Securing your home, business and car may be second nature to you today. Purchasing alarm systems for your vehicle, residence, and work place may seem like an absolute given. But when it comes to water craft, many boat owners consider their property a lower security risk than land-based property.

But boats require security, too. Docked or in the water, you need to provide security systems to keep your property and loved ones safe.

Step one in boat safety involves where you keep your boat when you’re not out on the water. While it may be simple to determine if a marina or other storage location is well maintained and protected from storm and tidal surges, it might take a little more investigative time to fully examine the security of your storage location. Storage security includes the actual location of your facility, and whether or not the area includes surveillance systems designed to protect against theft, vandalism, and other hazards. Find out if the storage location utilizes security cameras, and if anyone is regularly monitoring the camera’s view. Ask whether or not the facility employs security guards; and whether anyone checks the identity of visitors to the storage site before visitors are able to access the actual boats. Even if you’re only leaving your boat stored for a short period of time, survey your surroundings and make sure your boat’s marina, dock, or other storage facility takes these basic security concerns into consideration. Continue reading →