The secure sailor: Safeguarding your yacht from intruders

If a man's home is his castle, then his yacht is his floating castle. Both need serious protection from uninvited guests. Unfortunately, many yachts spend lots of time alone and there's no shortage of nefarious folks out there with their eyes on everything from your brand new plasma TV to that fancy GPS, not to mention the boat itself.
<h2>Yacht locks</h2>
Yacht protection begins with solid locks. Every opening an intruder could walk through, jump through or wiggle through needs a high quality lock. Pay special attention to doors. The best lock is of little value if a burglar can break a glass pane or flimsy hinges.
<h2>Lighting around your yacht</h2>
After you secure your entrances, invest in some good lighting. A few strategically placed lights on timers, both inside and out, encourage burglars to look for easier pickings elsewhere. If you don't have shore power, there are plenty of low-voltage solar powered lights around that will serve very well. Don't forget to draw the curtains to keep out prying eyes.
<h2>Online yacht security system</h2>
The next step is to look into a security system. Many marinas have Internet access and many yachts have satellite Internet capabilities. With a web link to your boat, you can install one or more web cams that will allow you to keep an eye on it 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world. Even better, you can add sensors that will alert you to other dangers such as fire or rising water in the bilge.
<h2>Watchful neighbors</h2>
And of course, don't forget the best security system: your fellow yachters. Just like at home, watchful neighbors can be your best friends. Getting to know your local dockmaster or nearby live-aboard never hurts. Also seriously consider a GPS tracking device for your yacht. This works like a Lo-Jack system for your car. If someone makes off with your yacht, you can find it. You might even get a discount on your boat insurance for this.
<h2>Fire power</h2>
Finally, the unthinkable. You're cruising along happily in the Gulf, the Carribean, or many other areas of the world when a fast boat full of latter day Blackbeards roars up with evil intentions. Face it, though rare, if this does happen there's no calling 911. You're on your own. Any boat can attract criminals and a large yacht is all the more inviting. The best advice is to stay out of dangerous waters, but if the worst happens your only meaningful defense is to be armed. And since your would-be boarders are no doubt armed themselves, you need to have more firepower than them.

This means something more than a pellet rifle or a .22 pistol. Long rifles or shotguns are good since American citizens can buy them without permits. Every yacht should have at least one rifle such as a semi-auto AR-15 or AK-47 and a 12 ga. shotgun aboard. For the ultimate in stopping power, consider the Barrett .50 cal. rifle. Used by Marine snipers in Iraq, this is the ultimate in stopping power.

50 cal. rounds can rip right through the hull of approaching vessels and disable them. And then the bad guys will know you mean business and think twice about trying to board you. That's far better than trying to fight it out on deck with small arms. And of course, like any other survival gear learn how to use and care for your weapons.
If you suspect any possibility of problems, keep a 24 hour watch both visually and on radar for any signs of approaching vessels. Even a cruise missile won't help you if you're taking a nap down below when trouble comes knocking.

Finally, don't forget the biggest advantage of a yacht over a house—if you find ever yourself in a bad neighborhood, you can just move to a nicer location! Happy yachting, and stay safe.