Boat anti theft alarms.

[ozskipper]

Is anyone using them? I am not so worried about my boat getting stolen. Rather, people stealing electronics etc.

I have seen everything from the Wasp wireless system though to $30 PIR systems..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AmY4EZKpF4

Mighty Boat Alarm Easy Quality 130nu llFr eeSta nd1 2VA UXRel ayEnt ry | eBay

Your thoughts?

[mikereed100]

We don't have an alarm but do leave the cockpit and spreader lights on if we are concerned. Concerning boat theft, I think a simple AIS transponder would help get your boat back in a hurry as most thieves would probably not know it was there.

[Roy M]

Without revealing details of my own system, and having installed a number of security systems for others, I can offer the following: There is an unwritten truth in the security industry, There is no absolute security. The best you can do is to make it time consuming and noisy to penetrate a secure area. The consequence of that time and noise may cause an intruder to consider alternate targets.

With that, remember that bad guys won't generally (but sometimes, will) choose to break in when it's bright and crowded with potential defenders. So, mikereed100 is on top of the first line of defense. There is a class of 12 volt lamps that turn night time into daylight. They are called HID (High Intensity Discharge). If you mount them below the spreaders, they will provide incredible illumination to the decks and area near the boat. You can add a switch next to your bunk, should you hear a "bump" in the night, flip the switch. A second switch can be added which activates your PA hailer horns and, with the addition of the right audio driver, can announce, in multiple languages of choice, that this is not a good place to be at present. The 130 dB siren helps to effectively communicate to the bad guys, and any neighbors within a half-mile radius, that something bad is happening.

The simplest alarm systems work great on boats. Most alarm systems are 12 volt powered, using storage batteries for backup should the bad guys (or weather) shut down the grid. Alarm systems have multiple zone protection, meaning that if armed, you can be inside the boat walking about, while exterior places and items can be separately guarded against a midnight intruder. Magnetic switches, pressure switches, passive infrared devices and other units provide a wide variety of options against someone opening a hatch, trying to remove a dinghy or outboard, even a bicycle or a fishing rod.

Alarm systems don't have to be expensive, just well thought out and well installed. Having lights that automatically turn on around the outside (or on the inside if you are away) keeps the bad guys guessing. I'll post some suggested sources later.

[Horizons]

How about a webcam that sends a picture via email and sounds an alarm.

[Paul L]

Here's an article I wrote about the deck sensor based alarm system I installed on our boat
Alarmed | Blue Water Sailing

[ozskipper]

Thanks so far. The systems I am interested in are primarily noise makers. Its for when the boat is sitting idly at her mooring.
I am not overly interested in a back to base system as the response time by water police in our area would be hours.

[Roy M]

Horizons, here is a good supplier to begin your research with. Buy Wireless CCTV Security Equipment Online
Check out the various categories of equipment, beyond wireless.

[Roy M]

Horizons, here is a good supplier to begin your research with. Buy Wireless CCTV Security Equipment Online
Check out the various categories of equipment, beyond wireless.

Ozskipper, Paul L, in the preceding post provides the key for your particular need. Alarm controllers are the primary unit. They operate off 12 vdc, and the various zones (instant, immediate alarm if someone opens a switch, delayed zone allowing the owner to disarm first before hell strikes, alarmed circuits which are either instant or programmed, and panic alarms) can be set for Home and Away modes. My preference is for the old Radio Shack systems which can still be found in Ebay, etc.

[Cottontop]

Originally Posted by Paul L

Here's an article I wrote about the deck sensor based alarm system I installed on our boat
Alarmed | Blue Water Sailing

Good stuff in your article.

[MarkJ]

I got one of those $20 movement detectors shines out through the grill hatch.

A ailable any hardware store

[dpddj]

I was at Harbor Freight the other day (yeah, I know, cheap chinese junk) when I saw the Bunker Hill Security - item#93068 wireless alarm. It sends a fairly loud alarm and I figured, what the heck, for $17 USD I could get three of them and put them in the cockpit, with the alarm inside, and have a spare for when I know one or more craps out.
In my mind, something to get their attention.
I hear the thefts from the Middle keys in FL are getting crazu=y Thefts from boats continue in the Middle Keys located in Florida Keys | Waterway Guide News Update

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I got one of those $20 movement detectors shines out through the grill hatch.

A ailable any hardware store

Yeh thats the kind of thing I am thinking about.. Cheap and chinese-ee.. But loud enough to get the aholes off my boat

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Horizons.