MacGregorSailors.com

Been a few thefts down here at the Marina so I decided to make the boat way harder to get into, hopefully they’ll look elsewhere.

Done without drilling any holes.

Nice looking install. Super clean, and very serious appearance.

Hopefully, the visual will deter them. Hard to know which way to go on that. You could take all of your valuable equipment and belongings off, and leave the boat open. Or, lock it and make it a challenge... risking a sawzall attack.

I had a buddy with a convertible who never locked his car because he didn't want anyone to cut his top to break in. His wife left her purse in the passenger seat when they went to a party at a friend's house. The thief cut the top without even checking the door. What's worse, his wife's purse had a spare set of keys in it. You guessed it. The car was gone when they came out after the party. The police found it a couple of weeks later, somewhat the worse for wear.

Try to be the least valuable, hardest to get, target. The measures OverEasy discusses are good. Beyond that, not much you can do if someone really wants what you've got. A lot of folks frown on the ghillie suit and sniper rifle security system.

looks good!

But as far I can remember left and right you just have to take out 3 screws... and in you are...

So this is how I mounted it, with the bolts on the back of the handle. Those 3 screws holding the hatch or door aluminum have nuts on the back. Anyways think they would have to make a bit of noise to get in. Makes me feel better if nothing else.

I understand the damage thing, I had a stereo stolen from a rare car, broke the window and pulled the radio face plate out with it. The face plates for that car are super hard to find and cost $500 used, plus the window $350 etc. to steal a $200 stereo (a while back).

Sheppie62 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 22, 2022 8:39 am I understand the damage thing, I had a stereo stolen from a rare car, broke the window and pulled the radio face plate out with it. The face plates for that car are super hard to find and cost $500 used, plus the window $350 etc. to steal a $200 stereo (a while back).

THIS ^ is the reason I have a cheap, easy to defeat lock/latch. I'd rather they not bust my hatch to get in to steal whatever they think is valuable than do damage to the hatch. I've heard stories of thieves taking sawzalls to hatches and such without regard to boat damage.

When I lived in New Jersey, I had an alarm system with cheap lock/latch on my Hunter that would allow would-be thieves easy access without damage and then a blaring loud alarm to hopefully scare them off.

Highlander has an interesting hatch alarm that is simple and cheap. I may implement this one.


More here
https://macgregorsailors.com/forum/view ... t=security

A chain is only as strong as the weakest link.

The weakest link in our boat’s is plastic. It’s no big deal to cut through the hatch; be in and out.

I hope thieves don’t sawall may hatch door and steal my nice lock It’s in a marina so I really don’t think anyone would cut it, would be kinda loud. I Just think they will move on to an easier target at least that’s my thinking.

Sheppie62 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 8:22 am I hope thieves don’t sawall may hatch door and steal my nice lock It’s in a marina so I really don’t think anyone would cut it, would be kinda loud. I Just think they will move on to an easier target at least that’s my thinking.

Yea, most likely. Unless your boat looks like Highlander's with all kinds of goodies inside.

Nice theory, but It's amazing how reality can blow the best theory out of the water.

I'm not wishing bad on you, I'm just saying that's what insurance is for.

Yes I have good insurance. I
Might just velcro a strip of stainless steel on the inside edge of the hatch and door to prevent easy cutting around lock. And put that alarm on door, set so it would got off if anyone starts giggling the door. (Magnet side on spring?)

Hi All!

I like the simple insxpensive magnet switch alarm idea!
We at one time had one on our front door that also had a remote control.
Cost was about $20 and worked great.
Had two settings, intermittent and continuous.

Great idea!

Best Regards
Over Easy

NiceAft wrote: ↑Wed Mar 23, 2022 11:57 am Nice theory, but It's amazing how reality can blow the best theory out of the water.

I'm not wishing bad on you, I'm just saying that's what insurance is for.

Ray
I feel that's a false realism, no offence ! I,ve got almost 14yrs in labour on mods invested in my boat that no insurance company is going to repay me for that & anything on ur boat 5 yrs or older will b considered life time exspendicy & not covered & any electronics 3yrs or older u,ll b likely offered 3 to 5 % of what u pd for them , so for a claim regarding say $5,000.00 for breakin & damage & loss of property to ur boat u,ll b lucky to b offered $1,000.00& if u play hard ball they,ll just right off ur boat & u,ll get peanuts without a costly chase down , then u have to try & find another boat that is no longer in production & also ur next insurance premium on ur next boat will b tripled , insurance companies r in business to make money & would sooner spend money on lawyer's than pay a settlement , so I,m of believing the little cost of my security is worth all the avoided headaches plus my boat is not locked up like fort knox ! lol, no just motion sensor lights & cheap alarm systems & security camera with motion & infrared sensors with an alarm that sets off as soon as u try to board my boat so that deterrent lights & alarms & as soon as they realise that a camera is likely recording them know their identity is blown & take off , I,ve had two evasive boardings so far & as soon as they realised they were busted they took off , so it all depends whats on ur boat & where u keep it really . I see Rays opinion as his boat spends likely 60% of its time in his back yard where as mine has been in the water for the last 4 yrs constantly so it all comes down to ur own individual situation to each their own also , I,m not trying to say this is a must but rather try to inform others who r concerned & show them other options
no pun intended for others with with diff Idea,s or other options, just offering mine not saying u have to agree with me or otherwise it,s all about offering other options to help others make their own decisions

J

Not a great lock .
ALWAYS avoid Master... I pick as a hobby... not as good as this guy... not nearly..
The tool used is super cheap.. and found everywhere..

I'm a big fan of a deterrent.

I doubt most thieves are lock pick experts. From what I've read, most are in/out as fast as they can. Some will cut outboards off the transom with sawzalls.

A difficult latch will probably signal to a thief that this boat is well protected.

So if they see something that looks hard to get into or in Highlander's case, a motion light and camera, they will move on. Heck, even a faux camera works as a good deterrent as long as it's noticeable. Make a loud noise and most will probably scare off unless they REALLY see something they want.