Hi One and all, I had always thought that the sailing community was a pretty good group of girls and guys with the thrill and or serenity of sailing being what it was all about, but i have been a little disapionted of late as to the ethics of some of our fallow sailors, in the past i have had my boat moored in Cronulla and have never had a problem , but this year i have bought my boat to Sydney and moored around the Five Dock Bay area, first someone decidered thay needed the hallyard winch that was very securly attached to the mast more than i did, so the stole that, ($1000 bucks to replace), then last weekend i went on board to fix sum stuff and the spinnaker pole has been taken. I understand that times are tough but if you can afford to buy your boat then buy your own dam gear, a spinniker pole would only be of use to another sailor so its disapointing to know that there is probibly someone that is moored close to me that has no scupples. OK i have had my winge, Hope you all have a great week and take care

Hi Ben
Like wise... sorry to hear of your loss. We were moored around in the next bay.On Oz day last year, I was rowing out to our yacht all loaded up to enjoy Oz day with every one else when my good woman says to me.. errr where's our outboard ???? What ???? it's on the yacht .... err... no it's not.
I just got the outboard serviced and had a new low pitch high thrust prop put on it. Gone..... Did't even get to try it out.
Ben these theives are not saliors but scum selling your stuff on e-bay have a look, you may find it there.
Oi, Captins can still keel haul can't they.

I agree its not likely they are your neighbours or even sailors. Residing on a mooring is normally safe, the crooks that raid these boats are normally on a spree and will hit various places in the one night, often travelling from afar.

When I was fishing and my fishing vessel was tied to the main wharf here I occasionally got hit along with the other fishing vessels. Usually it was only items that were portable. Things like electronics they never bothered with, hard to steal transducers, radar domes etc. They never stole cleaning gear! Most common problem I had was amateur fishermen. Usually had live bait tanks with a couple of days worth of bait. The bad guys would turn up with a ute with inflatable pool in the back, nets etc and proceed to steal the bait. Even while there were pensioners on the wharf fishing, they could not stop then and just get threatened.
One night about 3 years ago now 3 lads from Sydney parked their car on the end of the wharf and proceeded to break in and remove gear from a trawler. Woman who was working for me as a deckhand and happened to see what's going on parked her car behind theirs and walked away and called the cops. They were caught a few hours later in town and had a handgun!

The worst case we have had was with a team from Sydney with a boat who hit the Bowling club by water and plenty of moored boats on the same night. Long weekends on the last day is a favourite for dinghies to go missing.

Many years ago I had a Catamaran Hire business here on the South Coast, I remember one Christmas the thieves struck with a chain saw and removed quite few outboards (with transoms attached). They had themselves a very nice Christmas. I must admit I don't know how they got away with some of the motors, as a 200hp Black Max is no light weight auxilliary.

Harry

Try that trick to keep your stuff: if it is bolted, on the side where the nuts are (better if not visible) sandwitch a razorblade between 2 nuts, good surprise for the fkn shyte hole when he is going to explore the other side with his fingers........... did it to my Autobianchi Abbarth fog lights back in the 70 ies.............. never went but found blood on the bonnet a fair few times![}:)]

felixdcat said...

Try that trick to keep your stuff: if it is bolted, on the side where the nuts are (better if not visible) sandwitch a razorblade between 2 nuts, good surprise for the fkn shyte hole when he is going to explore the other side with his fingers........... did it to my Autobianchi Abbarth fog lights back in the 70 ies.............. never went but found blood on the bonnet a fair few times![}:)]

rusty blade, tetanus