If you own a boat, it is important that you use as much caution to protect it as you would to protect your home.
Your boat, and all of the items that you have stored on it, are all susceptible to being stolen by unscrupulous thieves.
Fortunately, you take can positive action to protect your boat from dishonest individuals.
The first thing you should do is take a good look around the marina (or other location) where you store your boat.
Take special notice of the people who generally hang around the area, as well as the overall geographic area in which it is located.
You always need to be aware of your surroundings, including any potential dangers that may present themselves at some point in the future.
Under Lock and Key Make sure that you have strong, sturdy locks installed on all hatches, doors, and lockers.
It may cost a bit more money to buy good quality locks, but the peace of mind it will give you knowing that your boat is securely locked down will be worth the cost in the long run.
When you are using your boat and you decide to stop off somewhere for just a few minutes, never leave the keys in the ignition.
While this might seem like an obvious suggestion, the reality is that people make the mistake of leaving their keys in the ignition all the time, never imagining that someone might steal their boat.
You should also remember to keep your motor secure, as these items are always targets for thieves.
There are special locks you can buy to provide extra protection for your motors, so make sure you invest in these.
Insurance and Alarm Systems Another action you should take in order to protect your boat is to ensure that you have adequate insurance coverage.
Often times, people tend to skimp on this type of coverage because they believe that it is not essential to put a lot of money into insuring their boats.
You want to make sure that you have sufficient coverage to protect you not only in the event that your boat is stolen, but in case you have any items stolen from your boat.
Make a list of your boat's serial numbers, as well as any identifying numbers on your motor, and keep it in a safe place.
These numbers will be important should your boat ever be stolen.
You might want to consider having a GPS system installed on your boat.
This will help authorities to be able to track the location of your boat, should the need ever arise.
You can also purchase a variety of different alarm systems for your boat.
The Canvas Snap Alarm System involves installing a snap sensor onto your boat canvas.
If anyone touches that canvas, the alarm will be set off.
You might also choose to purchase Pressure Mats.
These activate an alarm when someone steps on them, and they are easily installed and removed.
An ignition immobilizer is pretty much like a car alarm.
These incorporate immobilizer switches that can actually prevent your boat from being stolen by disabling the ignition.
These are excellent security devices to install, and are well worth the money.
Another type of alarm system that you can buy is called a Voice Alarm.
These work by loudly providing a vocal warning to an intruder, along with a piercing siren noise, announcing that a stranger has intruded on your personal property.
These systems can be heard from a mile away from the site of your boat, and they are very difficult to ignore.