My brother's boat: stolen from her mooring right outside his window

[rbgarr]

Sheesh! :mad:

http://wbztv.com/local/boat.stolen.rockport.2.1061191.html

And two years ago his house there burned. What's a guy to do?

[geronimo74]

in 2002 my 30 ft Garvy Barnegat was stolen from my friends dock at the end of a mile long canal his house was 30 ft away,teh funnypart was that the week end before I blew my motor and had taken it out to rebuild 2 days befor the theft,so when the culprits tried to start itafter rowing about300 yards in the rain,the laff was on them ,I recoverd the boat and the adult were caught when they abandonded ship at an unocupied house that had a secdurity camera and alarm system,cops picked them up walking and after reviiewing the alarm tape the next day both were arrested ,one violated parole and went back to finnish his 6 years in the big house I still have the boat .:)

[2MeterTroll]

dont know what to say. i would be doing a touch of searching however and probably a bit of beating when i found the scoundrels.

hope the boat is ok and it is found intact

[rbgarr]

If anybody along the NE coast sees this boat, give a holler/PM. http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/local/32_foot_sailboat_stolen_from_rockport_harbor_06270 9

Thx

http://i41.tinypic.com/ivhh5c.jpg

[donald branscom]

I hope you recover your boat in good condition.

I had a 12 ft. skiff stolen too.
It was brand new. I built it myself from new materials.
Turns out that this newspaper man would get on the bus in Petaluma, California
And go into looking for stories for the newspaper.
Well one day he got off the bus and I guess he did not have a story, so he sees my boat tied up in the river basin and takes a photo from a distance. Then he writes a story about abandon boats in the Petaluma river basin being a problem?

So the Sheriff's dept. went and cut the chain and took my boat.
I did not want to go to the Sheriffs dept to try to get it back because I was homeless at the time and I thought the Sheriff would lock me up for anything they could, when they found out I did not have a permanent address.

I loved taking my boat out in the evening and rowing around. It kept me healthy and sane.

All I could do was hope that maybe someday that one of the sheriffs would become homeless and understand how it is to be treated like a drunk or drug addict all the time and all you really want to do is get a job.

[paladin]

Just a question about things here in the U.S......in most other countries it would be considered an act of piracy.....how so here.....what if the boat was documented, would that make a difference.....stealing a federally licensed aircraft can lead to a charge of air piracy.

[rbgarr]

Good question... the boat is documented. I'll pass the thought along to him.

If there were hostages maybe the SEALS would get in on the action.

[rbgarr]

Apparently it's not piracy because it wasn't "on the high seas" and was within a state jurisdiction.

"Piracy" is defined in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (article 101) as follows:

"Piracy consists of any of the following acts:

(a) any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed

(i) on the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on board such ship or aircraft.

(ii) against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State,

(b) any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;

(c) any act inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in sub-paragraph (a) or (b)."

It follows, therefore, that, in the strictly legal sense, attacks on vessels which take place within the jurisdiction of a state (i.e. within territorial waters), are not "piracy", and the perpetrators are not "pirates". This is a fine distinction to the victims. However, attacks on vessels which take place within the jurisdiction of a state, are that state’s responsibility to address.

[James McMullen]

It may not legally be "piracy", but I still hope that they catch those bastards and treat them in the manner that pirates deserve.

Is the gibbet still legal in New England?


http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/img/Gibbet%20detail.jpg

[JimD]

Sorry and angry to hear this. Sure hope you get it back in good shape and the perps get seriously busted.

[Fitz]

rbgarr:

I saw this on the news and I was afraid there might be a family connection. I have to think the boat will turn up.

Keep us posted.

Fitz.

[2MeterTroll]

Apparently it's not piracy because it wasn't "on the high seas" and was within a state jurisdiction.

"Piracy" is defined in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (article 101) as follows:

"Piracy consists of any of the following acts:

(a) any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship or a private aircraft, and directed

(i) on the high seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property on board such ship or aircraft.

(ii) against a ship, aircraft, persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State,

(b) any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts making it a pirate ship or aircraft;

(c) any act inciting or of intentionally facilitating an act described in sub-paragraph (a) or (b)."

