Canadian Yachting
Leaving your boat unattended for months over the winter can make it a target for thieves. When storing your boat, make it unappealing to a passing thief with these simple tips from the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS).
1. Remove any electronics mounted on your boat. Permanently installed ones, should be photographed and record the model and serial numbers in case you need to file a claim or police report. According to Jared Chartrand of Northstar Insurance in Barrie, ON you can get a reduced deductible on navigation electronics, one of the most common theft insurance claims during winter storage.
2. Bring home any fishing gear, watersports equipment, expensive life jackets, fenders and other gear often get stolen along with electronics, as well as the boat’s registration.
3. A PWC, sailboat or an outboard-powered boat that is less than 26 feet and stored on a trailer are also hot things to steal. The chart below shows US numbers:
If storing your boat at home on a trailer, arrange it so the tongue does not face the street for an easy getaway. Remove one wheel from an axle. Hitch receiver locks may also deter theft. PWCs can be stored inside a locked garage or secure storage facility.
4. On sterndrive-powered boats, outdrives can be easy to steal as they don’t take very long to remove and are expensive to replace. Removing and storing the outdrive annually can also allow for annual preventive maintenance such as a critical bellows inspection, a common cause of sinking.
5. Remove and store small outboards in a secure location, such as a locked garage or basement. Install a lock on larger outboards.
Original article found here.