Dinghy Theft in PNW

[CarinaPDX]

It will almost certainly never be known what happened, and it doesn't really matter at this point. Good that the gear was recovered.

The point is that by lifting or locking (better both) then both knots/rope failing and amateur thieves are deterred. Locks and SS cable don't tend to work loose, and I always tie off with rope to stop any movement as well so no problem with losing it. By lifting out every night I don't get growth on the dinghy bottom, and there is no way the dinghy is getting launched without my waking.

"Lift it and lock it or lose it."

Greg

[Bill Lee]

Hi Chris,
I have a Seawise hydraulic davit mounted on the swimgrid. It's rated for 800 lbs - but I think my swimgrid is rated for 600 lbs. it's an amazing piece of equipment that's virtually maintenance free. It incorporates a locking mechanism too. My dinghy weighs in at about 500 lbs (110 for the shell, 2X 55 for the seats, 180 motor, 50 battery, 40 fuel, 10 misc.). However, the main dinghy weight is carried to port (with the dinghy motor, battery, and fuel tank) quite outboard of the mothership's centreline. With the dinghy up there is a few degrees listing to port (totally corrected under way by the trim tabs). I always have left the dinghy down when at anchor. I have never had any growth on the dinghy. We tend to anchor out more than dock up but we're limited in doing so by our 40 gallon holding tank. After 6-7 days it's 3/4 full and it's time to move and deal with it. I've had to take out a holding tank before and I never want to do so again - 3/4 is as far as I'll push it. In terms of convenience, I will likely cable lock the dinghy rather than lift it up each night (and putting it down each morning). Pm me if you want more info.
Cheers,
Bill

[JPA Cate]

Bill,

The police in Hobart told us that the thieves first steal a kayak, then go looking for stuff. They cut our painter to take the dinghy.

I know how you feel about having to lock "stuff". Jim hates it, too. But the feeling of no dinghy in the morning is a really bad one. You were lucky to get things back undamaged.

Finally, I'd suggest you secure them, when in the water, with a cleat hitch: a full round turn and two half hitches. Our dinghy painter is secured with two full round turns and two half hitches. Never has come undone accidentally. 30+ years cruising, if you count the coastal, too. Ironically, this leads to the cut painter, and having to get a new one.

In terms of cable vs. chain, plastic covered cable is softer on an inflatable. On ours, the anchor chain does double duty. Even small chain is harder to cut than cable.

Ann

[dannc]

Years ago I was out in my kayak doing a course that was 10 miles up a lake and then 10 miles back. After getting in the first 10 miles, I really had to go to the bathroom. There is a wee little island in this part of the lake and it was the closest "land" I set course.

There was a small power boat between me and the island. Normally, I would have given them a wide berth but I really had to go. There was a couple in the boat just sitting there enjoying the lake when I went whizzing, errrr, paddling by at 5+ MPH. They about jumped off the boat since they did not hear me and I startled them as I went zipping, errrr, whizzing, I mean speeding by them.

They saw me beach the boat and hop out real fast so they knew WHAT I was doing and I felt better for them and me.

The could not hear my approach, which was not that silent at all, because of the small waves slapping on their boat hull.

I have noticed this plenty of times where people on land do not hear me paddling the kayak. The smallest waves hitting the beach or a boat, mask the sound of the kayak and people are listening for engines to tell them of an approaching boat. A kayak or canoe can be very silent.

We always lock our kayaks up when transporting them. We use Kryptonite cable locks we bought years ago at HD or Lowes. I just looked at their website and they seem to have much better products today than when we bought in the 90's. Figured the cable locks would not stop a determined thief but it would delay them which would hopefully make them move on to easier pickings.

Later,
Dan

[St. Elsewhere]

Based on this tread I just invested $15 in this. I have padlocks already. Now maybe I will sleep a bit better. Thanks for the advice offered about the risks I have been taking leaving the dinghy down.

[Ballenxj]

The main thing is I'm happy to hear you got your equipment back.

