Damn vandals

[zoom650]

I needed some boat therapy this afternoon and instead found this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/ ... G_2752.jpg

I've got no idea why this picture in Photobucket does not show, ... but some a**wipe took a blade to my mooring cover at the marina and cut a 5 ft x 2 ft opening just forward of the helm. See if clicking the link gets you there.

I'll take it to a canvas shop tomorrow and see if they can stitch a patch. I don't want to think what Harris would charge for a new double bimini cover.

I was expecting to find my two AGM batteries missing, but thankfully, all gear that was there, still is. Both under the helm and the ski locker have stainless locks.

Its probably a good thing I don't know who did this or I'd be using the jail wi-fi to post this.

Hope everyone's holiday was full of turkey!

[smltooner]

I have never understood why people do that.
If you are not going to steal anything, why create the damage?
Idiots....must be libs.

[Capt Sully]

Well at least your seats were not sliced. Makes you wonder.....Why your boat ????

[RcgTexas]

[quote]Why your boat ????

[/quote]

What I was thinking as well.

[C_M_25]

Dang man! Sorry to see that!

Do you keep your boat at a marina? Do they not have gates/security cameras?

[ROLAND]

Zoom, hate to see that... unfortunately there are just some mean ass people out there that do crap like that for no reason. I don't know if they selected "your boat" for a reason... I kinda doubt it... if it were personal you would think they would have slashed your seats and done a lot more damage to your boat... either way, it's a shame you have to pay for some a%% wipes act of vandalism. Maybe should consider putting up one of those game cameras somewhere that is motion activated..... hope you catch the jerks...

[zoom650]

I called the marina and reported it. The lady was quite surprised and said that kind of stuff never happens. Her cameras are on their doors, not the docks. The place is gated, but those magnetic cards to open it are a dime a dozen. Also its accessable from the lake.

I'm really scratching my head. I try to be nothing but nice to everyone I come in contact with, and have had no "words" with anyone out there.

I walked the docks yesterday and no one elses' boat seemed targeted. Not to sound boastful, but not many boat there are kept in as nice a shape as mine. Maybe that's all it took to make that perfectly stretched cover a target. Who knows.

As someone noted, at least they didn't slit my upholstery. I really figured both AGM batteries would be gone, but nothing missing as I could tell.

One good thing .. the marina lady told me there's a lake draw-down in 3 weeks and all the boats are going to be sitting on the bottom. I planned to leave my boat in at least through New Years so the grandkids could see the fireworks from the park, but that ain't happening now.

I swear this is odd because today I've got a video company at my home install HD security cameras. The wife really wanted to see who is at the door and with people around our pool, we've pretty much covered outside access. So, y'all smile if you ever come over. You're live and in color on my phone, ipad and tv from anywhere! I may do that game camera on the boat when I put it back in the spring.

[Drago]

Hey Mike, whoever did that most likely got skeert off by someone appearing nearby. I'm not sure anyone would simply slice into the cover for no reason - just was unable to complete their plans.

It's a bummer when that kind of stuff happens. Causes the owner to have to deal with lengthy and costly repair. Also, the boat has to be uncovered while repair is going on. Lots of boats are not covered at our marina.

Good luck man.

[Bamaman]

It's another good reason to keep really good insurance on a boat.

Sorry that you've got to go through the hassle of dealing with the loss.

I'm thinking my Bennington's OEM mooring cover is something like $1500. If insurance paid that much to me, I'd be adding a Schwentek electric bimini and a generic mooring cover.

But there again, my boat's kept inside a boathouse out of the weather.

[DWRAT]

Any chance this is just a tear/rip or something like that?
If a knife sliced that wouldn't it have hit what ever is directly below the cover?
Maybe someone leaned into it or something hit it like a ball from someone playing on the dock.

[zoom650]

Thought of that too, but the cut is clean, about 5 feet long from steering wheel to front lounge, then a 2 ft 90° slice to intersect it. Something sharp did it. This cover has white felt on the underside that contacts the windshield and that is cut cleanly too. I even pulled on the material to try and tear it further, but it is rip-stop.

I took the cover to my canvas guy and it's no problem to sew a couple of linear patches of similar black fabric on the underside and make a Franken-patch. Gonna be way cheaper and faster than ordering a new cover. I'll get it back next week. The boat is a dual bimini so no telling how long Harris would take to make a new cover. I'm sure it would be pricey.

I try and treat my toys well, but I play hard and everything I own has "character marks". This will become another identifying feature. Normally I don't get too upset, but something like this done out of meanness really pisses me off.

[quote="DWRAT"]Any chance this is just a tear/rip or something like that?
If a knife sliced that wouldn't it have hit what ever is directly below the cover?
Maybe someone leaned into it or something hit it like a ball from someone playing on the dock.[/quote]

[vlxerdon]

I hate to see that kind of deliberate damage done to someone's property. A worthless piece of crap that never had to work for anything, in other words, a liberal, I bet.

[Gonefishing]

Vandals really piss me off. They don't have anything nice so they destroy what others have. Vandals and a thief are two I just want to catch so I can see how good they can swim.

[BobL]

Did you see foot prints inside the boat (especially on the seat in front of the helm)?

My first thought was they initially went in to look around and got scared off. Not sure what professional thieves or meth/crack heads are looking for other than easy to disconnect depth finder, radio, GPS. The portable units are easy to get out and pawn.

On the other hand, looks like someone may have made one cut on the cover (the cut that runs parallel with the side) and maybe the wind kicked up and the other cut (perpendicular to the original cut) is actually a rip at the seam as it looks too perfect and nothing like the main cut.

Regardless, vandals and thieves SUCK!

[jrolin1]

That sucks. Scumbags.