Avoiding being a victim of pirates and thieves while cruising/voyaging

[Scubaseas]

Noonsite.com has good info about security.
Be able to lock yourself inside the boat if needed. bars on hatches and companionway lockable from inside but removable to get out quickly. Hatch bars can be made to hinge down to act as a kind of ladder for easier egress.

Do not put your vessel name on the dinghy. Consider changing the horsepower decal to 6 so it is not so attractive to steal. That and paint it hot pink and orange.
Pull dinghy out of water at night and take the motor off.

Look like a bum, don't have a lot of money on you and look like it.

Stay well offshore in areas where there is known drug trafficking.

[Scorpius]

Have a boat that is not the flashiest in the anchorage. A steel boat with a few rust stains works well!

And I second the HAM radio advice. When I was on the Pacific side of Costa Rica a boat sailing down from Mexico and currently well off the coast of Nicaragua reported, on the morning "net", a suspicious vessel shadowing him. A landlubber on a US Air Force base in Panama chimed in and asked for his exact position. Shortly after the "suspicious vessel" was buzzed by a couple of F14's on a "training mission". The "suspicious vessel" left in a hurry.

[taxwizz]

Mount a .30 cal. machine gun on the bow.
Test fire it weekly where the locals can see.
Fly a black flag.
Draw outlines of small pirate boats on the hull.

[Scorpius]

Originally Posted by taxwizz

Mount a .30 cal. machine gun on the bow.
Test fire it weekly where the locals can see.
Fly a black flag.
Draw outlines of small pirate boats on the hull.

Why only .30 caliber? Wouldn't .50 caliber be more effective?

[taxwizz]

Originally Posted by Scorpius

Why only .30 caliber? Wouldn't .50 caliber be more effective?

True, but it is much heavier, and the ammo is harder to get.
But it is more fun to shoot.
And definitely more intimidating.

[grantmc]

Spread tacks on the deck at night when at anchor.

[taxwizz]

Originally Posted by grantmc

Spread tacks on the deck at night when at anchor.

I believe that was Joshua Slocum's trick, 120 years ago.
Smart and brave guy.

[Clivevon]

Stick a few puncture repair patches on your dinghy...

[jim King]

I'd stick with well traveled areas especially those that rely on the tourist and boat community for their economies. You will find very little crime in these areas as they are well policed to prevent any crime. It is better to anchor in established areas to be in the company of other cruisers.
I to like to get off and be alone where I anchor, but I know that the islands I visit are well protected against any crimes against the needed tourism dollar.
For a good update on any criminal activities go to noonsite.com
cheers, and safe anchoring
JIm

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by dick sargent

An often overlooked precaution is to provide a way of locking companionways from the inside.

Not to mention some bars across the hatchwaY and hatches to provide security with ventilation. Motion sensor lights in the cockpit are also a great deterrent to thieves, whether they be sea gypsies or opportunist fishermen.

[acem]

Ma duce would look nice at the bow and stern but this thread is about avoidance, not defense.

The live pirate site is interesting. I don't see any activity near Somalia or Honduras.

The noonsite security section is useful. They also have a link to phantom services. Yeah, I can afford private security! It links to these very useful sites for avoiding theft and piracy.

https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/sec...-for-cruisers/
https://safetyandsecuritynet.org/pir...ntral-america/

Ham radio sounds interesting but is yet another potential electrical problem.

Avoiding detection while sailing. Out of sight of land, (15 miles with sail up) no AIS.

Safety in groups. Sail with others. Stay in radio contact with other craft.

Secure everything. I understand but there are limits. A lock just keeps an honest man honest.

Keep a low profile and don't look wealthy. I could fake rust stains on a fiberglass boat! Repair patches... It is unlike I would be considered wealthy by anyone!

Don't piss off the locals. Good advice anywhere.

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by toolbar

Interestingly according to the link from above https://www.icc-ccs.org/piracy-repor...ive-piracy-map there were no issues with piracy around Somalia in 2020. Has piracy around the horn been all but eradicated?


Paul

short answer : yes

problem area now is gulf of guinea / nigeria

cheers,

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by acem

Ma duce would look nice at the bow and stern but this thread is about avoidance, not defense.

Better placed adjacent to the main cabin hatch where one is less exposed and has a greater arc of fire.
.

[CarlF]

This question is like asking - if I went to an active war zone how should I protect myself? The simple answer is -- don't sail into a war zone.

In 99% of the world, piracy (not petty theft but a hostile boarding) is so rare that it isn't worth having a plan - anymore than you need a plan to deal with meteorite strikes.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Scubaseas

Noonsite.com has good info about security.
Be able to lock yourself inside the boat if needed. bars on hatches and companionway lockable from inside but removable to get out quickly. Hatch bars can be made to hinge down to act as a kind of ladder for easier egress.

Do not put your vessel name on the dinghy. Consider changing the horsepower decal to 6 so it is not so attractive to steal. That and paint it hot pink and orange.
Pull dinghy out of water at night and take the motor off.

Look like a bum, don't have a lot of money on you and look like it.

Stay well offshore in areas where there is known drug trafficking.

Good stuff. Except I’ll say don’t worry about drug traffickers. They’re not concerned with us and in my experience in the Caribbean, just go about their business. Some are cordial and friendly too.