[Bill Lee]

BTW, thanks for all the suggestions. I'm not keen on using a chain to tie the dinghy up to a cleat - it would be scratchy. A cable usually has a plastic sheath. The kayaks are going up each night from now on. Interestingly enough, when the stuff was gone I was really ticked - but did start to think of a silver lining. Hmmmmm... What would I do differently for our next dinghy.... I made plans and called some providers and was really starting to look forward to a new dinghy that I likely would be able to put together before our next trip - to Desolation. The kayaks were harder to replace. They were a custom colour order (all white) - 6 weeks turn around time. In a way, I was disappointed when the dinghy was found. After retrieving it and thinking through the cash outlay to get a new dinghy even after insurance, I was glad to get the stuff back. It was an emotional roller coaster. Interestingly enough, the insurance people told me the dinghy was covered but not the kayaks despite wording in my policy that suggests it was all covered.
Cheers,
Bill

[roverhi]

Dinghies seem to have a 'walk about mentality'. When we were cruising, our dinghy took a a vacation a couple of times. We had a spare dinghy and were lucky to find the wayward dink grounded downwind. Think the problem is the small diameter of the dinghy painter doesn't securely hold on large cleats. Best to tie a loop and put that over the cleat rather than wrap the painter on the cleat. We also had an 8' length of lifeline wire Nico Pressed to the dinghy on one end and a loop in the other that we could use to 'lock' up the dinghy. The wire wouldn't have been a deterrent for a serious thief but discouraged a drunk looking for a joy ride vehicle.

That outrigger dinghy that snuck up on the boat probably cost more than a 10' rib and outboard. Those carbon fiber kayak/outriggers are quite pricey. Sold as Pueo OC-1outriggershere in the islands. [http://store.kamanucomposites.com/products/custom-pueo] Custom Pueo Deposit - The Kamanu Store[/url]

[wellin]

Were the three craft still tied together as you tied it or were they apart?

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[Cheechako]

One thing... does your Silverton have Herreschoff style cleats? They don't seem to hold small line as well as some.. although I like them personally, each type has it's limitations. I could definitely see a 3/8 type of line, even triple crossed on the cleat coming off.

[Captain Bligh]

Living on Lopez sound as a kid dozens of pranked and stolen Livingston ' s would wash up there on the beach.

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[St. Elsewhere]

Originally Posted by Captain Bligh

Living on Lopez sound as a kid dozens of pranked and stolen Livingston ' s would wash up there on the beach.

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

Just curious: What is the actual distinction between "pranked" and "stolen Livingston's"? If they are taken without owner's knowledge and permission is there any distinction in law, or accepted social norms in the US San Juan Islands? Any law enforcement practitioners here?

[Bill Lee]

The kayaks were tied to the dinghy. Regular cleats. 1/2" 12' dockline used as painter. There was wind previously and the dinghy was swinging wildly behind the mother ship - all without any problems and knots held (triple cleated). I'll consider all other possibilities more likely than the dinghy coming loose. My wife points out that we checked the bay for our stuff before leaving and it was no where to be seen. It's unlikely it accidentally ended up at the shore near the homeowner who rescued our stuff. Oops - saw last two points. I'm a lawyer: taking for a prank and theft are the same (mind you - I'm a BC lawyer - but I can't imagine a difference in WA). The sentence may be less but the offence is the same.

[JPA Cate]

Bill,

Three X's isn't enough. Successive jerking, as would have happened when your dinghy was shearing around, slowly undoes them. One or two round turns plus two half hitches: a cleat hitch. my basis for this is that there are some sailors who seem to think a lot of X's will always keep their dinghy safe. We have repeatedly rescued such dinghies. Thirty plus years, our Insatiables have never lost a dinghy. The ruddy X's don't work as well as a proper cleat hitch. You need the locking of the half hitches. It's that simple.

Ann

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Bill Lee

The kayaks were tied to the dinghy. Regular cleats. 1/2" 12' dockline used as painter. There was wind previously and the dinghy was swinging wildly behind the mother ship - all without any problems and knots held (triple cleated). I'll consider all other possibilities more likely than the dinghy coming loose. My wife points out that we checked the bay for our stuff before leaving and it was no where to be seen. It's unlikely it accidentally ended up at the shore near the homeowner who rescued our stuff. Oops - saw last two points. I'm a lawyer: taking for a prank and theft are the same (mind you - I'm a BC lawyer - but I can't imagine a difference in WA). The sentence may be less but the offence is the same.

Ok, accidental escape of boats sounded unlikely when talking three coming loose but now that it's clarified that the kayaks were not tied to the main boat then it sounds more and more like the dinghy just came loose. Doesn't sound like theft or prank, although can't prove it wasn't. Just makes no sense.