Missing Dingy in Miami Beach

[hellosailor]

Ah, that's different. It was only NEXT TO the restricted area.

Well, at least someone did the right thing.

It's a motivational thing. I have an outdated smoke detector that's going to get installed in the trunk of my car. This way, the next time my car is stolen (yes, multiple times and I keep hardening it) I can honestly say "Oh, and there's radioactive material in the trunk, don't approach it."

MOTIVATION. You need one for your dink, too?

(What, I should let a box of donuts go stale in there?<G>)

[off-the-grid]

Yeah! Glad that nightmare is over. I wasn't all that hopeful. I was already calling people on craigslist, and going there for what I was thinking, just to file a report.

[kenny chaos]

One of the things I've learned on here over the last several months
was that dinghy's get stolen a lot.
When I put a deposit on a boat recently, I was told I could have the old
beat up dinghy if I wanted it. It comes with a fresh rebuilt, but nasty looking, 5hp motor. Perfect.
Thanks again crew-
Kenny

[bluewaternut]

I've heard that dinghy theft, especially if there's a motor on the dink, is pretty common in the Miami area. It might look as if it parted, but maybe someone kayaked up, sawed through the painter, and rowed away with it.

[off-the-grid]

Same here. I'm hearing that Miami is pretty much Kleptocity. They'll take an old oil rag if it's not bolted down. Someone local made the comment that by now the crack heads probably already stripped my dinghy.

[bluewaternut]

I LOVE a happy ending!

[off-the-grid]

Originally Posted by bluewaternut

I LOVE a happy ending!

And not even as much as an oarlock missing

Also, when I took a picture to post on fb, my iPhone flew right out of my hand, over the side of the dock...and then bounced off the side of a RIB, and into the boat...not the water.

[kenny chaos]

lottery ticket

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by grunzster

And not even as much as an oarlock missing

Also, when I took a picture to post on fb, my iPhone flew right out of my hand, over the side of the dock...and then bounced off the side of a RIB, and into the boat...not the water.

Seems the 'gods' are smiling on you.....
May the 'Bluebird of Happiness' continue to crap on your shoulder....

[Kettlewell]

My wife got the opposite reaction a few years ago when she spotted a dinghy drifting in Spa Creek in Annapolis. Granted she had seen some kids go by in it a few minutes earlier, so she reported it to the harbormaster. Pretty quickly the Coast Guard sent a cutter up the creek, then some smaller inflatables, the harbormaster was there of course in his boat, and then the state police dive boat showed up complete with divers, meanwhile they had a helicopter overhead with infrared searching the water in the creek for any swimmers. Turns out the dink was stolen by the kids and they just set it adrift after they were done joy riding.

Dinks do get stolen, though (knock on wood) I've never lost one in 30 years of cruising, including plenty of docking in very iffy places. Know of plenty stolen ones though. Some friends had theirs stolen from behind their boat in a marina in Ft. Lauderdale, and it was chained to the boat and they were down below! They never heard a thing.

[Coachbolt61]

Just leave one oar and oarlock in it. That way if anyone takes it they will only go round in circles! Smiles.

[Greg S]

Glad you found it! That has to be great relief. I have always fond the Miami Beach police to be courteous and professional in any dealings I've had with them. I used to see them on the water just about all the time, but last year only occasionally. Wonder if they've been cut back like everyone else with budget woes, thus the poor response?

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by grunzster

And not even as much as an oarlock missing

Also, when I took a picture to post on fb, my iPhone flew right out of my hand, over the side of the dock...and then bounced off the side of a RIB, and into the boat...not the water.

Great news! I was looking for the part where someone stole your outboard. You have good luck that you found that thing again!

[off-the-grid]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

Some friends had theirs stolen from behind their boat in a marina in Ft. Lauderdale, and it was chained to the boat and they were down below! They never heard a thing.

Next update: Last night when I left Publix, the key broke off in the lock. I was able to get it out, though, and the spare key is working fine. So, I guess my streak continues?

Considering how long it to the towing company to cut my chain, and the size of chain I've seen on some of the other dinks, I think I'm at least relatively safe from theft.

Originally Posted by Greg S

I have always fond the Miami Beach police to be courteous and professional in any dealings I've had with them. I used to see them on the water just about all the time, but last year only occasionally. Wonder if they've been cut back like everyone else with budget woes, thus the poor response?

After ripping on them, I did have a run in with them last night, and karma should have bitten me in the ass. But...I guess I really am having good luck. I have an auto on/off anchor light, and must have accidentally bumped the switch, with out realizing, while running around painting. Apparently it was flashing SOS! They were very cool about it, and let me off, even as they were writing someone else a ticket for not having their anchor light on.

You could be right. The boat that got the ticket has had several run ins and said it's always the same two officers. And I haven't seen them out too much.