It follows, therefore, that, in the strictly legal sense, attacks on vessels which take place within the jurisdiction of a state (i.e. within territorial waters), are not "piracy", and the perpetrators are not "pirates". This is a fine distinction to the victims. However, attacks on vessels which take place within the jurisdiction of a state, are that state’s responsibility to address.

so then the somilies are not pirates.

[2MeterTroll]

but the bronze and such would be worth a bit. not to mention to a collector it dont matter if the boat is stolen as long as they have it.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Sorry about your brothers theft - I suspect at 6kt search pattern and two wooden mast she will be found. How much fuel is in the tank alert all the local dock masters with fuel. HIN # and all that.

Additionally I read that she was listed for sale for a very nice $24,900 and that Cheoy Lee is on my short list for liveaboards

[Don Z.]

so then the somilies [sic]are not pirates.
Not sure I quite follow your logic there. They're not exactly doing things inside the three mile limit...

Even if they were (some are 200 miles+ out) a good lawyer could still argue that they are outside the jurisdiction of any state...

[2MeterTroll]

but these days a 200 mile eez is considered under control by the state. those boys down on the tip of Africa have yet to go 200 miles off shore.

[paladin]

Personally......I would like to see the theft of any documented vessel result in a charge of piracy.....or any act of theft or destruction on such a vessel with a similar charge....give them a fair trial then hang the bastards.....they used to hang 12 year old horse thieves.....I say take their pants, blister ther butts with a cat-o-nine tails, then see how far they can swim in shark infested waters....30 minutes after doing a little chumming....

[2MeterTroll]

Paladen i would agree but as a kid we used to steal the farmer down the roads boat and go down the coquille to bandon. fish the bay and rocks dig clams and all bring it back and nothing was ever said about it. we used to leave a cooler of what ever we had been after that day on the boat though. never did need to clean the cooler or get gas. :)

so i kinda take a slow approach to it if its the local kids taking a ride. but if it is the adults actually stealing the boat i figure whats good for the goose is good for the gander. and that means if we are gonna hammer some guys in africa then we hammer the guys here.

[Ian McColgin]

My friend's Wianno Sr was brazenly stolen from Bass River a few years back. The thief managed to get locals thinking that he was the owner's friend. He took a couple days, did a test sail, and then sailed it home to Connecticut. He was delusional - thought he was the Prince of Norway - and a bit dangerous to his family so when one of his mother's friends told her it was a nice boat on the family mooring, she figured what was up and rather than confront her son, called the cops right off.

So Ardent made it back to Cape Cod a bit sullied and dirty but undamaged.

We hope you have such good fortune.

[John B]

I hope he gets her back too. Periodically we get someone who steals a boat and makes for the Pacific islands ( or tries to). They usually come across like a sandwich short of a cut lunch when they're caught , but this is odd to me. With no sails aboard , he ain't going too far, eh.

[John B]

Reading this reminded me of ' the murder boat' we had on our pier for a couple of years back ooooo, 2003 or so. It was on the end of the pier where we had our dinghy ( we were out on a pile mooring) so we went past it every time we used the boat.
It was a big catamaran owned by one of your obscenely wealthy sports stars... B? B B .....?
Bison! Thats was his name. He and his girlfriend got knocked off by his brother , presumably dumped at sea, and they finally found the cat in a marina in Noumea or somewhere, repainted. Brother living the high life back home (US) on his brothers funds.
kahuna matata? Tahuna matata ? name from one of those kids cartoon movies.

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Is your brother sure it isn't sitting on the bottom near the mooring?

[rbgarr]

Is your brother sure it isn't sitting on the bottom near the mooring?

Did you read the article that I linked in the first post??

[wtarzia]

What would a thief do with a big wooden sailboat? I'm curious. Salvage expensive metals? Chop it up to sell on the stolen sailboat parts market? Use in the (slow) drug trafficking trade? Sell its sails on the used sails market? -- Wade

[huisjen]

"sell it to the insurance co."???

the yacht was not insured

Gary flunks reading comprehension.

Dan

[Thermo]

^ The article does say the boat was uninsured. No point in sinking an uninsured, 25k boat.

