Frogwatch wrote:
My plan to get to the bahamas with my sailboat involves several legs
of the trip. The next involves going from Tarpon Springs to Sarasota,
about 55 miles one day and then down to Fort Myers in one or two
days. However, things always happen to make it take longer and
continuing to pay for a months stay at a marina when it is likely to
be only a week is not an option. So, what about anchoring for a week
somewhere?
I might have to anchor to come back to work or to do family stuff for
a few days before continuing. While I am away from my boat, how
concerned should I be that somebody might mess with my boat? I do not
have anything on the boat worth stealing and even the loss of the boat
would not be an economic hardship (paid for long ago). However, I do
feel I should exercise due care so somebody cannot simply cut her
loose.
If a vandal is determined, nothing will stop him but one can stop the
less determined ones. So, how would you deter the less determined
ones? I have considered using chain from the anchor to somewhere on
the anchor rode below water and lock the chain to the boat but the
vandal would only have to haul in the rode sufficiently to expose the
non-chain portion of the rode (I do not want an all chain rode).
What about detering someone from breaking in "just because"? Somebody
suggested putting tacks on the deck so a barefooted vandal would step
on them but you can imagine the liability this would cause.
At this point, I am considering simply locking the companionway in an
obvious way but someone intent on stealing stuff can easily remove
without destroying anything. I'd put a note on the companionway
boards with my name and number etc for authorities.
Thoughts?


Put a sign on the boat:


"Free to Good Home"