It doesn’t surprise me to know that Florida is the boat theft capital of the U.S.  Do you know what state follows?  The answer is California, in third place is Texas.  It all makes sense.  So if you are lucky enough to own a boat, how can you safeguard it against thieves?  Well, here’s some advice.

          When leaving your boat for a day, week, month, or longer it’s a good idea to install dead bolt locks on all doors and secure ports and windows with inside auxiliary locks.  A quality boat lock can cost as little as $15 to $25.  Next, remove
all valuables from your boat.  Don't leave radios, binoculars, cameras, or other electronics.  Also, you might want to use an engraving tool to mark your boat, motor, and the marine equipment with identification, such as a driver’s license number.  Don’t forget you can install an alarm system.  These systems can often be an inexpensive self contained product that you can find on-line or at electronic or marine store.  You’ll want to buy an alarm system specifically designed for a boat.  Another option, which is pricey, is installing a GPS tracking device that you can track your boat with on-line.  Next a, boat theft or motion detector can help prevent theft.  It works by measuring the displacement of the boat caused by the added weight of a thief.  The device measures the slight sinking of the boat into the water and then sounds the alarm.  Finally, consider leaving your boat's engine out of commission when unattended.  You can do this by removing a spark plug, propeller, or the rotor, drain the fuel, or install a hidden cut-off switch.