Alarms and security

[TheOffice]

We will be live aboards in the Caribbean next winter, and we are wondering if people use alarms on their boats.
We are thinking about using a motion detector based alarm with either a siren or barking dog. What have you used that you would recommend?
Also, any nice looking security bars for large hatches?
Thanks!

[Zanshin]

Quite a bit depends upon where in the Caribbean you are. I'm in Grand Case, St. Martin right now and tend not to lock my dinghy to the boat at night. But just a bit further, in Marigot, I lift up my dinghy and set my manual alarm (fishing line and bells).

I am somewhat careful further south and in anchorages that are more remote.

If you can get an alarm installed then it certainly won't harm. Something that turns on all the lights and beeps. The security bars are, in my opinion, too much for typical use where you need hatches open for ventilation. Sailboat entry hatch locks are meant to keep honest people honest. Determined boarders will go through most measures we can implement on a sailboat almost without breaking step. But most boarders aren't that determined, fortunately.

[noelex 77]

We find our companionway security bars very useful.

The main advantage is it provides ventilation when leaving the boat, but we have occasionally used them at night when anchored in a dubious area.