular plastic container with a three-digit combo lock?
 
Lowes and Home Depot both sell them. I forgot which one sells which, but one sells the Master brand like what Doug just posted and the other sells another brand which does the same thing.
 
tawcat said:
Any suggestions as to where one might purchase such a small rectangular plastic container with a three-digit combo lock?
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Lock Smith/Safe Store? I say that cause I have one across the street here from work and they have all kinds of stuck there.
 
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