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Dinghy locking poll /theft reports #132457
06/12/2017 10:57 PM
06/12/2017 10:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 24
Slidell, LA
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CaptRobear Offline OP
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CaptRobear  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 24
Slidell, LA
I saw some posts on this forum a while back on whether or not to lock dinghy, outboard and gas tank and various people's experience and suggestions in this regard. On our two prior BVI BB charters over the past 3 years in June we never locked the dinghy and had no problems, and never had a sense of concern, but I guess that changes if you experience a theft. We are headed down at the end of the week for a Moorings BB power cat charter and I was wondering if anyone had any CURRENT experiences, theft reports, thoughts or suggestions about the need to use a cable and lock to secure dinghy, outboard and tank either at the boat over night or at the dinghy dock while ashore. Do you lock your dinghy?

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Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: CaptRobear] #132458
06/13/2017 03:37 AM
06/13/2017 03:37 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
warren460 Offline
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warren460  Offline
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Posts: 2,151
Ontario, Canada
Lock it 99% of the time by day and up on davits at night.

It's not worth the risk.


Warren S/V Scuba Doo
Lagoon 50 (winner of best crewed yacht under 55 feet at the St. Thomas crewed yacht boat show).

https://www.cyabrochure.com/ebn/2307/pdyrX/6642/4///
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: warren460] #132459
06/13/2017 08:04 AM
06/13/2017 08:04 AM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Kirk Offline
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Kirk  Offline
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Posts: 1,392
Maryland
I lock it ashore and also lock it to the boat at night if it's a mono and has no davits. It's not a pain so why worry about the pain it would be if somebody "borrows" it?


Kirk in Maryland
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: Kirk] #132460
06/13/2017 08:37 AM
06/13/2017 08:37 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
There's really no reason not to lock it. We lock it ashore and lock it to the boat at night.


Matt
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: maytrix] #132461
06/13/2017 09:24 AM
06/13/2017 09:24 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 793
Redmond, WA
MrEZgoin Offline
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MrEZgoin  Offline
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Redmond, WA
Haven't locked the dinghy in 12 trips to the BVI. Never had one go missing.


M4000 "Lio Kai"
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: maytrix] #132462
06/13/2017 09:26 AM
06/13/2017 09:26 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 95
Indiana
Calvin Offline
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Calvin  Offline
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Posts: 95
Indiana
We chartered a Moorings 474 PC from the 5th to the 17th of May. During the boat check-out, I asked about a lock for the dingy. I was told "no, just take the little plastic clip on the coiled wire with you". I left it at that and that is what I did. My biggest concern was the Full Moon Party at Trellis Bay. No problems at all. Secretly I thought, it would have been a good thing if someone stole that dingy with that awful junk motor! Not really, because we experienced a dingy theft about 12 years ago and that was a big hassle! Incidentally, it was impossible to lock the boat! It would lock, but the lock could be easily defeated by sharply lifting up and sliding left at the same time. If you must lock things up, bring your own cable locks. One for the dingy and one for the boat. I'll say it again, we had no problems.

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: Calvin] #132463
06/13/2017 10:27 AM
06/13/2017 10:27 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545
Here and There
rita_irvine Offline
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Here and There
In the early trips we never locked the dinghy but things change and you need to use common sense. BVIYC always provides a long cable and lock for the dinghy. We use our judgement as to locking ashore. If we are close by in daylight hours usually not, but if we go to dinner somewhere at night where we do not have eyes on the dock ( Cane Garden etc.) we will lock the dinghy. We always lock it at night to the boat. Just don't want the hassle of losing it.


Rita
It is better to be happy than it is to be right

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Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: rita_irvine] #132464
06/13/2017 02:12 PM
06/13/2017 02:12 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Maria_and_Steve Offline
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Maria_and_Steve  Offline
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Colorado and Sailing the World
The expression in the Caribbean for cruisers is "Lock it or lose it".

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: Maria_and_Steve] #132465
06/13/2017 02:40 PM
06/13/2017 02:40 PM
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 263
Reno, Nevada
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TIMRIM Offline
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TIMRIM  Offline
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Reno, Nevada
14 years here, never locked a dinghy, always took the "red,orange coiled thingy", never had an issue. A moorings captain told me, just be sure to bring one home.

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: Maria_and_Steve] #132466
06/13/2017 02:42 PM
06/13/2017 02:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 70
Nixa, Missouri
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philthepilot Offline
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Nixa, Missouri
We always lock it to the boat at night and to the dock if we go ashore. I also put a cable and lock on the outboard to the boat. Back about 10 years ago we was about to pull out of a slip in Nanny Cay. As we waited for a boat to go by I noticed they didn't have a motor on their dinghy. When they passed I could see their outboard hanging about two feet under the water by their lock and cable. So, from then on I always locked my motor to the dinghy too. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />


Phil
Nixa, Mo.
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: philthepilot] #132467
06/13/2017 04:12 PM
06/13/2017 04:12 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 375
now - or when ?
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CGB Offline
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CGB  Offline
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now - or when ?
Money's getting tighter on-island
The economy - not that great
Why not lock things up - just to feel better?

