Stolen Bimini Top

[stickball]

I'm pretty sure nothing can be done about this, so I guess I'm just whining and venting here. Also hoping that this info will help prevent this from happening to you. I keep my boat at the Port Tobacco Marina in Port Tobacco, Maryland. The boat is a Wahoo! 2100EFS with a Johnson 150 OB. Nice little fishing boat that I've owned for about a year-and-a-half. Early this evening I went down to the marina to spend a little time on the river and discovered that the nearly new bright green bimini top had be stolen.! None of my boat neighbors saw or heard anything. My slip is fairly close to the restaurant and bar at the marina, and the place tends to get pretty loud and busy on the weekend. The last time I saw the boat was Friday evening and the top was firmly and happily attached. The bar manager says she knows nothing about it. There are no security cameras, although there are several security guards allegedly working as bouncers and watchers each weekend. I filed a police report with the sheriff. The sheriff doesn't have much hope for recovery, although he does suggest that I buy a small engraving tool and engrave my drivers license number on my valuables.

If you happen to hear of someone trying to sell a forest green bimini all of a sudden, it may be mine.

Thanks for letting me blow off some steam. It really pisses me off...

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

That just SUCKS!!! Karma will catch up to folks stealing stuff soon enough. Thier boat may sink and someone else stole thier life jackets...you can only hope.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

Keep an eye on CL or E-Bay....Ya never know thieves can be very stupid Sorry to hear of your misfortune.....

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

Thieves stupid? Yes! They'll be proudly displaying their stupidity on the water soon.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

Hit all launches and marinas with a self made APB along with a pic on a poster (if you have one) never know what could happen with a little effort if anything it could keep them from enjoying it! Good luck !

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

...There are no security cameras...

This I find kind of amazing. If you need bouncers, you need security cameras....

Sorry for the hassle. I agree, some dummy is going to either try to sell it locally or use it locally. Keep an eye peeled.

 

[jestor68]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

Doesn't your insurance cover replacing the top?

 

[stickball]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

Doesn't your insurance cover replacing the top?

With the deductible I carry, it's a wash... so I think I'd rather eat the cost of replacement rather than have my rates go up.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

Sorry to hear. Whenever I have had things stolen, it bothers me, thinking about what I lost and how could someone do this. But finnaly I get my thinking around to the fact that somehow, that person will get his in the end. Then I can rest easy.

Having said that, I agree with previous posters: stupid theves do stupid things. So watch gor it to turn up.

Sea ya...

 

[stickball]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

Here's an update - the marina owner has told me that that their insurances might cover the cost of replacement (they have two policies...). He also indicated that maybe it's time for security cameras and an all-night security patrol on weekends. We'll see. I'll learn more Wednesday evening when he returns from a trip.

 

[colding]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

Sounds like good news for you!

 

[hostage]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

That seems like one of the most odd things to steal. They aren't all that universal and don't make all that sense to steal. Have they had issues with theft there? It seems like there are a lot more easier, more expensive, and more useful things to steal at a Marina than a bimini.

I would keep an eye out for someone with the same boat riding around with a bimin that looks a lot like your own. I know the Bimini I ordered from iboats has the date and other info on the tag in large print. That could give you proof that you could visibly see on someone elses boat, if you can get close enough when it is deployoed. Take a walk around your and other local Marinas, wouldn't be suprised if you found it.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

Normally electronics and batteries are the more prized items for thieves. We had all three batteries stolen out of our bass boat many years ago and that was with padlocks on the battery compartments (as did several others). The bimini would certainly be one of the more odd items to have been stolen.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

Normally electronics and batteries are the more prized items for thieves. We had all three batteries stolen out of our bass boat many years ago and that was with padlocks on the battery compartments (as did several others). The bimini would certainly be one of the more odd items to have been stolen.

Bimini tops can cost 300-500 bucks....and are easily removed from a boat. I would assume that the thieves needed a bimini for their boat and actually planned out the theft. I doubt that they walked by the PO's boat and just stole his bimini on a whim and walked down the street with it.

 

[colding]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

SS props are a hot commodity for thieves as well.

 

[Blacksting]

Re: Stolen Bimini Top

KARMAS A BIATCH !!!
had my 15' dixie stolen 10 years ago...
knew who did it , couldnt prove it ,...
last january he was going to scrap a '66 40hp johnson on a V140 Starcraft from some ladies yard,...
i found out ,....trailered it home ,...and just the other day his son passes my house and is asking me for a ride ,.....like i said , karmas' a biatch !!!