Theft in the Abacos

[AJ_n_Audrey]

Thanks again to all who responded - I really appreciate it! I'm looking forward to the trip.

[timbenner]

I always leave my boat in a marina when we come back to the States for extended periods of time. The local thieves don't mess with local marinas. Illegal immigrant Haitians have created a crime wave in the Abacos that was never there before. They don't mess with USA flagged boats, for the most part, because they know that most of us are ARMED!

A friend of mine with a house in Elbow Cay came home to tell me that the Haitians had stolen most everything they could walk off with in his house. He was later walking a couple of blocks off the waterfront and saw the Haitians hanging out under a shade tree WEARING HIS CLOTHS!!

We've been crossing the Gulf Stream for years, so let me share a little advice. Before you cross (preferably during the day, because of traffic) go to the Beach and look at the horizon. If you see elephants marching on the horizon, I don't care what the weather says - don't cross. If the horizon is smooth and straight as an arrow - HALL ASS!!

[svJasmine]

the abacos are safe for anything other than twin outboard powered boats with 200+ horses. You boat will be fine.

[Ken Z]

If your outboard has two cylinders switch the wires to the spark plugs when your not using it. on a single cylinder put a block between the ignition wire and the connection on the spark plug,cotton, a piece of rag , afilter from a cigarette, and slide the wire back on the plug. I have a case hardened 3/8 chain that can not be cut wih bolt cutters, but your still at the mercy of the lock itself, and the chain rusts. Take your fuel line with you. good luck.

[s/v Moondancer]

In Cartagena we met a very unhappy, older, German cruiser who has had two dinghies stolen in a two week period...

He had discovered the local generic Viagra, $1 per pill, but everytime he took a local lady back to his boat his dinghy disappeared! Getting her back to shore and her husband/lover/brother was difficult and required waking his neighbor on the next boat who found the situation hilarious and like us thought that the husband/lover/brother was the most likely thief!

[blueazimuth]

Lift it
Lock it or
Lose it ..

[svchances]

Originally Posted by AJ_n_Audrey

Hi,

Looking for input from cruisers to the Abacos. My wife, two sons and I are headed to the Abacos for the first time in about two months, depending on the weather window. Planned itinerary is West End, Great Sale, Green Turtle, Man-o-War, Elbow Cay, and if time permits, points south to Little Harbour. I will have two dinks (one hard, one roll-up inflatable) and two motors, one 2.5hp, one 4hp. I'm thinking about how to prevent theft of dinks and / or motors. My boat is old (1981 Pearson) and looks it, though it is structurally and mechanically sound with davits for the hard dink. First question for those who are in the Abacos or have been in the last year, how bad is the theft problem? Second question - what steps do you take to prevent it, and how effective have they been?

Thanks,
AJ

I have spent two seasons (12 & 13) in the Abacos with an unlocked RIB and a 9.5 Tohatsu and never heard of any being stolen. Not saying it didn't happen and maybe I should have been more careful. Most times locked it going ashore but even then usually left it where there were better dinks than mine.

[Group9]

My dinghy outboard is in our back yard at our home on a stand getting ready for our next cruise. It is chained to a fence post so it will still be there when we leave in a few weeks.

I can't ask more of the Bahamians than I expect of Americans.

And, if anything, I think there is less theft in the Bahamas than when I lived in south Florida. Take out Nassau, and it becomes a lot less.

[Spear06]

We were just in the abacos last April. No issues with dingy or engine theft. It's relatively low threat compared to other areas. There are several boats in the sea of abaco and we never heard of any issues from fellow cruisers. We never locked our dingy but did put it up on Davits at night. Everyone we met was super friendly.

[alanw220]

My wife and I are heading to the Abacos from Fort Lauderdale to west end in probably two weeks or so , looking for a weather window and possibly another cruising sailboat with us looking for company?