What could be the reasons to steal it though?

a. To sail it off shore out of the US, and didn't realize there were no sails onboard? It's a nice little offshore boat. Just what a crew of one would like to have out there. Unfortunately, he would ditch/scuttle her as soon as he could when he realized he couldn't sail her.

b. to run contraband? laughable choice of boats.

c. scrap? Probably a lot more boats sitting on vacant lots on dry land would make an easier scrap/parts target, but he chose a good seaworthy boat.

d. to re-sell the entire boat? Only a retard woud think that could be gotten away with on that busy coast. Or someone with balls of steel.

e. personal grudge against the owner?

I'd say it's either a or e. If an inflatable motor dink was taken as well, the boat was either cast adrift or scuttled (when either the missing sails were discovered, or when the grudge was settled), then the dink taken back to shore later.

Can't count on the thief only having what fuel was in the tank, either. If it was planned out, then it's only a matter of bringing a few gas-cans full of diesel with you.

And if the tug spotted him, he spotted the tug and knew it spotted him, and would've changed his heading. I doubt he took it past the East Point of Gloucester.

Hope it's found in one piece.

[willmarsh3]

Sorry for your brother's woes. I hope he finds it soon and in one piece. I've heard of people hiring airplanes to go look for their boat.

[rbgarr]

The worst scenario is that it ends up abandoned and ashore somewhere, leaking fuel. My brother will be on the hook for salvaging costs and then will face storing a possibly damaged boat that he was already having some difficulty selling.

Aside from the CG and harbormasters up and down the coast, he's notified websites/blogs Soundings Online, Points East, Northeast Boating, www.by-the-sea.com (http://www.by-the-sea.com)and asked that they put up notices and photos on their daily sites. Local and regional newspapers, too.

Any other suggestions for NE publications/online sites that have immediate circulation/access?

Thx-

[Thermo]

Isn't there a webcam on Rockport Harbor?

http://www.sandybay.org/cam/cam1.html

Check their hard drive maybe?

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

yeah, I missed that but
SHOW ME WHERE IT WAS CHECKED TO SEE IF IT WAS NOT SUNK ??

God you are an ass :rolleyes::mad:

[Tylerdurden]

I would think it would be perfect for smuggling. When I had the Egg it was prone to be checked out by authority's and was boarded a few times but never once in a sailboat. The logic using go fast works both ways. I would assume its someone trying to get home before that though as there is no profit in boats right now. With any luck it will be found on someones open mooring. I didn't see her in Wiscasset but I will keep an eye out.

[Tylerdurden]

No... It's a PRACTICAL QUESTION...and one from someone that has INSURANCE, do you?
Anyone without insurance is a DUM@SS

Man, life just ain't worth living without insurance.:rolleyes:

[Doug Wood]

<<Any other suggestions for NE publications/online sites that have immediate circulation/access?>>

You might want to give John Hanson a call over at Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors. I suspect he might be willing to post something on their site about this. Number is 207-594-8622. If John's not around, try Dave or Jamie.

Really sorry to hear about this and hope the boat is found.

[George Roberts]

More telling is that the keys were in the boat. Perhaps a local custom, but certainly not wise.

[davidagage]

Dave, I hope that she is soon found and in the shape she was in before she was taken.

DG

[kingplanker]

The worst scenario is that it ends up abandoned and ashore somewhere, leaking fuel. My brother will be on the hook for salvaging costs and then will face storing a possibly damaged boat that he was already having some difficulty selling.

Aside from the CG and harbormasters up and down the coast, he's notified websites/blogs Soundings Online, Points East, Northeast Boating, www.by-the-sea.com (http://www.by-the-sea.com)and asked that they put up notices and photos on their daily sites. Local and regional newspapers, too.

Any other suggestions for NE publications/online sites that have immediate circulation/access?

Thx-
A terrible story. I see that boatbuilding.net has it posted. Is there a contact email or phone number? Good luck to your brother.
http://www.boatbuilding.net/article.pl?sid=09/06/29/1449241&mode=thread

[Tylerdurden]

More telling is that the keys were in the boat. Perhaps a local custom, but certainly not wise.

Actually quite wise. Anyone can hack into a boat but this way there is no damage. I have repaired several "Stolen" boats without use of keys. It ain't pretty.

[rbgarr]

The water at the mooring is about twelve feet deep if the idea is that my brother sunk it at the mooring. His not checking to see if it sunk or personally sinking it elsewhere is pretty insulting, but consider the source.

