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Random Quote: He who dies with the most toys wins!!
Curious how you maintain security on the water at night, whether underway or at anchor. I've been approached numerous times by other boats at night who were not running lights, totally blacked out. Not sure what the intention was but didn't like it for sure. Same thing at anchor, we have out anchor lights on and often helm or cockpit lights if we are still up, but some folks seem to want to come in and spy, check us out. Also had several instances where other boats were running fast at night with no lights on, and no wake to give them away due to conditions.
I have started using the "Guard Alarm" on the radar at night or low light conditions, turn volume up high, just to be safe and know who / whats around. Same thing at anchor, let radar run all night with alarm on.
Thought about installing a cockpit motion detector or two just to be safe, sorta like on your dock, lights and audible alarm, but wondered what everyone else was doing these days.
how do you keep a lookout at night, under way, but especially if you are anchored up and sleeping?
We also have a dog on board but quite frankly we are out most weekends over the warmer months and are never bothered by other than some guys flounder gigging.
forgot to ask how big is your boat? you can always install a bow and stern camera for security. If you have a larger boat you can rig it with a relay to power on your TV at night with a motion sensor should something or someone come into range. This could work from motion or from a pressure switch on your deck. The camera's can double as recording devices while fishing to capture footage. There is something for everyone the question is how much do you want to invest?
A dog but make sure he says he bit to stop, not to kill.
__________________ The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
They're probably looking for easy pickings like cutting out your $2000 inflatable with the $3000 engine tied off astern while you are asleep. Or the Magma grill on your railing or the fenders hanging off your side. Or the scuba gear all over the swim platform. The best defense is to try to make your boat the most difficult to pilfer from, assuming you are aboard. If you have left to go to dinner ashore, try to make it look like there's still someone below . Leave the lights on, play the music. Only the most desperate will try to board a boat that they think has people aboard. If you are in an anchorage where there are other boats and yours is the least desireble looking, then you might get passed over.
If you see a suspicious boat, call it in. It never hurts to have the authorities give them the eye and if they are indeed up to no good it may discourage future attempts. You never know, though, a boat with a family and small children and a dog can still drift quietly over after dark, untie your dinghy and split.
__________________ Bill Adams
66 109 2A Safari Wagon
93 LWB
Allmand 23 Ticonderoga Chevy 350 EFI Cobra IO
Carver Mariner hybrid cuddy twin jet drives Ford EFI 5.0 HOs
"Only the most desperate will try to board a boat that they think has people aboard."
Now you're in luck. Only the drooling, armed, drug fiends will be making a visit.
__________________ The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.
i carry a 10 inch boot knife and a bluefish bat. come knock or step foot on my boat and you will float your way home with holes and bumps all over. i sleep out every weekend and i know what you mean about the late night creepers. it dont bother me but it makes my fiance a little nervous to where she cant sleep so i guess she is my alarm. haha if shes scared shes always on watch
When underway a watch is obvious, when on the hook if you have neighbors get to know them and keep an eye out for them as most will reciprocate. Secure all gear on deck, pull your tender etc.
I have seen owners spend 6 figures on security systems, the sky is the limit but with new tech available a lot can be done for much less. Think lights and noise. 4 legged noise makers are great.
When traveling in foreign lands remember most locals see a US flagged vessel as a rich target, more often then not owners or there captains carry large sums of cash. When fueling or paying for services be discreet both with your cash and your plans.
Off topic, don't let anyone you don't know well on your vessel, this includes scantly clad young woman as they might want more then you bargained for.
We are currently changing our plans for a cruising vessel to appear more commercial then luxury.
I prefer a 9mm & a cordless spotlight. My boat doesn't have a top though, more may be appropriate if yours does and you are sleeping on it. Some sort of trip wire activated alarm system (mono string 6" or so above the gunnel's comes to mind) or similar wouldn't be out of place.
On the water there is ABSOUTELY no reason why any stranger needs to board my boat. They better have a very very good reason to even come within 50ft of me. In open water my boat is my island and I will shoot to kill any stranger trying to come on board. Unless they have bigger guns. Then I will take the liferaft and epirb.
We have cruised thru most 3rd world countries of the world--including Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Med etc. We did have a dog, but also kept bright deck lights on at night. We did have a brand new 13 foot inflatable and outboard stolen in S. Boston most likely by Green Peace people. The bow eye (fabric holding it to the hypalon hull) was cut from in the water. Most likely drifted away and then started when out of ear range. The dog didn't wake up--I had checked the deck about an hour before it was missing. We make sure that the dinghy is cabled thru an eye bolt with peened over head on the transom, thru the motor lock to a solid point on the boat--or if any question, hoist the dinghy out of the water.
Rarely did we stand watch at anchor (only if in a suspicious area--and then 3 on and 3 off, as we do at sea). At sea we have been approached by suspicious dark boats. Many of these are patrol boats (some DEA, some CG, some smugglers, some foreign). Normally we ID our boat and its port of destination on low power VHF, and ask the vessel by its location speed and heading, ID as running dark--and ask that boat to Identify itself. Often they do not, but break off. Once we were being approached rapidly by a good sized vessel in the Caribbean. I called several times on VHF, then called CG Miami on SSB, notified GC of our position and situation, and if there was not a response from this vessel I would take action. Almost immediately the CG vessel turned on its lights and ID'ed.
We do keep a large spotlight handy--and the air horn tank filled at pressure.
This comment comes from the other side of the equation --- I fish a lot at night in the urban areas of Miami / Miami Beach over the last 35 years and have seen significant changes on the water, both around docks and around anchored vessels. Compared to many years ago there are relatively few docklights left on at night now, most are as added security for possible theft targets. Most of the anchored vessels that I encounter are away from any marinas and are anchored out in relatively sheltered areas where groups of other vessels are also anchored nearby. If there's any "vessel security" on most sailboats that I see, it's not obvious. Many don't even bother to have an anchor light showing.
Now for the fun stuff. Yes, there are suspicious vessels on the water most nights since local law enforcement leaves the water at 6Pm sharp (with one or two minor exceptions). It's always been that way down here since I first fished at night back in 1972.... The good news is that CG and Homeland Security are around, in small fast well equipped (read armed...) RIBs so if you need help the CG is who I'd yell for. Some additional good news is that although there are plenty of targets for thieves, both vessels at anchor, and many miles of waterfront property, you rarely hear of theft on the water (with a few exceptions like the Gables by the Sea area).
My normal routine has always been to leave my nav lights on at all times, stay away from others property (except when retrieving a hook or fly for one of my anglers) and remain composed no matter what the provocation (that last bit isn't easy and I'm not always able to keep my cool... particularly when someone's damned nearly run me over with no lights showing). The one safety factor that I try never to lose is to keep a sharp watch in every direction while on the water at night. I've had some close calls (the unlit tow vessel with 300' of line out between him and the big boat he was trying to pull off of a flat comes to mind...) at night and consider other vessels my biggest hazard.
Now for the bad news. If you're in some kind of confrontation on the water you're on your own. Whatever is going to happen will be over before any assistance arrives. In any confrontation you will rarely ever have any impartial witnesses and the aggressors will be perfectly capable of lying about whatever happened. It's enough to make me exceedingly cautious.
__________________ Tight Lines
Capt Bob LeMay
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night time security on the water 
