Security on a liveaboard in Puget Sound and San Juan’s

[GrandWood]

Hello all, was talking to a bottom diver and he had expressed concern over people stealing from your boat when your not aboard. Is this something that I should be concerned about while living on the hook around Puget and the San Juan islands this winter.

To me it just seems crazy that someone would come out to my boat, board it and steal from me while at shore hiking and such.

I’m from western slope of CO and in the 27yrs living there I never even locked the doors to my house, even when vacationing away from home. Heck, i always left my car keys on the console of my vehicle in my driveway, even when going down to a local store.

If it’s true that I have to pay attention to the types of people and boats near me, I’ll have to get locks for everything then.

 

[SteveK]

Keeping the boat locked is preferred by insurance.
I have always been more concerned going ashore by dingy and the inconvenience of it being stolen.

 

[CharlieO.]

Have two dinghies and leave one tied to the stern when you are away. Makes people think there may be someone on board.

 

[Frosty]

I don't know if Puget Sound is specifically bad for this (is it?), but except for certain times and places in Central America, I have not worried about this. I lock up, and I don't specifically leave glitzy things in sight, but that's all. There are so many ways a determined thief could get into my boat, that it would not be practical to harden them all. I don't have room to carry a "decoy" dinghy just for that purpose.

Dinghy-wise, I would worry more about the one tied to shore while I'm there.

******************

I probably worry (a little) more when aboard rather than when gone, just because it would be upsetting/scary to have someone board at night while we're asleep.

It's a little easier on a sailboat, because generally the portlights are too small to climb through, so you only have the companionway and maybe a hatch, if its large enough. Then it seemed worth the effort. But on a boat like yours (or mine), it would seem a Herculean task beyond simply locking the doors.

Or.... let's see what others think about it. Maybe I'm operating in dreamland.

 

[Mac2]

When I was at Port Townsend a couple years ago doing a bottom job, the locals warned me to put my tools away at night. They advised the homeless people, anchored off shore, were known to come ashore at night to steal. These homeless boats stick out like a sore thumb with all the crap piled on the boat and lack of maintenance. The abandoned boats are different in that you don’t see any signs of life aboard. The only place that comes to mind to me in the San Juans is Blind Bay on Shaw Island. I’ve never anchored there, but I have cruised past it the last 20 years and have seen the same boats anchored there. I don’t know if they are abandoned, or a small homeless population. Maybe someone could chime in here. No doubt the locals would fill you in anywhere you go if you ask. My biggest concern has always been my outboard/dinghy when going ashore. I put apple tags on my dinghies-don’t tell anyone.

 

[JackConnick]

We've had problems at our YC on the lake, mostly "homeless" types breaking in and making themselves at home...Also at Shilshole.
Cameras are a good idea.

 

[Frosty]

Well darnitall....

 

[SteveK]

I put apple tags on my dinghies-don’t tell anyone.

PM me where the tags are, so no one else knows.

 

[Mac2]

PM me where the tags are, so no one else knows.

Right next to the motion activated det cord.

 

[jrd22]

I live in the San Juans and to my knowledge there's not a problem with theft. Over the last 20 years here I don't remember seeing anything in the local paper's weekly police reports about theft off of a boat. There are some problems ashore and anything can happen but personally I don't worry about it, certainly not if anchored. Anywhere south of here (Everett, Seattle, Tacoma) I avoid like the plague and if I had to be there in the boat would definitely have everything locked down tight (lots of crazies there).

 

[GrandWood]

I probably worry (a little) more when aboard rather than when gone, just because it would be upsetting/scary to have someone board at night while we're asleep.

I have a 106lb German Shepard that likes chewing on strangers that don’t belong, it’s his boat. 12guage for back up

 

[Delta Riverat]

Yeah, dogs. Ya gotta just love dogs, best burglar alarms ever. Don't even matter about the size, just the barking. And of course you have to have the sign;

If you hear my dog barking, I'm loading the shotgun

 

[BruceK]

I have a 106lb German Shepard that likes chewing on strangers that don’t belong, it’s his boat. 12guage for back up

Few things as scary as an angry German Shepherd in full attack mode. Go the Shepherd!

 

[Bmarler]

I live in the San Juans and to my knowledge there's not a problem with theft. Over the last 20 years here I don't remember seeing anything in the local paper's weekly police reports about theft off of a boat. There are some problems ashore and anything can happen but personally I don't worry about it, certainly not if anchored. Anywhere south of here (Everett, Seattle, Tacoma) I avoid like the plague and if I had to be there in the boat would definitely have everything locked down tight (lots of crazies there).

Do you have personal knowledge of that? I cruise south sound extensively and haven’t had any theft issues. I do typically lock the boat when at a dock, but rarely when at anchor.

 

[Wtrguy]

In 40 years we've never had issues with people on the boat in the San Juan's. The only loss we've had is a couple of crab pots that disappeared overnight in a calm anchorage. 99% sure it wasn't currents dragging them away.

Dealt with some riff raff out of Everett one night that resulted in a couple guys going for a late night swim from the jetty to get away from all the angry boaters. It was amazing how fast that place woke up after the first yell. That said, I've never had visitors (that I know of) while swinging on a hook. Seems like that would be a more attractive target than a group of boats on a dock.

 

[CharlieO.]

I followed a YouTube channel where some people were having problems around Cornet Bay Marina (Deception Pass State Park) with derelict anchored boats going onto other boats and pilfering things.
I guess just as on land-avoid the bad neighborhoods.

