Security

[Anonathy]

8 hours ago, Sailbadthesinner said:

Darrylle, please stop SHOUTING.

 

It's part of his security system, being loud and shouty reduces your chances of being a victim of theft 😂 

Lots of suggestions in this thread, sometimes it's better to break things down to the basics though. The important thing is TIME. You need to know right away if someone is messing with your boat. All the stories of stripped boats, stolen boats, all have the same thing in common, a vague notion of when it might have occurred. If you know right away you can stop it in time. The next most important thing is reducing FALSE ALARMS. If you don't trust your security system when it activates and you're likely to ignore it then it becomes pointless. So you need to know right away and you need to trust it.

Cameras are the best solution by far. They can send motion alerts. They record evidence. They can alert you if they are disabled or lose connection. You can view them to confirm what's going on at any moment in time. If you're IT savvy you can (should) set them up to record offsite so nothing can be lost or tampered with, but it's all quite technical and probably not the best solution for most people. WiFi/Cellular alarms are probably the next best option. Simple to setup, motion sensors, door alarms etc, will inform you via mobile or internet when it goes off.

 

Personally I think trying to disable the engine and fitting immobilisers is all rather pointless. If somebody wants to start that engine they will regardless of what you try to do, they could just tow the boat anyway, all they need is TIME. Also a tracker won't stop somebody from stripping your boat, but might work well in unison with an alarm system so you know if it's either moved or entered.

Whatever you choose, you need to know right away when something is happening and you need to trust it. Everything else is noise 👍

[Chris John]

Some people can get paranoid! 
It’s a boat…….if one is stolen it’s usually done by the local scrokes who are high on something and not the most intelligent……..

[IanM]

9 hours ago, Sailbadthesinner said:

Darrylle, please stop SHOUTING.

 

I’M glad SOMEONE else FINDS it EXTREMELY irritating TOO!

 

@Darrylle PLEASE just STOP it. IT doesn’t EMPHASISE anything AND is JUST plain ANNOYING!

 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

2 minutes ago, Chris John said:

Some people can get paranoid! 
It’s a boat…….if one is stolen it’s usually done by the local scrokes who are high on something and not the most intelligent……..

Many boats are "stolen" by someone known to the person reporting the theft. Often an ownership dispute, related to a relationship breakup. It's why whenever someone reports a boat theft on the forum, they are asked for a police crime number. 

 

[Tony Brooks]

9 hours ago, Darrylle said:

An electronic 'valve' CAN be placed between the engine and its fuel source. Simple - no? 

 

I have never seen an electronic FUEL valve, but have seen electronic radio valves. I have seen ELECTRICAL fuel valves, usually called fuel solenoids, and for the last 30 years or so the majority of new engines use them to operate the injector pump stop mechanism. They come in two types, energise to stop, which are the majority, and energise to run. Fitting a secret switch or relay to the latter types feed would make it difficult to start in little time, but that means that you limit your choice of engines. If you provide a long term feed to an energise to stop solenoid for more than few minutes you will typically burn out the majority of units, as you would need to stop an engine being started for a period of time.  So you will be back to fitting a remote electrical fuel stop solenoid. 

 

You seem determined to fit an overcomplicated antitheft system to your boat and that is fair enough, but I think many boaters value the simplicity of boat systems. The electrical/electronic complications related to safe LFP battery installations are bad enough, and you seem to be promoting another level of complication on top of that. All for a supposed problem that will never affect the majority of boaters. Hence, the kickback you have experienced. I think that you like electronics and complication for the sake of it, and a number of members have fitted systems to remotely monitor their boats some years ago.

 

 

Now, you have been talking about a BMS, and that implies some form of lithium battery, one hopes they will be LFP. You also imply that on your boat a thief will have to go looking for your batteries. That implies you will be hiding them within the boat's accommodation. You may find out very soon that will be made very difficult bay regulations involving fume venting in the event of a battery/BMS/charging fault.

 

Edited to add: Even if you remotely totally isolate the batteires on your boat, a simple emergency start power pack will start the majority of canal boats (those with manual or energie to stop solenoids), so there is no need t go looking for your batteries.

 

I hope that you took note of the recent post where a builitin from loss adjusters told of a stolen boat being towed away, so not need to start it. As far as we know that one has yet to be found, and there are slight hints it might relate to insurance fraud.

