|
|
!
Whos Looking Out For Your Boat When Your Not There?
Over 72 million Americans participated in recreational boating in 2003 on the estimated 17 million recreational boats in the United States. For many Americans, the investment in their vessel ranks along with their homes and automobiles. However, unlike homes and automobiles, most boat owners only spend a fraction of their time on their vessel which creates a few areas of serious concern; burglary and damage reporting. Burglary and vandalism are crimes of opportunity. Criminals know that boats are frequently left unattended for long periods of time, making them an easy target for burglary and vandalism. Imagine showing up at your boat on a beautiful Saturday morning looking forward to a great day on the water only to find out that all the possession you stored on your vessel were stolen or that your boat has been seriously damaged, criminally or otherwise. That beautiful day just turned ugly very quickly. This is when you realize that, unlike your home or car, your boat is quite vulnerable without you there to protect it. Crime prevention is a national crisis for boat owners all across the United States. What can boat owners do to alleviate this problem? A neighborhood watch style program would be a great start - fellow boat owners could then practice techniques for observing and reporting malicious activity. Unlike a neighborhood watch program though, concerned citizens can't just knock on your boat door to inform you of theft or stolen property from your vessel. They can report it to local law enforcement, but there are some unique challenges with that: Can local law enforcement get in contact with you? If your vessel is registered, the local authorities will have access to your address, however, boat owners do not submit a phone number when registering their vessels. Herein lies the problem: law enforcement can only contact you in person or by mail and if you are not at your registered address or if that address is far away from you vessel, it could take days or weeks for you to be reached. If a fellow boater noticed damage or suspicious activity on or around your vessel, would you find out? Many boaters will make the good will gesture of reporting suspicious activity or criminal damage to local law enforcement; however, this leaves you back at square one when it comes to getting that information to you in a timely fashion. If a fellow boater notices damage or activity they do not perceive as criminal, there is virtually no chance that information will be passed on to you. People will call the police to report criminal activity but seldom report an incident otherwise. What can be done about these issues? There is an organization offering a service that addresses these issues for boat owners across America. Boat Watch USA has developed a National Boat Registry where boat owners provide (1) information about their vessel; (2) contact address and phone number, and (3) how and when to contact them. Boat Watch USA is a private, third-party intermediary for boat owners, and the personal information they keep for owner's is not publicly accessible. When law agencies and concerned citizens want to report damage and criminal activity; they (1) call a toll-free hotline and, (2) report the incident using the unique vessel ID number. Both the hotline and vessel ID # are located on the Boat Watch USA decal the vessel owner affixes to their boat. Then, when an incident is reported, Boat Watch USA matches the vessel ID number to the contact person and reports the incident according to the owners preset directions. Boat Watch USA has also developed neighborhood watch style program called "Boat Watch." This is a public awareness campaign to educate vessel owners on crime awareness and the Boat Watch USA reporting methods. Boat Watch USA is also working to certify "Boat Watch USA Authorized" marinas and storage facilities that comply with the "Boat Watch" program. About the Author: Marc Eskew is a managing partner of Boat Watch USA, L.L.C. Boat Watch USA's mission is to generate crime awareness campaigns and a timely reporting system for criminal activity and non-criminal damage to vessels for boaters throughout the United States. For more information, please visit http://www.BoatWatchUSA.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Bahamas Cruise Expert Guide The Bahamas is arguably the most popular cruise destination for U.S. See Alaska as Never Before: Alaska Inside Passage Cruises Between the Alaskan mainland and its islands, lies an intriguing waterway best known as the inside passage. Abundant in wildlife and breathtaking beauty, the inside passage affords visitors an experience that cannot be found anywhere in Alaska or in the world. The Alaska Cruise- A Living Memory The Alaska cruise is a major attraction drawing vacationers with its majestic scenery, gleaming glaciers, exotic wildlife, and Native American culture. Ships are normally on a seven-day excursion package to Alaska and they stop at four ports on their passage, visiting Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay National Park. Want a Dream Career? Get a Job on a Yacht! If you're the "outdoorsy" type, prefer to work on a team, have a positive attitude and are a confirmed "people-person," you may fit right in as part of a yacht crew. Though jobs on most yachts are