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: CGB] #132468
06/13/2017 05:56 PM
06/13/2017 05:56 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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Massachusetts
End of the day, I think its really simple. Dinghy's have been stolen before. So is the 2 minutes it will take to lock it up more of a hassle then what you'll deal with if it is stolen? It's also probably worth checking to see what your liability is if it is stolen.


Matt
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: Calvin] #132469
06/13/2017 07:06 PM
06/13/2017 07:06 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 770
Kansas
captmoby Offline
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captmoby  Offline
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Kansas
When I was in Antigua years ago there were young teens with nice dingys they all used a plastic bag to wrap around the kill switch where the little plastic clip went.
Humm?


Jim
Sailmoby II
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: captmoby] #132470
06/13/2017 07:34 PM
06/13/2017 07:34 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 793
Redmond, WA
MrEZgoin Offline
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MrEZgoin  Offline
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Redmond, WA
There are too many "why not?" responses to consider them all rhetorical.

1) It's inconvenient.
2) It's a psychological burden to have to consider theft at every turn.

Yes, of course it's even more inconvenient to have the dinghy stolen. However, the actual probability of the dinghy being stolen also figures into this calculation. Personally, a discussion of the actual prevalence of dinghy theft and it's consequences is of more value than a blanket "why not?" applied to every possible precaution.


M4000 "Lio Kai"
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: MrEZgoin] #132471
06/13/2017 07:38 PM
06/13/2017 07:38 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Rockford, Michigan
aarpskier Offline
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Rockford, Michigan
Quote
MrEZgoin said:
Haven't locked the dinghy in 12 trips to the BVI. Never had one go missing.


Every mutual fund prospectus ever written states: "Past Performance Is No Guarantee of Future Results." Now, try to think of an area of life (sports, education, career, family, government, etc) to which this law does not apply. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Just sayin'.

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: MrEZgoin] #132472
06/13/2017 07:47 PM
06/13/2017 07:47 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Rockford, Michigan
aarpskier Offline
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Rockford, Michigan
Quote
MrEZgoin said:

1) It's inconvenient.
2) It's a psychological burden to have to consider theft at every turn.



Ssshhh! We assign lock and unlock duties to the grandkid who dons the coxswain crew shirt on a given trip. They think its fun and a high honor to wear the floating wristband and key! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: aarpskier] #132473
06/13/2017 07:54 PM
06/13/2017 07:54 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 793
Redmond, WA
MrEZgoin Offline
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MrEZgoin  Offline
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Posts: 793
Redmond, WA
Quote
aarpskier said:
Quote
MrEZgoin said:
Haven't locked the dinghy in 12 trips to the BVI. Never had one go missing.


Every mutual fund prospectus ever written states: "Past Performance Is No Guarantee of Future Results." Now, try to think of an area of life (sports, education, career, family, government, etc) to which this law does not apply. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Just sayin'.


Of course. I was just relating my experience. It provides a data point regarding prevalence, nothing more implied.


M4000 "Lio Kai"
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: captmoby] #132474
06/13/2017 08:21 PM
06/13/2017 08:21 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 198
SW Florida
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CptCook Offline
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Posts: 198
SW Florida
Quote
captmoby said:
When I was in Antigua years ago there were young teens with nice dingys they all used a plastic bag to wrap around the kill switch where the little plastic clip went.
Humm?


+1 LOL, Anyone can "own" one of those little plastic clips! Or use a quarter, a stick, a shell.....It is a shame to have to care these days, but "taking the little plastic clip" gives you about 2 seconds worth of security.


"Be a Traveler, not a tourist!"
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: TIMRIM] #132475
06/13/2017 09:07 PM
06/13/2017 09:07 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
sail2wind Offline
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sail2wind  Offline
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Posts: 10,213
GJ, CO S/V Long Overdue
Quote
TIMRIM said:
14 years here, never locked a dinghy, always took the "red,orange coiled thingy", never had an issue. A moorings captain told me, just be sure to bring one home.



Got a rubber band, hair scrunchy, or a piece of string?
This is a $5000 chance I will not take. It's so easy for charter guests to be so nonchalant, when it's not your property. When we had our boat, we rigged a simple rig to the D rings on the the dinghy and hoisted it with a spare halyard, instant davits. A 15" steel cable from Home Depot and a decent water proof lock can save you $$$$

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: philthepilot] #132476
06/14/2017 03:21 AM
06/14/2017 03:21 AM
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 8
Chesapeake Bay
pbmonk Offline
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pbmonk  Offline
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Posts: 8
Chesapeake Bay
Cooper Island Resort tells you not to lock the dinghy to the dinghy dock giving VISAR access as the reason.

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: pbmonk] #132477
06/14/2017 05:30 AM
06/14/2017 05:30 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 770
Kansas
captmoby Offline
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captmoby  Offline
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Posts: 770
Kansas
You are probably less likely to have a problem at the dock at Cooper than most anywhere else.


