How to Protect Your Boat from Vandalism and Theft

A boat can be one of the most expensive items you invest in besides your house and car. When you put your money into something, you want to make sure it’s protected. This can be done through boat insurance. Boat insurance can help protect your boat and give you the confidence that everything will be okay if something were to happen to it. While you can’t always know what your boat’s future holds, you can do things to help protect it from vandalism and theft. Here are some tips to do just that. 

Covered Storage Thwarts Vandalism and Theft 
One of the best ways to protect your boat against theft and vandalism is by keeping it out of sight. You do not want to advertise that you have a nice boat to thieves. You need to find a secure place to keep it so it remains covered and protected because thieves are very smart in figuring out where to find big items like boats. Consider the following storage options to protect your boat: 

• Store it in your garage
• Rent a storage unit
• Rent a pod to store your boat 

All of these covered storage options enhance every other measure you take to ensure that your boat is protected while you aren’t using it.  

Locks are Added Protection for Your Boat 
Storing your boat in a secure facility is not always enough. You also want to make sure you have the boat strapped down to a permanent object. This means tying it down to the floor or walls if necessary. This practice makes it harder for thieves to steal your boat because doing so is too time consuming. If you do not have the materials to attach it to your floor or walls, you can install locks on the wheels. This makes it difficult to drive off with the boat attached.  

Other Ways to Protect Your Boat from Vandalism and Theft 
Another way to make it even more difficult to steal a boat is by taking off one of the wheels of the trailer. If you do this, keep the wheel in a place no one knows. When you are ready to take the boat out, you can quickly reattach it.  

You may want to also consider locking the motor. You can find the necessary locks for your boat at a local boat dealer. They will have all types to choose from that will provide you with the peace of mind knowing your boat is protected.  

Safeguarding your boat requires you to employ many different layers of protection in order to prevent vandalism and theft. By reducing visibility and securing your boat with locks, you decrease the chances that your boat will be stolen. 

Is your boat covered? Call Killingsworth Insurance for more information on boat insurance.