need to vent after theft!

rik_elliott · 24 March 2019, 17:15

Sorry for the whinge.

New (to me) second hand 4 stroke 40hp mercury outboard stolen from the back of my searider at some point in the last few days. I had a lock on the mounting bolts to stop such things but that got sliced straight off. I imagine the whole boat would have gone if I didn't have a hitch lock and wheel clamp.

I'm absolutely furious- this was on my driveway and I was getting ready to use it. It isn't my only boat so I can still get out on the water, but I was so excited to use the new engine as I had been getting by with a 30hp before that, which was a bit anaemic. Now its going nowhere. I only have third party insurance on the boat, and hadn't gotten around to writing down the flipping engine number as I haven't had it long.

Lesson learned - engine locks are useless, write down engine number straight away, always fully insure.

At least they didn't cut the transom off the boat. I expect I'll be putting her up for sale as I don't have the money to replace the engine at the moment. ARGH!

spartacus · 24 March 2019, 23:08

Very frustrating. All said and done, I hope it turns up.

Boats on driveways are unusual, and people taking a double take passing by makes me wary. I keep my boat in the garage, but make a point if only taking it out the night before a launch. Anyone delivering leaflets lately or suspicious activity?

Does make you re-focus on your home's security. I've fitted security lighting, home alarm system, and the boat has a wheel, hitch and outboard lock.

At the end of the day, anyone brazen enough to take it on the drive will do so again. Up your insurance to comprehensive and look at another location for the boat so it's out of sight.

mikehhogg · 24 March 2019, 23:31

May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the underwear of those responsible

Bosi72 · 25 March 2019, 02:35

That motor is 100kg heavy, meaning either it was 2 strong persons or 3 average persons, or they had some mini crane to help lifting.. Regardless, someone probably seen something.. I would be knocking the doors at closest neighbours, or a letter in mailbox asking if someone seen something. If you don't have the cctv, maybe neighbours have it? I don't think police will look proactively, but you can try.. Good luck

Squid Boat · 25 March 2019, 07:01

Drink some good Red Breast whisky. Pay for some intell on the area, find the perps amd F'm up.
Buy a new motor, sleep well.

Cheers. Squid

Brian · 25 March 2019, 10:44

Like your advice, Squid Boat

rik_elliott · 25 March 2019, 11:21

yeah it is pretty brazen. I wont keep boats on my drive again. the new one (a whaly rotomolded boat) is at the dry stack 30ft off the ground so at least that one is safe.

I have asked the neighbours and no one heard anything, the police aren't interested either. I've ordered new PIR lights and a security camera. Probably not a lot else we can do now.

If anyone wants a 4m searider on a trailer I'm open to offers. no engine obviously! will need new cables and fuel lines as they all got sliced.

TUFTY · 25 March 2019, 13:07

How much would you be wanting for the searider?

Fenlander · 25 March 2019, 14:31

>>> I wont keep boats on my drive again.

One reason I stick to sibbing for now is that we have no free garage space and I'd not leave a boat out on the drive.

We live in a cul-de-sac which is pretty quiet but most months there's a transit tipper supposedly looking for old washing machines or tree service work and the driver is all eyes looking about as he does a three point turn to leave.

When I wash down the sib after use or bucket test the OB the drive is the easiest place but I always take them to the back garden so out of sight.

smallribber · 25 March 2019, 20:13

Terrible,thing to happen Utter scumbags.
Get a 4 camera CCTV System they are very cheap on ebay about £120 and easy to fit and set up yourself

crui05 · 25 March 2019, 21:34

so sorry to hear of your troubles there.
i had mine taken last year (see section of boat thefts) got the boat and engine back. they had wrecked it , slahed tanks and tsken engine. the scum is now in prison the police told me.
but it doesnt take away that aweful feeling so i know exactly where you are right now.
dont matter what security you use, they will have it. a tracker might of helped.

jonp · 25 March 2019, 23:23

Terrible news

Was it a new engine as they mostly have the data tag things which can't be seen but give the engine its hidden secret serial code.

Also double check your home and contents insurance, because it happened at your home ( here mine would be covered 'Australia').

Not that it helps now but cheap trail cameras work of motion, having one pointing at your boat or even just surveillance camera signs puts many low life thieving scum off.

As mentioned it's a big lump of an engine and wouldn't of been the quickest thing to just walk off with. Someone may of seen or caught them on dash cam, perhaps if you have a local Facebook buy sell, you could try asking if anyone saw anything on that day. Put a sign outside your house asking if anyone has any info.

All the best, hope you get a positive result somehow.

boristhebold · 26 March 2019, 08:26

That's awful, so many scumbags about, I regularly have people 'looking' for stuff or oppourtunity drive into my close and out again.

don't know what the answer is, when I had my boat at home doing some work on her for a few weeks I did the following; some ideas here maybe useful to others;

1. trailer lock
2. trailer hitch lock
3. position car in front
4. fit security light covering boat area
5. fit cctv camera covering boat area
6. wrap a decent length of chain around engine leg and prop and attach bells to chain or anything that might make a noise if moved
7. fit datatag micro dots and transponder and place a sign saying they are fitted, perhaps even put a sign up saying tracker fitted
8. leave two large dog bowls nearby and a discarded large dog lead and sign on your door or gate about a dog

those may put a thief off

smallribber · 27 March 2019, 07:43

Also take one wheel off the trailer and put on an axel stand.

willk · 27 March 2019, 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by boristhebold

leave two large dog bowls nearby and a discarded large dog lead and sign on your door or gate about a dog

Leave a cow femur out too - so they know it's a grrrrrreat big dog....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigplumbs

Also take one wheel off the trailer and put on an axel stand.

OP had his engine stolen

Searider · 16 April 2019, 19:43

Hi Rik,

Really sorry to hear of this theft. Having Owned the boat for many years before we sold to you I really feel for you.

Duncan