Only owned Mahalo for a week, and someone tried to steal her - Page 2

Molly · 07-10-2018, 11:03 AM

Hate to go political, same thing is happening in San Fran. Liberal policies, free needles, backing off by the police, increased homeless. It's a fact of life in many cities around this great country.

I guess all you can do is get a great security system and VOTE!

Sorry this happened to you.

Here in Florida, homeless people are squatting on derelict boats, both in the water and on the hard. Marina's have many abandoned boats. People cant pay the yard bill and walk away. The marina has to jump thru many hoops to dispose of the boats, and it costs them money. The scary part is Florida is a "concealed carry" and stand your ground state. You're situation could have gone real ugly!

BandB · 07-10-2018, 11:07 AM

As to marina security, that takes many different forms. I see limited access with gates, a little help. Then guards, and they help a bit. Certainly some marinas more secure than others, but none completely secure. In fact, I knew one marina that had the illusion of great security but continued issues as, of course, the marina was on the water and the recurring thefts were taking place from the water.

JustBob · 07-10-2018, 11:09 AM

Also, was just thinking, I could have used the hailer instead of opening the PH door. I should think that would sound more scary to the perp, and is less risky for me.

I just fired up the vhf and found it. Will try it out later today.

Alaskan Sea-Duction · 07-10-2018, 11:31 AM

Sorry to hear Bob. This person is not a "poor homeless" guy, he is a thief!! If I had the same situation, the thief would be face down on the deck with a 44 mag pointing at his head until the cops showed up.

Bob, I would be having a very very serious discussion with the Hampton folks and demand they place 24 hour security on site. You spent A LOT of money here and they need to listen. I would also demand that all the commissioning folks be pulled back to your boat and not leave until the job is done 100%....

JustBob · 07-10-2018, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alaskan Sea-Duction

Sorry to hear Bob. This person is not a "poor homeless" guy, he is a thief!! If I had the same situation, the thief would be face down on the deck with a 44 mag pointing at his head until the cops showed up.

Bob, I would be having a very very serious discussion with the Hampton folks and demand they place 24 hour security on site. You spent A LOT of money here and they need to listen. I would also demand that all the commissioning folks be pulled back to your boat and not leave until the job is done 100%....

Everyone seems to feel it is a very isolated event, things like this happen here very rarely. Obviously with the city catering to drug addicts it will be happening more.

About 7 pm last night two security guys were walking the docks. I engaged them and asked them if they had heard about the incident. That was pretty shocking. So the marina ownership didn't even care enough to report it to their security company.

The guys were very apologetic, neither of them were working the night before. They gave me their ph number.

As far as demanding 100% of the commissioning team's time, I'm trying to be thoughtful to the bigger picture. There are only so many guys to go around for all the boats here. For each company I have dealt with, this is by far their busiest year (some have had their revenues doubled).

Some of the issues they go address on another boat are keeping that owner from going out boating. Next year (and thereafter) I will be one of those guys. I just need 90 minutes of some guys time to fix whatever so I can get back to boating.

We had a very productive day yesterday. Best day yet IMO.

vistar · 07-10-2018, 12:12 PM

Notice toothbrush on the dock, change of clothes and food in backpack. The perp was going places - and planned to use your vessel. It would be very hard to sell your boat, so there may have been a bigger plan that ended with scuttling. Being near the border, this situation could have been very dangerous for you. I'm glad you were able to scare him off without confrontation. Personally, I would have been frozen with fright. You did well.

dhays · 07-10-2018, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vistar

Notice toothbrush on the dock, change of clothes and food in backpack. The perp was going places - and planned to use your vessel. It would be very hard to sell your boat, so there may have been a bigger plan that ended with scuttling. Being near the border, this situation could have been very dangerous for you. I'm glad you were able to scare him off without confrontation. Personally, I would have been frozen with fright. You did well.

No. The guy is likely just an addict, thief,vandal, and homeless. He certainly didn't have anything more in mind that a possible joy ride, and a fun place to crash for the night. Likely everything he owns is in that pack.

