Byline: Capt. Pat Rains
What do first-timers really need to know about cruising in Mexico? What surprises do they have in store, good or bad? What one thing should they prepare for or take alon
Menu
Menu
Menu
Menu
3 Responses
thanks for the good read. i recently purchased a trimaran in San Diego and would like to venture to at least Ensenada. I am also looking for a do it yourself boat yard to do some repairs asap. does any one have any knowledge of a boat yard that can haul out a trimaran 37 length and 18 beam? I also have another trimaran in Newport harbor 40 length and 20 beam. big thanks!
,
I am sending this email to a few organizations to help warn people of what is happening to boaters in Mexico. I have heard at least 20 outboard motors had been stolen from dinghies or right off the yacht rails while people are sleeping. The thefts have been reported since around November that I am aware of. Until now, these thefts have been happening to boats anchoring outside the marinas. Because I was aware of the situation I have been paying the price of being in Marina San Carlos.for the security. Here is what happened last night.
[7/13, 7:57 AM] John:
Last night at 2am while in Marina San Carlos, B Dock, Slip 15, I woke up to sounds on my boat above me. I opened the hatch door and stuck my head out and saw a Mexican man on my boat in the cockpit. I knew immediately what he was doing. I yelled as loud as I possibly could “You better get the fuck off my boat! Security, Security, Help, Help, Security, Security…” over and over I yelled as loud as I could while he was cutting my lock off my dinghy motor and loosening the mounts. This happened for about 30 seconds while he continued taking the motor off. There were also 3 guys in the Panga boat they had tied behind my boat. He lifted the motor and threw it into the Panga boat and then jumped into their boat. Yhey took off full throttle out of the marina as I watched them.
I could not believe with me yelling for so long and as loud as I could that not one person had heard and come out of their boat or that any security guards came running. I was standing there for 5 minutes when I saw a security guard casually walking past the dock gate. I yelled to him, “Securidad, Aqui!” He walked over to my boat and had no idea what had just happened. He did not speak any English but I was able to explain what had just happened 5 minutes sooner. I think he said that he thought he heard something.
An hour later the marina security brought the police to my boat and made a report of what had happened. They took the motor description and my information and told me to speak to the marina office the next day.
I remember the motor was over a couple thousand dollars when I bought it last summer. I looked it up from the company I bought it from, “onlineoutboards.com” and saw I paid $2,250 for it. This is a huge financial set back for me. It is like stealing my car since we need our dinghy to get to shore when traveling. I am on such a tight budget and now I have a huge expense to replace a motor that could easily be stolen again in the future. I do not even know how I am going to replace it here in Mexico. I do not have a way to transport it from the USA and the import taxes will add hundreds to the cost.
I have lost all my feelings of safety at the marinas and in Mexico after this experience. I can not believe they would come into the marina with security and cameras and do such a bold theft. They did not even stop when I caught them and was yelling as loud as I could. My son, 15 years old was on the boat with me and said that they could have had guns or knives and killed me. I think we all have a false sense of security by paying expensive dock prices to keep this very thing from happening to us. I hope by sharing my horrible experience others will know the danger we all forget is possible.
John P. Smith
Sailing Vessel Corina
USA Cell (520) 870-4244