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22-01-2025, 05:27
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#1
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Moderator

Join Date: May 2012
Location: At sea somewhere in the Caribbean
Boat: Jeanneau Sun Fast 40.3
Posts: 6,586
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Leave Keys in or Not?
We're on Dominica. Two nights ago, in heavily gusting winds, a 51 foot Outremer broke its mooring and went walkabout through the anchorage (at 3:00 in the morning naturally). I jumped in our dinghy and chased it. No one on board. It was a moored charter vessel, not currently in charter.
These boats have a main switch that turns the power to the engines/anchor winch etc on and off. The switch is located somewhere inside the main cabin.
So there isn't key per se - a switch needs to be left on.
I could not start the engines and could not operate the anchor. The doors to the main cabin were locked. In the meantime, the boat was literally heading out to sea, next stop Panama.
There was nothing I could do and I left the boat. at the same time, two other dinghies showed up and we attempted to get a line on the boat. Finally a big RIB came. He had a thick enough line and a big engine, We got a line on the boat and he was able to tow it back into the bay and we could get it on another mooring ball.
This is the fourth time in our cruising life that we have chased walkabout boats. Two of the other times, the owners had left the keys in the ignition and we could easily start the engine operate the anchor winch and reanchor the boat. The third time we were able to tie a line from our boat to the walkabout and it hung on the back end of Capri for several hours until the owner came back.
So - what si the best practice? Leave the keys in the ignition (or engine power switch on)? While we have never had Capri go walkabout, we do leave our keys in, just in case she decides to go somewhere else
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22-01-2025, 05:50
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#2
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Moderator

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Cruising North Sea and Baltic (Summer)
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 35,297
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
Quote:
Originally Posted by carstenb
We're on Dominica. Two nights ago, in heavily gusting winds, a 51 foot Outremer broke its mooring and went walkabout through the anchorage (at 3:00 in the morning naturally). I jumped in our dinghy and chased it. No one on board. It was a moored charter vessel, not currently in charter.
These boats have a main switch that turns the power to the engines/anchor winch etc on and off. The switch is located somewhere inside the main cabin.
So there isn't key per se - a switch needs to be left on.
I could not start the engines and could not operate the anchor. The doors to the main cabin were locked. In the meantime, the boat was literally heading out to sea, next stop Panama.
There was nothing I could do and I left the boat. at the same time, two other dinghies showed up and we attempted to get a line on the boat. Finally a big RIB came. He had a thick enough line and a big engine, We got a line on the boat and he was able to tow it back into the bay and we could get it on another mooring ball.
This is the fourth time in our cruising life that we have chased walkabout boats. Two of the other times, the owners had left the keys in the ignition and we could easily start the engine operate the anchor winch and reanchor the boat. The third time we were able to tie a line from our boat to the walkabout and it hung on the back end of Capri for several hours until the owner came back.
So - what si the best practice? Leave the keys in the ignition (or engine power switch on)? While we have never had Capri go walkabout, we do leave our keys in, just in case she decides to go somewhere else
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You are building up karma points, Carsten  Good on you for that.
My practice is that the keys are always in the ignition, electrical system powered up, windlass power on, all electronics powered up, 24/7 when we're at anchor and onboard. So that in case of any kind of emergency it's possible to get underway almost instantly.
I leave the boat in that condition also provided we're in a reasonably crime-free area. So not on certain parts of the UK South Coast but more or less anywhere in the Baltic.
FWIW that's our practice.
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I behold from the beach your crooked inviting fingers,
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22-01-2025, 06:24
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#3
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 51,834
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
When absent, we also left the key in the [cockpit] engine start switch, with power on, but the companionway locked.
We've also encountered situation, where prospective rescuers were unable to prevent a boat from going ashore, due to locked boat, power off.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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22-01-2025, 06:44
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: EC
Boat: Cruising Catamaran
Posts: 1,421
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
I agree the engines should be able to be started while boat is on a mooring/ anchor and unattended. At a dock, security issues prevail.
The anchor should be able to be deployed manually by releasing the clutch.
The argument is one of reducing theft risk, vs need to move boat in a hurry. Each to their own That is what insurance is for. For a serious thief who knows boats then lack of keys a a minor obstacle.
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22-01-2025, 06:58
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#5
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Moderator