Nomad Willy · 07-10-2018, 12:35 PM

Well I haven’t done that. But it’s not on my bucket list either.

healhustler · 07-10-2018, 02:31 PM

Happy things worked out the way they did. Given the circumstances, I think you did well, but we all have post-judgment syndrome in the aftermath. Funny though, how one can happen to be on the boat during a rare moment. In our three years in one location, I was aboard overnight only twice. Both times, there was an incident.

mramoo · 07-10-2018, 04:37 PM

Glad things turned out OK, here is something the has been in my family for as long as I can remember. We all have an isolated hidden switch that has to be turned on before any engines will start, this will help keep unwanted people from starting you vessel.

Airstream345 · 07-10-2018, 04:39 PM

Wow, scary and a sad commentary on Seattle's SLU waterfront. We are in a very old, basic, somewhat-run-down but gated marina not too far from where you're getting commissioned. Fortunately we seem to have enough liveaboards in the marina and street traffic outside (to the restaurant/banquet hall next door) that we don't seem run into issues (yet anyway). While we don't live aboard I've taken to leaving a light on in the salon to at least make it look occupied. I figure that might deter the drunken kid factor but who knows what a motivated thief or addict would be willing to do.

Without getting into it here, I do have to wonder what our city council is doing. It's getting worse, with no real plan or options at scale for the homeless or addicted. I often wonder what people getting on and off cruise ships downtown must think of our fair city. Sad all around really.

All said, you handled two very scary and dicey situations incredibly well, securing your new boat in more than one way. Well done!

markpierce · 07-10-2018, 06:57 PM

Don't want to imagine what would have happened with your boat if you weren't there. Now, can you trust marina security if you aren't present? ... Calling 911 and turning on exterior lights are a sound initial response if one is present. ... If I had a firearm available, I'd take it in hand in case the trespasser took the offensive.

JustBob · 07-10-2018, 07:11 PM

Also, the thruster mystery has been solved. Have to have the "STABILIZER" breaker on.

ARGH.

The reasoning makes sense, ABT-Trac makes both.

Would have been nice to know. We have some "captain training" coming up, I'm sure they would go over that then.

I just needed that info a few days ago...

markpierce · 07-10-2018, 07:11 PM

During my absences during the last seven years, thieves have stolen a hose stored on the dock and taken a pump from the canvas-covered dinghy on top of the saloon roof. The marina has locked/gated docks and supposed night security. So the thieves were probably fellow dockers or outsiders coming by boat.

twistedtree · 07-10-2018, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vistar

Notice toothbrush on the dock, change of clothes and food in backpack. The perp was going places - and planned to use your vessel. It would be very hard to sell your boat, so there may have been a bigger plan that ended with scuttling. Being near the border, this situation could have been very dangerous for you. I'm glad you were able to scare him off without confrontation. Personally, I would have been frozen with fright. You did well.

Even if he tried to take the boat, he wouldn't get very far. If he didn't run aground in either of the cuts in/out of Lake Union, it's almost certain he wouldn't make it out through the lock to the sound. I think the likely outcome would have just been boat damage, which would have sucked.

markpierce · 07-10-2018, 07:46 PM

Some years ago someone stole a boat from our marina, tearing out the dock cleats, raiding the alcohol beverages, and running ashore outside the Golden Gate.

High Wire · 07-10-2018, 09:56 PM

Where could the guy have gone? Its Lake Union. Don't you have to go through Ballard Lock to get out? Can't imagine that happening. It was probably going to be a reckless (Wreckful?) joyride.

AusCan · 07-11-2018, 04:13 AM

I'm glad it all worked out in the end, Bob.

Yes - there are some random types people out there. I guess if someone want to take a boat for a joyride, they go for a nice, big one. The clear thinking types may go for one they can handle, but they usually aren't the ones going for joyrides.

FF · 07-11-2018, 06:02 AM

"If I had the same situation, the thief would be face down on the deck with a 44 mag pointing at his head until the cops showed up."

A 44Mag would do damage to your boat , a shotgun with rock salt is a better choice for deck sweeping.

Mule · 07-11-2018, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FF

"If I had the same situation, the thief would be face down on the deck with a 44 mag pointing at his head until the cops showed up."

A 44Mag would do damage to your boat , a shotgun with rock salt is a better choice for deck sweeping.

If you are gonna go hero, do it right. Dead men tell no lies. You would end up holding the short end of that stick once law enforcement got involved, at least a very likely possibility.