Jim
Sailmoby II
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: captmoby] #132478
06/14/2017 06:18 AM
06/14/2017 06:18 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
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NCSailor Offline
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NCSailor  Offline
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Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
The Moorings doesn't provide locks unless you ask. If you check a busy dinghy dock anywhere in the BVI less than 10% of the dinghys are locked. There was a rash a dinghy thefts a few years ago in Trellis Bay. I don't recall hearing about any since then.

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: NCSailor] #132479
06/14/2017 08:35 AM
06/14/2017 08:35 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Maria_and_Steve Offline
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Colorado and Sailing the World
If you would like to see the Caribbean theft reports, this is the website: https://www.safetyandsecuritynet.com

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: NCSailor] #132480
06/14/2017 10:20 AM
06/14/2017 10:20 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 133
NB, Canada
Call_me_Ishmael Offline
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Call_me_Ishmael  Offline
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NB, Canada
I've noticed that actual theft is pretty random and fairly rare. Nobody locks their dinghy for months and then all of a sudden one bad actor goes on a crime spree. Until they are caught ppl who are in the know (ie local) all lock their dinghys. A bigger problem is very drunk customers boarding your dinghy and borrowing it for a lift home at places like Foxys NYE or the Willie T.

My company had a very expensive RIB stolen in SXM a few years back and the local cops (who are spectacularly unhelpful) blamed it on organized crime or crooks from off island and did absolutely nothing to help. So don't expect much help if you are unlucky enough to lose your dinghy - I think this is a good reason to lock it up, since a charterer doesn't a prayer of getting it back if it is lost.

You don't have to be the most secure dinghy on the dock, but it helps if you are more secure than the guy beside you. I always take the key (or rather the hair band) when leaving to discourage drunk hop-ons at Foxy's, and lock the whole thing if I'm going far away or if my dinghy is one of the nicer ones on the dock. Most charter dinghys aren't worth stealing, but if you've got something longer that 10ft with more that 10hp it is worth taking the time so lock it.

Now if I could only find a way to keep confused drunk people from sleeping in my dinghy I would be all set.

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: Call_me_Ishmael] #132481
06/14/2017 11:04 AM
06/14/2017 11:04 AM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
UncleLuff Offline
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UncleLuff  Offline
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Posts: 345
Ottawa, Canada
The link below should take you to the BVI report.

https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/the-virgins-the-us-virgins-and-the-british-virgins/

Out of all the thousands of charters there have been 11 reported thefts of dinghies/outboards since 2006 in the BVIs (4of these happened same date, time, location in West end in 2007) All of the dinghies that were stolen were not locked.

The last reported dinghy theft was in 2014 in Cane Garden bay where two dinghies were stolen.

Low probability of having your dinghy stolen. But easy control to implement. At the end of the day ask the charter company what they recommend.

Last edited by UncleLuff; 06/14/2017 11:05 AM.
Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: maytrix] #132482
06/14/2017 05:20 PM
06/14/2017 05:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 219
Texas
Whitesail Offline
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Whitesail  Offline
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Texas
Quote
maytrix said:
End of the day, I think its really simple. Dinghy's have been stolen before. So is the 2 minutes it will take to lock it up more of a hassle then what you'll deal with if it is stolen? It's also probably worth checking to see what your liability is if it is stolen.

BVIYC has provided a cable and lock. They encourage you to lock the dingy at night and at a dock. I lock it at a dock to keep the drunks from taking the wrong dingy.

Wheels up next Wednesday. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />



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Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: Whitesail] #132483
06/15/2017 08:51 AM
06/15/2017 08:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 507
OU Sooner
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ggffrr11 Offline
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Its pretty embarrassing when you have accidentally taken the wrong dinghy at night. This gets compounded when the owner comes to your boat later that evening. It gets even worse when your first mate accuses him of being "drunk" and tells him to leave before he kicks his butt. Then, it doesn't help matters when the owner shines a light on the dinghy you accidentally took and it has his private boat's full name in 10" stencil across both sides of the inflatable. Life just doesn't get much better than that.

Since then, we tie a 3' foot piece of orange climbing webbing on the bow of our dinghy so that even we don't have any identification issues.

Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: ggffrr11] #132484
06/15/2017 11:22 AM
06/15/2017 11:22 AM
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545
Here and There
rita_irvine Offline
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Many moons ago we chartered from Conch. The dinghy was an old fiberglass POS. We asked well in advance to upgrade to a RIB but they would not do it even though when we got there they had several on the dock not in use.. We arranged to rent a RIB from another vendor. When we went to pick it up it was a great dingy but the engine had a skull and cross bones and Stone Cold Steve Austin crap painted all over it. The story was that the engine was brand new delivered in the crate late in the day to his dock. He left it overnight and when he got back the next day it was gone. He found it (through the grapevine) but the thief thought he could camo it by painting [censored] all over it. We had the coolest engine, no mistaking it on the dock and it ran like a champ!!


Rita
It is better to be happy than it is to be right

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Re: Dinghy locking poll /theft reports [Re: rita_irvine] #132485
06/18/2017 10:52 AM
06/18/2017 10:52 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,296
Colorado and Sailing the World
Maria_and_Steve Offline
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Colorado and Sailing the World
Sorry, it looks like the Caribbean Safety and Security Net's URL has changed to: https://safetyandsecuritynet.org


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