Leaving keys in boats is a local custom. It's done in a lot of places, but may diminish some. Checking the webcam is a good suggestion. The mooring the boat was on is right there on the left in the snapshot.

Canoez suggested we contact all fueling facilities along the coast. AFAIK, the CG and harbormaster network has done so already, but I'll confirm. TowboatUS and Seatow also. Thanks for the suggestion.

Edited to add: The local webcam showed nothing since the idea now is that the boat was stolen in total, fogged in darkness at 2AM.

[CharlieCobra]

No... It's a PRACTICAL QUESTION...and one from someone that has INSURANCE, do you?
Anyone without insurance is a DUM@SS


That or they have a boat that won't pass survey yet. When's the last time you insured a 50+ year old wooden boat? I'll have to agree with Joe on this one. Go troll some other thread or better yet, some other forum.

[rbgarr]

A terrible story. I see that boatbuilding.net has it posted. Is there a contact email or phone number? Good luck to your brother.
http://www.boatbuilding.net/article.pl?sid=09/06/29/1449241&mode=thread

Thanks for all the suggestions PM'd and here and we're following up on them. We're checking all other webcams also : http://www.maineharbors.com/camindex.htm

If anyone hears anything post it here or in a PM, please. My brother would just as soon not be getting calls/emails accusing him of sinking his own boat, etc.

[Brian Palmer]

yeah, I missed that but
SHOW ME WHERE IT WAS CHECKED TO SEE IF IT WAS NOT SUNK ??

The mooring was "empty." If it was sunk, the mooring ball would have been pulled down with the boat and the mooring would have been "missing," too.

It would also be likely that the masts would stick above the water (mooring areas usually are not that deep, but could be), and there would be a diesel oil slick of some sort.

Brian

[johnw]

Is that an Offshore 31? My dad had one of those. It burned about a quart of diesel an hour at 5 knots. If you have some idea how much fuel was aboard, you can figure out the radius they can take the boat without refueling. Of course, there are ways to get fuel aboard without going to the fuel dock, but it's a thought.

[rbgarr]

The Cape Cod canal is sixty miles as the crow flies, so that would be 3-5 gallons out of the tank. I'm guessing the boat is abandoned, stripped, sunk or ashore by now. How would they get the rig pulled, and a Travel-lift and trailer to haul it anywhere? Would they pay for that unless they had a 'buyer'? The stolen inflatable may be all that ever shows up, if that.

It's a mystery.

[johnw]

I think this sort of boat gets stolen most often by some nut who wants to rename it and sail far away. At least if it's stolen to be used, it might still be on one piece.

[rbgarr]

But the sails were not on the boat! They're at his house. :confused:

[johnw]

But the sails were not on the boat! They're at his house. :confused:
In which case, if it's some nut who wants to sail far way, they'll abandon the boat.

It's a hope, anyway.

[donald branscom]

Once the boat goes past the point of demarkation it WILL be a Coast Guard concern as a US documented boat.

When it was stolen it was foggy. So that means the person or persons that stole the boat had knowledge of boats, and knowledge of the water and rocks in the area.
So I would get out a map and draw a circle on the map of the farthest the boat could go at full speed(doubtful) that the boat could go.
Also any video camera in the area COULD offer some clues.
Are there any foundries in the area? What about a Google satellite map?

Just thinking...

[John B]

Boy, some completely un neccesary and insulting comments made on this thread.:(

Dave , one thought ( outside of the theft for wrecking and nutter/ joyride theories).. perhaps its a stolen to order kind of thing a bit like car thefts. The guy has the same model boat but bad hull/ motor condition ( good sails though)....swap regs etc.
What I'm getting at is your brother will possibly have a handle on where others of his class/ model boat live, where he's seen them about in his travels.

[JimConlin]

Dave-
The Corps of Engineers has lots of video on the canal, and I expect that they see well in the dark.

[Thermo]

I guess this isn't her, is it? Closest thing I've seen on any webcams so far, this one at:

http://boothbayharborwebcams.com/

(edit: well if you live there, you would have probably looked already, didn;t see your location.)

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/smagmags/BoothBay01.jpg

Edit: and these two were lookin' awful contented kissing on the Boothbay docks. Maybe we have teh culprits!

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s12/smagmags/kissy1.jpg

[The Bigfella]

I don't know the local waters, but if that were mine, I'd be organising a smallish runabout and start searching the local bays and harbours myself. You can bet your bottom dollar the cops will forget it quick smart.

