170 Aquasport Stolen in Jacksonville, FL

[cmiller001]

My 170 Aquasport was stolen. This 1975 model with Suzuki 70 should stick out. Look for new LED trailer lights and tag ECNG74. Hull decal FL 5712 BU. Taken from Lamb's Yacht Center in Jacksonville. Another local stolen boat was found in South Georgia with engine stripped.

If I posted this in the wrong spot please move it, or I can move it.

Wish me luck.

[RickK]

Well that sucks for sure.  Hope you find her intact.

[cmiller001]

Thanks Rick. Nothing yet.

[boatnamesue]

Geez man that's a nightmare scenario, sorry bud.  I'm curious if you don't mind sharing....how was it nabbed?  Might be a lesson for those of us doing what we can to prevent theft.  Did you have a lock on trailer tongue?  If so, what type of lock?

[cmiller001]

Jason,
It was taken from the Marina who had a tongue lock. That is all I ever had as well. What I have found out since then is the stealing of trailer boats is really bad in south Florida and moving north. While I thought my 99 Suzuki was pretty safe due to age it seams the fact that the 17 was light and easy to move made it a target. Once I get my next boat hopefully another AS I will use the 'Gorilla Guard' type lock. I will also get a cut resistant chain to anchor to he driveway. While you probably can't prevent you boat getting stolen it's all about making it take more time than the thief is willing to invest. I will also buy a GPS tracker.

Thanks for your sympathy

[cmiller001]

Also make sure you insurance reflects the actual value of the boat not "book value". I should have had mine for more.

[boatnamesue]

Vessel/engine theft in S. Florida is literally a booming business and will always be....number of area boats and an international port.   Them are serious career thieves down there who use a uhaul like truck, back it up to the engine(s), open the slidind rear gate, attach hoist, plasma torch the off the transom bolts, close the gate, and then on to the next.  Majority of boats actually taken from storage are found miles down road w/out engine.

In my opinion your boat wasn't stolen by such expert theives.  Not like it matters now.  I reckon a theif whom doesn't know what they're really stealing, compared to the risk/reward.  20 yr old motor worth maybe 1k and a 40 yrd old vessel that is uncommon, easy to ID, without title, etc.  Petty thieves out to make a quick buck.  Be that as it may, my heart goes to you.  Hope you're made whole somehow down the road. 

[wingtime]

Engine thefts and vessel thefts are on the rise.  Most of them are stolen for the engine and maybe the trailer.  Motors are easy to ship overseas etc. 

I found most trailer tongue locks are a joke.  They only keep honest people honest.  Many of them can be broken off with a whack of a hammer.  Same with the little locks on the tongue latches.  The best option is  a good tongue lock, latch lock and a heavy cable lock thru the wheels and frame.  Locks for the outboard mounting bolts help too.  Even then a sawsall will make quick work to a transom to remove a motor. 

A friend of mine works for the local sheriffs dept marine unit and he says that Yamaha's and now believe it or not Etecs are the top stolen outboards.