10 Top Tips to keep your Boat or RV Secure

" Increasingly organised crime groups are getting into the profitable business of stealing personal watercraft and recreation vehicles"

Hundreds of Boats are stolen each year in Australia, prompting a call for a national Identification Number (HIN) database. But what do we do until we get one?

    1. Get insured

Make sure you insure your boat or RV adequately and read your insurance policy carefully.

    2. Know your Boat or RV

Take your unhealthy obsession with your boat's scratches, dings and smears and turn it into something positive. Memorise any distinguishing marks as well as any customisations or aftermarket equipment that has been to added to your boat or RV. In a dispute over ownership, your ability to point out these distinctive features might make all the difference.

    3. Consider a theft-deterrent system

Alarm systems which send an instant SMS (text message) notification to owner's phones when the item is moved and tracks the vessel's GPS location so it can be recovered.  especially if you own a luxury boat or van.

    4. Have recovery systems with ID tags

HIN (Hull Identification Number) dot spray systems feature thousands of tiny microdots all laser-etched with the matching HIN of the boat. The dots are sprayed throughout the boat's major component parts and accessories.

    5. Keep records of all serial numbers

Write down the HIN and serial numbers of your engine and electronic equipment and keep them in a safe place off your boat or RV. A simple notebook filled with these numbers and a few notes about your identifiable features could be enormously helpful for the police and insurance companies.

Remember: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

    6. Hold your purchase receipts

If a thief can't steal your boat or RV, they may select some of the onboard gear and equipment as compensation. A record of your purchases will expedite your claims.

    7. Don't put your valuables on display

The showroom is the only place where your amenities need to be on display. When away from your boat or RV for a short time, take what you can and hide what you can't. Remove the equipment completely and store it in a lock-box when you put your boat or RV into long-term storage.

    8. Name your Boat or RV

Part of the fun of owning a boat or RV is giving it a name, but it could also aid in its recovery if stolen. Names, of course can be painted over. You can also etch the name and serial number in an area that is hard to find, but will be identifiable by the police.

    9. Photograph your ownership

We all should have photos of our pride and joy, but usually they feature a person holding a drink or a fish. Next time you head out, take the time to walk around your ownership and snap a few pictures. Print the photos and store them with your notebook.

    10. Make your item look hard to steal

Keep your boat or RV in a safe, well-lit place. If it's on a trailer use a trailer hitch lock, or wheel clamps. If you can keep your behind a fence or gate. 

A phone call every vessel owner dreads. A policeman ringing to inform them that their pride & joy has been found beached or badly damaged parked in the way of their local community.