Scrotum thieves strike again within 1 week of engine being replaced

HUMBER P4VWL · 29 May 2010, 20:18

This time they also tried to take ours as well. Strangely they left it tied up on our friends mooring, with the ignition barrel loose. Then they took our friends big rib with brand new four stroke after it only went back in the water last sunday following it being stolen in october. names are now popping up among the locals!

Again, they took it down the straits to a small bay at high tide, took off three bolts then leveraged the locking one off.

I just want to shoot them. He's getting the insurance and selling up this time, how sad. Police are actually trying this time looking at cctv on the roads they had to drive on.

Grrrrrrrrrrr

PeterM · 29 May 2010, 20:26

Must be gutted . All to common unfortunately. The gangs that do this watch and wait until a nice new shiney motor is on it, which is usually secured the same way as the last one, then just repeat what they have done before.

Started off with car radios, but now happens will nearly everything.

At least they didn't manage yours . Is there any form of patrol on the water near you ? or can you set one up ?

There is one here that runs till 2am up & down to keep an eye on things - all voluntary by local owners etc. ( they ignored me at 11pm the other night though

)

Nos4r2 · 29 May 2010, 20:51

I reckon it's time you fitted a tracker Paul.

gaelforce · 29 May 2010, 23:20

correct me if i'm wrong but doesn't the tracker run the battery down in a couple of days?

I heard that the next generation of trackers will have the gps and the gsm on one chip which will reduce the power drain.

What's the best you can get out of a tracker timewise, without trying to start the engine and getting ddrrr drr d......?

Nos4r2 · 31 May 2010, 01:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaelforce

correct me if i'm wrong but doesn't the tracker run the battery down in a couple of days?

I heard that the next generation of trackers will have the gps and the gsm on one chip which will reduce the power drain.

What's the best you can get out of a tracker timewise, without trying to start the engine and getting ddrrr drr d......?

Think they run down the internal one that fast, but if it's hardwired to charge it up from the boat battery it doesn't.

Chris will know more. He's got one fitted.

HUMBER P4VWL · 31 May 2010, 11:17

Evidently the boats are very very easy to hot wire, irrespective of our tracker, there must be a form of immobiliser that could be fitted to stop them moving it in the first place.

Would a basic switch, tapped in to the ignition circuit to create a break, stop them hotwiring it from by the ignition? Or am I being stupid? My brother used to do it with his old escort, switch was hidden under the dash, if you don't know it's there you can't start it.

Nos4r2 · 31 May 2010, 11:21

What motor?

HUMBER P4VWL · 31 May 2010, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

What motor?

175 opti

Carl · 31 May 2010, 11:30

tracker also fitted to mine,and a small removable solar charger

PeterM · 31 May 2010, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

there must be a form of immobiliser that could be fitted to stop them moving it in the first place.

When I lived in a rather classy area of Bristol we used to either remove, or pull off the plug leads of our cars. Pull them off half an inch so they are not in contact but look like they are and itsa bugger to spot in the dark.

Simple, quick & effective - the same could be done on an outboard ?

HUMBER P4VWL · 31 May 2010, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterM

When I lived in a rather classy area of Bristol we used to either remove, or pull off the plug leads of our cars. Pull them off half an inch so they are not in contact but look like they are and itsa bugger to spot in the dark.

Simple, quick & effective - the same could be done on an outboard ?

Poly · 31 May 2010, 18:11

Paul,

On most boats it should be possible to wire in a "hidden" switch onto e.g. the kill cord circuit. It won't stop someone who knows what they are doing from starting your engine - but it will prevent either a casual joy rider or the opportunist thief who doesn't have time to work out whats wrong. The downside is you are introducing another component which could fail at sea and prevent you starting the engine.

I'd still consider the tracker - they may decide next time to take the engine direct from your mooring or tow your boat to somewhere more secluded.

Chris · 31 May 2010, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Think they run down the internal one that fast, but if it's hardwired to charge it up from the boat battery it doesn't.

Chris will know more. He's got one fitted.

Mine is wired up to the main battery via an adapter, I have yet to run the battery flat despite leaving it for 6 weeks on one occasion, I believe with a decent main battery 2-3 months would be fine.

Chris

alexm · 01 June 2010, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Evidently the boats are very very easy to hot wire, irrespective of our tracker, there must be a form of immobiliser that could be fitted to stop them moving it in the first place.

On our new 2010 Yamaha 80 (new because the last one was stolen

) it has an immobiliser and key fob as standard, like a car.

Before you walk away from the boat you blip the key fob, the box of tricks on the boat beeps and the engine is immobilised.

Apparently the only way to override it is a new ECU/Control module.... probably still cheaper than an engine though, admittedly.

Hopefully Yamaha would demand some form of proof of ownership before supplying such parts....

Alex

willk · 01 June 2010, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexm

Apparently the only way to override it is a new ECU/Control module.... probably still cheaper than an engine though, admittedly.

Only just

I recently was quoted 800 squid for a new Etec 90 EMM...

No thievin' scroat wants to outlay that kinda cash before a fenced sale.