<Scott wrote: If the goal is to sound an alarm prior to them getting on board, I'm not aware of technology that will achieve this on a boat? If I alarm the windows and doors, I don't see the value, because at that point they are on board.>

Pirates I guess are "criminals at sea". Crime is an issue no matter where you are on land or sea. Just as you don't go to places on land that you know are questionable, do the same at sea.

Most areas have local VHF and/or SSB nets that we alert you to the status of an area. Most of the printed cruising guides are a bit out of date so they are of little real-time value, IMHO.

No matter where you go you must realize that you represent a rich person to those on the sea or those looking from shore. So just your "being"

represents temptation to anyone thinking about crossing the line. We try to make as small a footprint as possible to not advertise our presence as a target.

Over the years we have found that cruisers with dogs aboard don't seem to have any problems. It seems that the dogs are a deterrent with their barking and what that implies to any intruder. However, we have decided that cruising with a dog or dogs aboard wouldn't work with us. So how to get the deterrent without the dog?

There are several alarm systems that have either a recorded or synthesized barking dog. Some are simple and others are very complex. We chose to go with the self contained type and have one in the stern and one on the foredeck in "doghouses". Both are proximity types, I think, and work quite well. As does a real dog they bark. Having them bark when you see someone approaching during happy hour and at other times, as would a real dog, lets folks know that they will have to pass the dog(s) in order to get aboard.

This seems to be enough deterrent as we've watched many boats approach and when the "dogs" bark they veer away.

We keep the sensitivity a bit higher at night as we want a few random bouts of barking on deck when we are in an isolated anchorage. This may sound like it would annoy ones neighbors but anyone we have talked to comments that they slept better as they knew our "dogs" were on duty!

Get a small safe and hide it well and make sure it is permanently secured to the boat. As you say keep some cash and a few costume jewelry trinkets lying around so that IF the perps get aboard there is some "reward" for them and you may get them to leave. Being a lamb or a lion is always a tough thing to call and usually depends on a quick and accurate assessment of the situation but that is a separate discussion.

We have several hundred watts of exterior lighting that can be turned on from the master stateroom, saloon or pilothouse. It lights up the perimeter around Swan Song and makes daylight out of it. This is a very effective way to discourage crime. We have kept them on all night in a couple of places. A boat approaching cannot see past the perimeter lighting so does not know what or who might be there but certainly knows that there are dogs! We also have a couple of those 10 million candle power hand held spotlights that will burn the retina's right out of a night dilated eyeball ;-).

We don't have any firearms as they are way too much of a hassle with customs in most countries. Further having a local dead body aboard will guarantee that your cruising has stopped for a year or two wherever you shot them. If you do plan on shooting make sure their all dead, dump the bodies and get heck out of the country post haste!! Sounds bad but you will be at fault no matter what they did!!

So dogs, light & hitting the DSC button on the VHF are our current methods plus. Forget sirens or yelp sounds unless there are other cruisers very nearby. These sounds are ignored by almost everyone. They are mere sounds and represent no deterrent. A barking dog represent a physical barrier to boarding in ones mind :-)

As always YMMV

Dave & Nancy
Swan Song
Roughwater 58
Puerto La Cruz
Venezuela

--DONE--