| Captain Jack Sparrow may have been delightfully | | | | Pepper spray, mace and even firearms (if your |
| entertaining, but his modern day colleagues are | | | | the James Bond type) are also potential |
| anything but. While no one likes having to think | | | | deterrents. Be sure to check the local laws and |
| about the darker side of human nature while | | | | regulations for all these items in any location you |
| enjoying their favorite past time, it would be fool | | | | plan on traveling. |
| hardy not to secure your boat and ensure the | | | | Having two different padlocks on your |
| safety of your fellow crew members. Whether | | | | companionway entrance means twice as many |
| your cruising the south seas, anchored in the | | | | locks to break or pick, and twice as much time |
| north channel, or simply tied up at your home | | | | for a thief to accomplish their nefarious mission. |
| dock, there are some simple steps you can take | | | | Be sure to advertise, either verbally to boating |
| to protect your boating bliss. | | | | neighbors, or with a written sign/sticker on the |
| Keep a spotlight or flash camera down below. If | | | | boat about all the alarms you have installed. Even |
| you awaken to the sounds of footsteps on your | | | | if you don't have alarms installed, it's not a bad |
| deck, opening a small porthole or hatch should | | | | idea to give the potential thief something to think |
| give you enough room to temporarily blind some | | | | about. |
| fool wandering around your deck. If you're really | | | | Boats are full of all kinds of compartments, and |
| lucky, it may actually startle them enough to trip | | | | hard to reach places. Just ask anyone who's tried |
| over the life lines for a little midnight dip. | | | | to fix boats, or run wiring through some of those |
| A makeshift alarm system can be fashioned in | | | | spots. These would be great places to hide some |
| the event your anchored in a location where your | | | | of those really valuable items, that are impossible |
| not real comfortable with the locals. Trip wires | | | | to replace. |
| with noise makers attached to them, or even | | | | With a few simple steps, and some creative |
| some clanging metal objects attached to life lines | | | | thinking, it's not that hard to make your boat truly |
| could cause enough of a ruckus to waken | | | | safe. Just remember if those burglars were all |
| yourself, and some neighbors. Hopefully sending | | | | that bright, they wouldn't be burglars in the first |
| unwanted visitors swimming for shore. | | | | place. |