During the 2000 Olympics, I had an inflatable and outboard stolen from the marina I was on. I reported it stolen and the next day brought down my own 40hp runabout to start a search of the harbour. I found it tied up to a nearby marina, complete with some extras - nothing of value, some covering material, etc. I just walked up to the marina office, said "that's my inflatable, someone from here's pinched it" He didn't know who'd left it there, so I jumped on and took it back.

For a $25k boat, I'd take a week off work and start looking. Good luck with the search

[Ian McColgin]

A well thought out theft of a boat like this is entirely feasable and, if the thief wants her for him or herself or has a suitable client, fairly profitable. There are plenty of out-of-the-way lifts and railways but even easier for the ambitious thief is to simple get her to a suitable ramp at high tide and have a tractor and trailor ready.

I am sorry that any of this community would have the blind arrogance to act like this was the owner's fault or plan or negligence.

[Larks]

Ditto on Ians' suggestion. A friend here in Darwin had his yacht go missing off his mooring a few years back when he was away, also uninsured. It's a massively large area here with everywhere to hide a boat and it was anywhere up to a week since it had been seen on the mooring so it could have been in Bali for all he knew. He hired a chopper and spent the best part of three days searching the myriad of rivers, creeks and backwaters about and found it on the afternoon of the third day anchored up a creek East of Darwin.

In this case he retrieved the vessel without police assistance but delivered a rather "dishevelled" looking couple to the police in Darwin - that approach isn't recommended (but this is Darwin).

[rbgarr]

All are possibilities. The helicopter charter may be feasible. Aside from harbors and mooring fields there are hundreds of square miles of marshes and creeks within fifty or so miles of where the boat was last seen. I'll be amazed if the boat went outside of Cape Cod and down the coast.

More photos available on the Cheoy Lee Association website, where the theft is also reported: http://www.cheoyleeassociation.com/Sale/Tew.htm

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

FWIW its kinda too late now but I noticed your brothers boat had a wheel helm a guy anchored in my cove removes his wheel when he leaves the boat unattended.

[Tylerdurden]

My theory is the same as for driving in the city. Keep the mechanical's perfect but have it look like its been stolen twice already. Though Marla is better equipped there are two much nicer looking craft nearby so I figure I know who's boat will disappear first.

Kind of sucks for someone who has a beauty of a boat though.

[Sea Smoke]

Sorry about your brothers boat, Dave. I'm curious about this theory of Theft for Hire, wouldn't a collector, or CL afficianado, be interested in buying it from him directly, instead of plotting a criminal enterprise? It seems like the inherent danger of this plot would outweigh the discount potential.

[rbgarr]

I agree with you. The Cheoy Lee Association has the theft reported on their web page, and a good number of regional boat haulers, travel lift owner/operators, marine consignments shops, surveyors, sailmakers, etc. have been notified and sent photos so it may become awkward for the thieves at some point.

We'll see.

[elf]

Someone forwarded the info to the CC Marine Trades Association list and it went to the Cape Chambers of Commerce as well. Got it in the email today.

[rbgarr]

Thanks, Em. Good to hear.

[elf]

Has he had any bites in response to his ad? Is there any chance that someone who came to look at it decided to just steal it?

[Dave_C]

All are possibilities. The helicopter charter may be feasible. Aside from harbors and mooring fields there are hundreds of square miles of marshes and creeks within fifty or so miles of where the boat was last seen. I'll be amazed if the boat went outside of Cape Cod and down the coast.


I just gotta think that this boat would stick out too much for someone to try hiding it in a salt marsh. Essex Bay and Plum Island Sound are obvious examples that are very nearby, (though in the opposite direction of the last reported sighting.) Both of these locations are patrolled by local harbormasters who would certainly take notice. Newbury (P.I. Sound), is particularly vigilant about non-local boats in thier jurisdiction. Large mooring fields like those in Salem and Marblehead would not serve very well either as they are also patrolled and everyone is familiar with the boats moored around them. A stranger would be noticed even in a crowd. Frankly, the proximity of this crime to my own boat and the brazen nature of it has me a bit disturbed. My theory, based upon the number of days since it was stolen, is that the plan was to avoid all ports and anchorages and get it out of local waters with the help of another vessel (fuel resupply) and haul it where there is less chance that the locals are aware of the crime. I would think that for this to work they would have to rendezvous with the support boat somewhere in Mass Bay and then keep to sea in company around the outer Cape to points south. If it were me, I would be concerned about notifying authorities in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and beyond. I hope she is found, this crime is too despicable to tolerate someone getting away with it.

