Boats are significant investments, regardless of the type. Even if you have a small, simple boat design, you still have to invest in all of the equipment to move and maintain it. Boat security therefore needs to be a high priority for you. Not only is the boat itself vulnerable to theft if you are not careful, but equipment on the boat can also be taken within minutes if you are not careful. Even the motor has value for resale or scrap metal.


Your boat can be a target whether it is stored on water or on a trailer. Basic preventive measures go a long way in preventing damage and theft.

The Risk

A boat is typically easy to steal when it is on its trailer. Any thief with towing capability can hook the trailer up to a truck and be gone within a few minutes. If you keep fishing equipment or other supplies on your boat, they’re typically not secured in any meaningful way. If you keep your boat out on the water and don’t visit it often, squatting is also a risk. This occurs when someone moves into a vacant home or vehicle and starts living there without the owner’s knowledge.

What You Can Do

Start looking at your boat in the same way you do your car. You never want to leave your car unlocked or out in the open when it is unattended. The same goes for your boat. Keep your boat well-lit at night, whether it is on a trailer or in the water. If there is not good lighting where your boat is being stored, consider installing motion controlled lighting on the boat itself.

This works as a deterrent to thieves. Make sure any doors or windows on the boat have strong locks and latches. Keep them secured at all times when you are not on the boat.

If your boat is on a trailer, keep the trailer as far away from the road as possible. If feasible, turn the trailer hitch away from the road to make it harder for someone to hook up to a vehicle. Keep the motor locked to the boat so it cannot be easily removed.

Do not store anything valuable on the boat. Keep all of your equipment in your house if you can. If you have valuable equipment that is a part of the boat itself, consider investing in a security system for the craft. Boat security systems function as a hybrid between a home security system and a car security system. There are multiple versions, with some offering remote monitoring while others just activate a loud siren. Consider your specific needs and your budget before deciding on a purchase.

If your boat has windows, use security shutters or curtains to block off the view inside when your boat is not in use. This makes it harder for a thief to case the boat and find items worth stealing. Post security stickers on the boat advertising the presence of an alarm. Even if you don’t actually have an alarm system, the stickers can work as a deterrent in their own right.

Never leave your keys inside the boat when the boat is not being used. Keep the keys at your house or on your main key ring, depending on how often you use the boat. Check on your boat regularly when it is not use. If you store your boat in a marina, have someone nearby check it for you and report back if you are unable to get there regularly yourself. Someone regularly getting on and off the boat helps prevent squatting.

A boat provides an interesting challenge from a security standpoint, because it is part vehicle and part living space if you have a larger model. It is important to think of your boat as the investment it is, and always take security precautions when leaving your boat for any period of time. Make sure you have the boat insured as well to protect you against losses from theft or damage. Never assume that it can’t happen to you.