Join Date: May 2012
Location: At sea somewhere in the Caribbean
Boat: Jeanneau Sun Fast 40.3
Posts: 6,586
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tin Tin
I agree the engines should be able to be started while boat is on a mooring/ anchor and unattended. At a dock, security issues prevail.
The anchor should be able to be deployed manually by releasing the clutch.
The argument is one of reducing theft risk, vs need to move boat in a hurry. Each to their own That is what insurance is for. For a serious thief who knows boats then lack of keys a a minor obstacle.
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By the time i got on board we were approaching 100 meter deep water
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22-01-2025, 07:00
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Rochester, NY
Boat: Chris Craft 381 Catalina
Posts: 6,985
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
At a dock, the keys are stowed after arrival. At anchor, the keys are always in the ignitions, fume detector on, chartplotter either on or in standby (where pushing any button will wake it up immediately).
I also leave the windlass breaker on, but the control circuit power for the windlass is kept off when we're not using it. The switch for that is at the helm and labeled, so it should be easily found if needed. Someone unfamilar with the boat probably wouldn't find the wireless remote for the windlass, but there's an up/down switch at the helm that can be used (no foot switches at the bow).
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22-01-2025, 07:41
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: The Netherlands
Boat: Compromis 888 (29ft)
Posts: 149
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
Good points, never gave it a thought.
As for the starting key, I got rid of it completely. The starter lock is mostly a joke, many can be operated with a screwdriver. I have seen or hearded of many broken keys in the lock, often installed at shoe height. I installed a waterproof switch in the panel outside and use the main starter battery switch inside for theft protection. Makes life much simpler!
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Timo
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22-01-2025, 08:39
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 2,148
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
The right way to leave the boat depends on what has gone wrong. And since you have no way of knowing ahead of time what might go wrong, the “right” answer is truly unknowable ahead of time.
Here are some contrary situations:
Leaving a key in on many engine panels reduces the water tightness of the panel. This can cause the engine to not start at all, or sometimes, to start on its own. So it might be better to just leave the key nearby.
Several boats have gone walkabout when an electrical short or switch failure engaged the windlass and pulled up the anchor. They would have been better if they had left the main breaker for windlass power turned off.
We disconnect the power to the electric furlers and the windlass when they are not being used. Underway, the furlers are always powered, of course, but the windlass is not. At anchor both are disconnected because accidental operation of any of them could be a serious problem. These are the breakers in the main power feed to the motor, not the ones on the relay coil side. We, of course, know where all these are and how to work them so they do not impede our own emergency response.
My first priority on my boat is to make a failure as unlikely as possible, not to facilitate rescue by a Good Samaritan in the event of a preventable failure. Others will think differently.
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22-01-2025, 09:17
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Rochester, NY
Boat: Chris Craft 381 Catalina
Posts: 6,985
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie
Several boats have gone walkabout when an electrical short or switch failure engaged the windlass and pulled up the anchor. They would have been better if they had left the main breaker for windlass power turned off.
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That situation is exactly why I cut the control circuit power to the windlass when it's not in use. It protects against a control switch failure. Unless the solenoid sticks or shorts (which is very unlikely starting from the off position, this is more likely while using the windlass) the windlass won't operate. The control circuit is low power, so it can easily be switched at the helm, compared to having to go below to access the windlass main breaker.
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22-01-2025, 09:20
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#10
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CLOD
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: being planted in Jacksonville Fl
Boat: none
Posts: 20,826
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
I always left my key in the ignition. I don't think I could even get it out anymore. I didn't lock the combionway either.
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Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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22-01-2025, 10:48
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Detroit
Boat: O'Day 30 CB
Posts: 446
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
Generally, I leave my keys in the ignition.
I've been involved in two marina fires where I just cut dock lines & shoved boats out in the fairway to keep them from burning. In smaller "emergencies", I've had to move a few boats that were not mine. I don't know if they broke loose, were poorly tied, or whatever. If the key is there, it's simple. If the key is not there, my options are limited, and the boat will beat against something for much longer.
If I'm ever on the receiving end of needing help, I want to make it easy for anyone trying to help me.
If a bad guy wants my boat and has any knowledge, me removing the key will only slow them down a little. Probably less than one minute.
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22-01-2025, 10:50
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: US
Posts: 224
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
We had a similar story of a runaway boat on the North side of Tortola. Not only had the "captain" removed the keys but the steering wheel as well! It was drifting to Anguilla when it struck another boat still at sea.
Stupidly I jumped into the dinghy w/o light or radio. After anchoring, the other boat occupants came up in their dinghy. He returned to their boat and she joined me trying to bring back the stray boat. We tried to tow the boat behind the dinghy, but it just veered back and forth, overcoming the way of our dinghy. I didn't know the bay and there were shallow reefs. Night was coming on.
We pulled along side and she boarded. She quickly found the steering wheel and put it back on. I tied the dinghy hip-to the side. With her steering and the dinghy powering, we made way. Trouble is, she was night blind, and from the side, I could not see ahead to determine direction. Fortunately she chose some lights ashore that she could see. We made it into a mooring field and luckily were able to snag a mooring.
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22-01-2025, 12:41
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Bay of Fundy,Grand Manan,N.B.,Canada N44.40 W66.50
Boat: Mascot 28 pilothouse motorsailer 28ft
Posts: 3,653
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
You did the right thing.
Cheers/Len
__________________
 My personal experience & humble opinions-feel free to ignore both
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22-01-2025, 13:21
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Slidell, LA
Boat: Beneteau First 375
Posts: 463
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
There is one other consideration - I personally know of two boats that sank because their cooling water">engine cooling water throughulls were left open, and a problem developed with the intake strainers. I make it a point to always close all my throughulls when leaving the boat. Now you would have to consider the relative probabilities of the boat dragging anchor, or the cooling water system leaking, and whether the boat would be lost on the one hand or the engine toasted on the other.
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22-01-2025, 13:29
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Rochester, NY
Boat: Chris Craft 381 Catalina
Posts: 6,985
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Re: Leave Keys in or Not?
Quote:
Originally Posted by sandy stone
There is one other consideration - I personally know of two boats that sank because their engine cooling water throughulls were left open, and a problem developed with the intake strainers. I make it a point to always close all my throughulls when leaving the boat. Now you would have to consider the relative probabilities of the boat dragging anchor, or the cooling water system leaking, and whether the boat would be lost on the one hand or the engine toasted on the other.
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Personally, I consider that a very low risk. Unless the boat is going to be sitting for an extended period of time, I don't close any of the intake seacocks. If a strainer or hose is at risk of failing where I'm worried about leaving it for a few hours, it's either well past needing service or replacement or it's entirely unsuitable for the job.
However, if I do close an engine intake thru hull for any reason, I trip the ignition circuit breaker for that engine so even if I forget and turn the key, nothing will happen.
Remote monitoring that includes the high water alarm does add some peace of mind though, as does knowing that I have enough bilge pump capacity to keep up with a failure of pretty much any intake fitting for some period of time while the problem is found and addressed.
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