seasonal or part-time (depending on when someone rents it for a cruise), you will gain an incredible amount of experience while sailing your work days away. There Are Many Reasons Why You Should Choose Inflatable Boats Over Traditional Boats If you spend any time in or around the water then you probably own or have considered owning an inflatable boat. There are many uses for inflatable boats and many people own them for a variety of very different reasons. Tropical Cruise Expert Guide A tropical cruise in the Caribbean or in the Gulf ofMexico is an ideal choice of vacation for couples ofall ages. Whether you're looking for a short romanticbreak or if you'd like a longer voyage with more timeto explore tropical islands and soak up the Caribbeansunshine, then a tropical cruise is for you. Want To Know More About Cruises and Cruise Ships? Today, Norm Goldman Editor of Sketchandtravel.com, is pleased to have as a guest of Sketchandtravel. Norwegian Cruise Line - American Style! It's not just the size and opulence of their sleek and stylish fleet that attracts passengers to Norwegian Cruise Line. Norwegian Cruise Line boasts the largest ratio of staff to passengers of any cruise company and this extra service shows from stem to stern. Wanted! Adventurous Guests Looking For a New Experience on a Royal Caribbean Cruise Wanted! Adventurous guests looking for a new experience on a Royal Caribbean Cruise! Royal Caribbean Cruise line is known to be a leading, innovative cruise vacation company that offers new experiences, a wide array of choices, and great vacation value for active singles, couples and entire families looking for exciting adventures.The activities onboard their ships are endless, and you can spend all day rock climbing or ice-skating if you desire. Interesting 5 Tips that First-Timer Cruisers Need to Know First-time cruisers sometimes confuse about choosing the destination for neither cruising nor they aware about the hidden costs in the cruise. So this cruising tip should help them to prepare about what they need to know before they go for cruising:1. Italy Cruise Expert Guide History, wine, serene beauty, dramatic people andstunning views - an Italy cruise has it all! You canvisit the main sites of Italy on a European cruiseor a Mediterranean cruise, but to really experienceItaly - to really taste it - you need to immerseyourself in everything that Italy has to offer bytaking an Italy cruise.Italy cruises depart from several ports around thecountry. Exploring New Englands Shore By Sailboat Of the six states that comprise our country's quaint New England, five are on the coast, making the area a prime place for enjoying water sports, including a top favorite, sailing.Whether you make your home there or decide to take in the sea air during your next vacation, you'll never encounter a lack of ways to enjoy the water while sailing these unique waters. Mexico: Going Native If you want to expatriate to Mexico to find an affordable cost of living then there is one thing you must do--Go Native!Now, this is not as scary as you might think. I am not talking about living in the jungles of Puerto Vallarta and hoping the locals will show you how to beat your clothes clean on the rocks "down to the river", (I've seen some Mexicans still doing this). Kid-friendly Cruises Kids and vacation - trying to find the perfect option can be a real challenge but with a kid-friendly cruise, it does not have to be. If you were like most parents, you want to take your family on a special vacation, some place different, fun, adventurous, and affordable. Stocking up Your Boat There, you have just got a boat. A nice new hobby for the weekend and it is time to stock it out. Update April 2005 - Holland America Cruises, Signature of Excellence Program Holland America Cruise Lines has initiated a program of up-scaling their cruise ships, cruise line image and passenger cruise experience. This initiative is called the Signature of Excellence program and will soon be experienced by cruise passengers on all Holland America cruises. Cleaning Canvas Tops on Boats Cleaning boat canvas covers is difficult unless you know the secrets. Here are some tips to assist your so you can get out on the water where you belong. High-School Reunion Time? Host Yours on a Yacht! Sometimes it can be difficult to round up the old gang from high school; everyone is busy, someone in their family either can't or won't go, or people will think, "Oh, those things are so boring."Well, if you or someone you know is in charge of coordinating your reunion for the "Class of ----," you'll definitely get better results from the get-go if you decide to plan the reunion aboard a luxury yacht, offering your former classmates a real chance to unwind while they reminisce about the "old days" with you and your friends. Panama Cruise Expert Guide Situated in the country of Panama in Central America is the Panama Canal - a manmade waterway connecting the great oceans of the Pacific and the Atlantic together. It is 80 kilometers in length and is wide enough to accommodate a whole host of ocean-going vessels, including Panama cruise ships. Buying the Perfect Boat Why is it, that when you are looking to buy a boat, you can never find one that suits your needs? This is what happens to many people every year and in particular to ourselves. It's just like buying a house.
|