[2MeterTroll]

why hasnt every boat in the port gone out and searched?

[seayou7]

I'll be on the lookout in RI's Narragansett Bay. Check out Cuttyhunk and Block Island for web cams. Good luck!

[JimConlin]

Dave-
Any other distinguising marks, like a name or reg. numbers?

Were there any self-identifying electronics like a cell phone or a DSC VHF aboard?

[rbgarr]

Name: JUNO
Documented: no numbers
No electronics with those capabilities

Strangely, I'd just offered him a SPOT a few weeks ago that I got at a Boater's World g-o-o-b sale, not that it would have helped much unless used by the thieves.

[John B]

You should put a 'stolen' thread on SA ,Dave.

[floatingkiwi]

I just gotta think that this boat would stick out too much for someone to try hiding it in a salt marsh. Essex Bay and Plum Island Sound are obvious examples that are very nearby, (though in the opposite direction of the last reported sighting.) Both of these locations are patrolled by local harbormasters who would certainly take notice. Newbury (P.I. Sound), is particularly vigilant about non-local boats in thier jurisdiction. Large mooring fields like those in Salem and Marblehead would not serve very well either as they are also patrolled and everyone is familiar with the boats moored around them. A stranger would be noticed even in a crowd. Frankly, the proximity of this crime to my own boat and the brazen nature of it has me a bit disturbed. My theory, based upon the number of days since it was stolen, is that the plan was to avoid all ports and anchorages and get it out of local waters with the help of another vessel (fuel resupply) and haul it where there is less chance that the locals are aware of the crime. I would think that for this to work they would have to rendezvous with the support boat somewhere in Mass Bay and then keep to sea in company around the outer Cape to points south. If it were me, I would be concerned about notifying authorities in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and beyond. I hope she is found, this crime is too despicable to tolerate someone getting away with it. Another thing to consider is that it wouldn't take too long for the thieving bastards to take what they wanted and then sink her.
Are there sheds nearby, like, watery garages for boats?

[rbgarr]

Believe me, there was hardly anything on the boat worth stealing or selling except the engine... and it would have been a hell of a project to get it out. Aside from that anything they wanted to steal could have been taken much more easily right at the mooring in the first place under cover of night and fog.

That of course assumes rationality on the part of the thieves, not always a sure bet.

Meanwhile, there are other Cheoy Lee Offshore 30s for sale at lower prices in as good or better shape than the one stolen. Nor do I think my brother has PO'd anyone particularly. He's a laidback guy and has many friends among the waterfront guys. One even loaned him the mooring for the season, a very generous thing to do given the long waiting list for moorings in the harbor. They were the ones who called him in the early morning to tell him the boat was missing.

[catndahats]

First, I am sorry to hear of your brother's loss. I hope this story has a happy ending for your brother, and justice be served for the theives.

One post (or more) commented on the boat being stolen to replace another Cheoy Lee 31 that was in bad shape (and there are plenty of rotted/worn out CL 31's around). So, that's a plausible scenario. In theory, with a few hours head start, a thief could load your boat on a trailer in the cover of night, and be 3 states away down the interstate before anyone even noticed the boat missing. How about getting access to toll booth cams and truck weigh station cams...it may be a long shot?

After Hurricane Ike there was a salvage CL31 that went to auction (and went cheap). I don't tend to think like crooks, but I guess someone could steal a clean sistership to their own wreck, and transfer the document number off their wreck, splash a different color trim and sail covers on a boat easy enough and then try to resell the boat cheap. It would be pretty hard to prove whose boat it really is. We could/should be on alert for a cheap but very nice Cheoy Lee 31 for sale all around the country....look for shiny new documentation numbers on the deck beam.

I don't post a lot on here, but this particular situation really gets to me. I really do hope the boat is found in one piece for your brother's sake.

[JimConlin]

That scheme would be better suited to a more modern boat that hadn't been 'customized' as much.

