8 tips to prevent theft of your boat or outboard motor
More and more people own a powerboat, a sloop or some other craft. A boat, like an outboard motor, is an easy target for thieves, and figures from recent years bear this out. On average, more than 1,200 boats and 2,100 outboard motors are stolen each year.
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Theft of your boat
Because boats and boat motors are often relatively high value, these objects are highly sought after by thieves. Because of the underdeveloped registration systems surrounding pleasure boats, boats and boat motors are also not recovered in many cases. Thus, thieves often get away with them as well. Compared to cars, for example, which all have license plates, there is no such thing as a mandatory registration system for boats in which all boats in the Netherlands can be found. This is a major reason why boats are difficult to trace after theft.
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Register your boat
However, there is the possibility to have your boat registered directly with the police upon purchase. Through the Recreational Vehicle Registration Card, your boat is included in a central database that can also be read by the police in case of theft. As a result, your boat will be searched for immediately even before you have reported it. The stolen pleasure craft is then posted on the Internet, so that people on the water and beyond can look for it. Therefore, it is also important that a photo is available. Because all the details are known, the chance that your stolen craft will be recovered is greatly increased.
Reducing the risk of theft
When you have taken out boat insurance with theft coverage, the insurer will reimburse you for the value of the boat (if the conditions are met). But under the guise that prevention is better than cure, we give you some tips below to prevent theft.
- Secure the boat as securely as possible to a cable or chain with an approved lock.
- Provide good hardware at the cabin entrance.
- Provide an additional electronic security system, such as an alarm system or a vessel tracking system.
- During the winter, store your vessel in secure boat storage, or in an enclosed area.
- Post your zip code and house number in a highly visible location on your boat, inboard or outboard motor.
- If you have your boat on a trailer, secure it with a fit and approved lock, such as a hitch lock or wheel clamp.
- Remove your motor from the boat or else make sure it has an approved outboard motor lock.
- Nothing in, nothing out: take valuables with you when leaving the boat.
Also read:
- Getting boat insurance: what should I look out for?
- Do I need a boating license for my boat?
- How best to winterize my boat
- How mandatory is boat insurance really?
- Taking the boat trailer on vacation: what should I pay attention to?
- What does WA + full hull boat insurance cover?
- What does WA boat insurance cover?
Calculate your boat insurance premium right away!
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