​

 

[Teaghlach]

More worried about theft with boat at marina than being anchored out. Pretty ballsy for someone to climb on your boat at anchor as there is nowhere to run. You periodically hear about marina boats being stolen from (mostly dinghies and small outboards) as it is easier to prowl from the water side. We had a late night "visitor" at my marina last spring as caught by the cameras. Luckily nothing was taken.
Like on land, stay away from the homeless groups and derelict boats, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[CharlieO.]

Pirates in Lake Union?

Puget Sound Boating | Humorous look at one of the pirate boats in Seattle | Facebook

Humorous look at one of the pirate boats in Seattle https://www.tiktok.com/@pipsforyou

www.facebook.com

 

[Mac2]

Pirates in Lake Union?

Puget Sound Boating | Humorous look at one of the pirate boats in Seattle | Facebook

Humorous look at one of the pirate boats in Seattle https://www.tiktok.com/@pipsforyou

www.facebook.com

I look at this boat every day from my workplace. The amount of stolen items accumulating on the boat is amazing. The ebike selection is almost as good as the local bike shop.

 

[CharlieO.]

I look at this boat every day from my workplace. The amount of stolen items accumulating on the boat is amazing. The ebike selection is almost as good as the local bike shop.

It’s amazing that people can just get away with that behavior with no intervention.
The incident I referred to above the culprits knew the boat owner was in the hospital for a few days and helped themselves and it seemed like the were in the process of stealing the entire boat. They went as far as painting the boat a different color.
Police and park rangers declined to intervene.

 

[Kaniksu]

Do you have personal knowledge of that? I cruise south sound extensively and haven’t had any theft issues. I do typically lock the boat when at a dock, but rarely when at anchor.

B - We should let everyone know the truth, it's the right thing to do. South Sound is gangsta. It isn't safe, don't come down. Everything south of the Narrows is anarchy. Peligro!

 

[SteveK]

B - We should let everyone know the truth, it's the right thing to do. South Sound is gangsta. It isn't safe, don't come down. Everything south of the Narrows is anarchy. Peligro!

So NIMBY?

 

[SIBERNUT]

An old style credit card machine does a good impersonation of a pump shotgun..........

 

[Frosty]

An old style credit card machine does a good impersonation of a pump shotgun..........

Ha ha. I'm picturing that part of the boat checklist now:

2b) Obsolete slide style credit card machine. Check!

 

[Bmarler]

B - We should let everyone know the truth, it's the right thing to do. South Sound is gangsta. It isn't safe, don't come down. Everything south of the Narrows is anarchy. Peligro!

Um, uh, yeah, that’s what I meant to say. Yeah, that’s it, bad, horrible, don’t go there!

 

[jrd22]

Do you have personal knowledge of that? I cruise south sound extensively and haven’t had any theft issues. I do typically lock the boat when at a dock, but rarely when at anchor.

Glad to hear you haven't had any problems. I was referring to being tied to a dock in the bigger towns, and I'm sure there are some great, safe places to anchor down south.

 

[BDofMSP]

Once I chartered in the San Juan's and was anchored out with the boat unlocked. I was woken by the whole boat shifting as someone climbed onto the swim platform. I was confused because I hadn't heard a dinghy come up. Frightened, I yelled out but there was no reply and no motion. I had to go out and confront the intruder.
Boy did that guy jump into the water quickly. I never saw a SEAL move that fast!

Felt pretty stupid.
BD

 

[MichaelD]

I live and boat in the San Juans. I have heard of very little crime of an aggressive nature associated with boats, though there are stories of various transgressions associated with derelict and "homeless" liveaboards (as far as I'm concerned a boat is a home) that are more anti-social in nature. The biggest threat I've seen comes from otters who will make a mess, crap all over your boat, chew on your stuff. So like anywhere, be alert and sensitive to what's going on around you and respond accordingly.

We frequently cruise down-Sound, and I always lock up when leaving the boat there. Going north, it depends on where we are, but I probably lock less.

 

[Mark Laurnen]

I have spent a great deal of time in the island over the past fifty years, including nine years working summers at Roche Harbor. I had a salmon net stolen from a boat moored in Friday Harbor, an expensive Yeti cooler stolen from a boat moored in Everett, and a worn 30 amp cord plus a ladder stollen from a dry boatyard in Anacortes. You still don't lock your car or house on San Juan Island. Hide or secure the small easily removed valuables, lock the cabin and I think you will be good to go. If you want to get a running current assessment, just read the "Police Log" in the Friday Harbor Journal ... major crimes like small property theft are big news and always included, along with other items like deputies called to homes because a senior couldn't get their internet connected! They would probably even help you on your boat because that's just the way it is up there.

 

[Gonromin_II]

I don't know if Puget Sound is specifically bad for this (is it?), but except for certain times and places in Central America, I have not worried about this. I lock up, and I don't specifically leave glitzy things in sight, but that's all. There are so many ways a determined thief could get into my boat, that it would not be practical to harden them all. I don't have room to carry a "decoy" dinghy just for that purpose.

Dinghy-wise, I would worry more about the one tied to shore while I'm there.

******************

I probably worry (a little) more when aboard rather than when gone, just because it would be upsetting/scary to have someone board at night while we're asleep.

It's a little easier on a sailboat, because generally the portlights are too small to climb through, so you only have the companionway and maybe a hatch, if its large enough. Then it seemed worth the effort. But on a boat like yours (or mine), it would seem a Herculean task beyond simply locking the doors.

Or.... let's see what others think about it. Maybe I'm operating in dreamland.

Yeah, I’m more worried about coming back from my grocery run to no dinghy. On the other hand, I also think they think, “if this dinghy says T/T boat name, that means no-one is on boat name, so now’s a good time to rustle it.” I think I’ll just give my dinghy a fake name or no name

S