The rules in HIN's require that there be a second HIN plate in some secret location. Is it the same with documentation numbers?

[willmarsh3]

Documentation numbers are supposed to be permanently marked on some integral part of the boat's structure inside the boat. I carved mine into a bulkhead. It would be difficult to remove without leaving a detectible trace.

[Sea Smoke]

Bump!

This should stay close to the top 'til there's some resolution.

[willmarsh3]

Bump.

Any good news?

[davebrown]

i own a law firm, and i am a former district attorney. i deal with people all the time who think that it is reasonable, or justifiable, or maybe just don't think, and thus do things like destroy the doors and the dashboard of a benz or bmw to get a hundred dollar-or less--secondary market radio. i am thinking the diesel is enough to motivate someone who has sucked down some meth and wants $300. hope i am wrong...

[rbgarr]

Yes, that could well be the case.

Nothing new to report about the boat itself. However, he has been approached by someone who seems "overly eager" to sublease the mooring... and annoyed and irritated that it's not available at this time. That seems a bit suspicious in my brother's judgment.

[Dave_C]

Nothing new to report about the boat itself. However, he has been approached by someone who seems "overly eager" to sublease the mooring... and annoyed and irritated that it's not available at this time. That seems a bit suspicious in my brother's judgment.


Well that could explain it. With a 20 year waiting list for a mooring, some people might take to extremes to move up on the list. If true, this is even more despicable than stealing her for profit or for yourself. With any luck this guy or his crew are the chatty type and will brag about this little caper to someone.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Bump

Any leads ??

[rbgarr]

Not a peep.

Here's a fuller description of the boat: http://www.boatbuilding.net/article.pl?sid=09/06/29/1449241&mode=thread

[Thad]

Linked from Trade Only Soundings today, http://www.soundingsonline.com/component/content/article/212-july-14/236912-theft-a-mystery
Good Luck Jim, and JUNO too.

[rbgarr]

That's a well reported story and reflects his thoughts on the theft and his situation accurately.

[Lance F. Gunderson]

I read in Practical Sailor that fewer than 12% of stolen boats are ever recovered. How could that be? Seems an astounding number.

[rbgarr]

I wonder what the recovery rates are for other types of stolen property by comparison. It may not be much better!

I'd think most stolen boats would be OB powerboats on trailers. Those would be easier to get away with, faster and farther, and how much law enforcement time is going to be spent tracking them down anyway?

[2MeterTroll]

well judging from the underwhelming response of all the boaters out in the north east it dont seem odd to me at all.
here someone steals a salmon boat and the whole coast is looking within the hour. it goes out on the V and the side band. usually the folks that take it are found by the locals and dealt with in about two hours.

[banjoman]

Years ago I new somebody who had a boat stolen off her mooring in Monterey. 5 weeks later it turned up in the Sacramento river delta. Couple hundred miles or so. Some damage to the interior and empty tanks but not too bad.

Keep up hope.

[rbgarr]

well judging from the underwhelming response of all the boaters out in the north east it dont seem odd to me at all.
here someone steals a salmon boat and the whole coast is looking within the hour. it goes out on the V and the side band. usually the folks that take it are found by the locals and dealt with in about two hours.

I'd think a commercial theft of someone's livelihood would get the same response around here, too.

[2MeterTroll]

I have been monitoring this since you posted. i am sorry that the response has been as slow as it has been. it makes me sad, depressed and more than a little angry.

[kingplanker]

Name: JUNO
Documented: no numbers
No electronics with those capabilities

Strangely, I'd just offered him a SPOT a few weeks ago that I got at a Boater's World g-o-o-b sale, not that it would have helped much unless used by the thieves.

Since it has been suggested that the engine may be the true object of the theft- it might help to publicize the engine serial number. That could frustrate anyone trying to sell it - perhaps eventually identifying the culprit?

[Matt J.]

Rotten luck, Dave.

Thought (though it only adds to the conspiracy theories): It's not hard to find sails, used and cheap, for any boat. Isn't it feasible the theives brought a suit of sails with them?

I guess I'm just looking for reasons to think she wasn't scrapped for a stinking motor.

[rbgarr]

Hello Matt!

I haven't seen your posts around much lately. Hope all is well and thanks (everyone) for the thoughts. We haven't given up hope yet.