Edited July 28 by Tony Brooks

[Arthur Marshall]

It's best, I think, not to get involved with any new poster who starts their thread with a complaint about how this forum is run and demands changes. Especially if they SHOUT. And, on some thread, deliberately attempt to start an argument. I think this is just another troll, bored and talking drivel.

[Tony Brooks]

24 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

It's best, I think, not to get involved with any new poster who starts their thread with a complaint about how this forum is run and demands changes. Especially if they SHOUT. And, on some thread, deliberately attempt to start an argument. I think this is just another troll, bored and talking drivel.

 

I don't think it is all drivel, as show by those members who have already fitted remote monitoring and in some cases tracking, but as I said, many boaters, including myself, like simplicity, while others seem to be technology fans and like the complications they install. I find the tone of this OP very hectoring and making assertions that do not seem to stand up to their long term experience and seem to show something of a lack of knowledge about UK inland boats.

[Chris John]

3 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Many boats are "stolen" by someone known to the person reporting the theft. Often an ownership dispute, related to a relationship breakup. It's why whenever someone reports a boat theft on the forum, they are asked for a police crime number. 

 

Yes there was one at North Kilworth marina a few years ago where the boat was taken by an ex partner 

[MtB]

3 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Many boats are "stolen" by someone known to the person reporting the theft. Often an ownership dispute, related to a relationship breakup. It's why whenever someone reports a boat theft on the forum, they are asked for a police crime number. 

 

 

And another situation that crops up is the 'wronged' partner in a relationship, seeks to track down the other partner who simply untied and cruised away in a relationship breakdown. So comes on here claiming (falsely) the boat has been stolen and seeking help finding it/them.

 

 

(In order to try to retrieve the relationship I mean, not the boat.)

 

 

[David Mack]

34 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

(In order to try to retrieve the relationship I mean, not the boat.)

There have been cases reported here where the pursuer's intentions towards their ex have been rather less honourable.

[Slim]

On 23/07/2026 at 12:50, LadyG said:

Dear me, I gave up after a page or two of this tirade.

 

Such tinasity,  I gave up after the first.

I'm an old F@@t but i was taught manners. You don't  criticise until you've established your credentials. I'm prepared to bet he/she won't last beyond the first few posts.

[The History Man]

9 minutes ago, Slim said:

Such tinasity,  I gave up after the first.

I'm an old F@@t but i was taught manners. You don't  criticise until you've established your credentials. I'm prepared to bet he/she won't last beyond the first few posts.

Someone said the same about me.  Seems to be a standard comeback. 

[Arthur Marshall]

2 minutes ago, The History Man said:

Someone said the same about me.  Seems to be a standard comeback. 

Ah, but it seems that you are actually interested in boats...

[matty40s]

9 hours ago, Chris John said:

Yes there was one at North Kilworth marina a few years ago where the boat was taken by an ex partner 

Was that the one where the police caught them at Watford Locks after a slow chase...

[Llamedos]

On 23/07/2026 at 12:50, LadyG said:

Dear me, I gave up after a page or two of this tirade.

 

Posted at 2am probably off his trolley on whatever he drinks or smokes. 😂

[Chris John]

7 minutes ago, matty40s said:

Was that the one where the police caught them at Watford Locks after a slow chase...

I think it may well have been 

[Tony Brooks]

26 minutes ago, Llamedos said:

Posted at 2am probably off his trolley on whatever he drinks or smokes. 😂

 

I am not so sure because he seems to have doubled down on his initial post. I suspect someone who likes technology and toys for the boys, does not know so much about our boats and systems, and thinks his idea is the best thing since sliced bread, and that we should all be grateful to him for telling us about it. I suspect he has no idea why his post was not received as well as he thought it should be.

[Llamedos]

58 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

I am not so sure because he seems to have doubled down on his initial post. I suspect someone who likes technology and toys for the boys, does not know so much about our boats and systems, and thinks his idea is the best thing since sliced bread, and that we should all be grateful to him for telling us about it. I suspect he has no idea why his post was not received as well as he thought it should be.

Mmmm. Anyone who posts something that long and rambling in the middle of the night has a few issues going on I reckon.

 

(I’m sure someone will come along in a minute and tell me it’s perfectly normal.)

[The History Man]

23 minutes ago, Llamedos said:

Mmmm. Anyone who posts something that long and rambling in the middle of the night has a few issues going on I reckon.

 

(I’m sure someone will come along in a minute and tell me it’s perfectly normal.)

Or in about five hours. 

[Llamedos]

11 minutes ago, The History Man said:

Or in about five hours. 

I’ll be asleep. 💤😊