Although yacht theft is relatively rare, it is by no means impossible. The risk is particularly high for high-value boats in international ports or poorly lit marinas. However, as a yacht owner, you can take a number of precautions to actively prevent theft and protect yourself in the event that it does occur.
The news spread quickly on April 23, 2025: two On Easter Sunday, homeless people in Mallorca stole a twelve-meter sailing yacht, helped themselves to the food and drinks on board, and then didn’t know what to do next. The criminal voyage ended with an emergency call and the arrest of the two thieves.
What was just an adventure for the two “sailors” turned out to be a nightmare for the boat owner: his yacht had disappeared, and for a long time it was unclear who had stolen it, where it was, and what condition it was in. According to police reports, it was only later that it emerged that the thieves had only traveled 25 kilometers to the small neighboring island of Cabrera to the south, where the officers had stopped the yacht.
As a yacht owner, you can actively prevent theft by taking a few smart precautions
Although the theft of a yacht as described above is relatively rare, it is by no means impossible. Especially with high-value boats in international ports or poorly lit marinas, the risk of suddenly finding your yacht gone is very real. However, as a yacht owner, you can actively prevent this with a few smart precautions – and protect yourself in the event of an incident. SeaHelp lists the most important ones.
Simple mechanical security devices offer good protection against yacht theft in the harbor. These include (high-quality) padlocks for hatches, lockers, and steering positions. A mechanical rudder lock (e.g., chains or blocks), propeller locks on outboard motors, or an anchor chain secured to the dock with a lock are also options.
GPS tracking systems (e.g. from Navico, Garmin, Sentinel) are recommended as electronic security systems, as they inform the boat owner immediately if the boat moves. Motion sensors and alarm systems in the interior can also help to detect uninvited guests on board and thus prevent theft in good time.
With geofencing, the boat owner is notified in real time when the boat leaves a defined zone, such as the marina or the recreational boat harbor. Finally, keyless access systems with PIN or RFID can also be used as additional electronic security measures.
RFID (radio-frequency identification) refers to a technology for transmitter-receiver systems for the automatic and contactless identification and localization of objects using radio waves. An RFID system consists of a transponder (also known colloquially as a radio tag), which is located on or in the object and contains a unique code, and a reader for reading this code.
In addition to mechanical and electronic security devices, a so-called “dead man’s switch” has also proven effective on board.
Video surveillance using small, weatherproof IP cameras with cloud upload that activate automatically when motion is detected (e.g., Reolink Go, Arlo Go) are also suitable for protecting yachts against theft; ideally, these should be connected to an app on a smartphone. These systems should be combined with a visible deterrent, such as stickers or signs indicating the presence of an alarm system or video surveillance.
A fixed “dead man’s switch” (e.g., no sailing without a key) and a light or noise deterrent (e.g., LED indicators when in motion) have also proven effective in practice. Finally, yacht owners can make theft more difficult simply by choosing a suitable harbor; only secure, well-lit marinas with controlled access should be selected. In unfamiliar harbors, it may also be advisable to inform the harbor staff that you will be away from the boat for an extended period of time.
If, despite all precautions, a yacht is stolen, it is advisable to take out appropriate insurance in advance to cover the damage in such a case. “Comprehensive insurance must explicitly include theft,” recommends SeaHelp insurance expert Robert Perger, noting that not all policies do so automatically.
In certain cases, household insurance may also cover yacht theft.
In this case, depending on the contract, either the current value or the replacement value of the boat will be reimbursed. In addition, the terms and conditions of the comprehensive insurance must be checked to see whether unmanned mooring off the open coast is also covered – however, this is usually not the case.
Appropriate household insurance may also apply, says the insurance expert from SeaHelp Insurance. This would apply, for example, if trailer boats were parked at home, for example in a carport, and were not permanently in the water.
Important: “In both cases, it is mandatory to report the theft to the police immediately after it occurs,” says Robert Perger, adding that photos, invoices, and documentation of the boat’s condition are helpful. Tracking logs could also be used as evidence.
If you want to be on the safe side, register your boat – this will make it easier to search for your yacht internationally
In addition, it helps in the event of an incident if the boat is registered. Internationally, IMO numbers, CE marks or engravings in inconspicuous places on the hull are recommended.
“These make it easier to search for and return the yacht if it turns up in another country,” the insurance expert continues. SeaHelp also offers a corresponding yacht registration service.
Overall, a well-thought-out combination of mechanical security, modern technology, and appropriate insurance offers yacht owners the best protection. No system is 100% secure, but every additional obstacle increases the chance that thieves will move on.
