BOAT STOLEN IN UK!!!!!!!!!!!

MrBlean · Posted: Sep 27, 2004 12:06 pm Post subject: BOAT STOLEN IN UK!!!!!!!!!!!

To all UK-based contributors to this site...

At approximately 8 a.m. today (27th September 2004) my MasterCraft 205 was stolen from my home near Littlehampton, West Sussex. The boat is very distinctive. Not only is it an open bow boat but has a number of unique features. Most significantly it is fitted with a WakeDesigns Tower with Tige logos on the stiffener plates between the front and rear sections.

If still attached, it has a grey, 2-piece cover - one for the bow section and one for the cockpit. This cover has been modified and has a bright blue insert fitted that follows the line of the top of the windscreen and two similar blue strips at the rear at the outer edges.

The ski platform and lighting bar will be missing as they were not fitted at the time of the theft.

A couple of photos are attached.

If anyone sees this boat or hears of it for sale, please pm me immediately.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Why oh why would someone steal a boat that will stick out like a sore thumb?

Best of luck to you with this ordeal.

watsoc · Addict Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 574 City: Anthem

Good luck with getting your boat back. I hope you have insurance as well. That is a pretty distinctive boat for the UK though so hopefully it turns up in one piece and you get it back.

Brad Embleton · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 511 City: Niagara Falls

Too Bad man! Sad

Ralph · Posted: Sep 27, 2004 12:39 pm Post subject:

Dang, I feel so bad for you. I don't know what I would do if some bastard stole my baby. I guess the best you can hopefore is it never turns up and you get a good insurance payout.

salmon_tacos · Posted: Sep 27, 2004 1:17 pm Post subject:

THAT SUCKS!

I don't know if Mr. Blean had one or not, but let this be a reminder to anyone who leaves his trailer in the open, that you should always use a lock on your hitch. It's WAY too easy to just back up to a trailer and take off. If you leave it out in the open a lot, I'd recommend getting a lock for the latch AND one of those locks that fits up where the ball goes.

Good luck, Mr. Blean.

riverside · Posted: Sep 27, 2004 1:32 pm Post subject:

buy mine buy mine buy mine..i,ll deliver.it,s only one day drive.

lol.
i,m sorry...not funny.
i hope all turns well.

DiyGuy · Soul Rider Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Posts: 460

MrBlean

All kidding aside, I regret to hear of your loss and hope the authorities will nab the thieves!

Good luck in that endeavor. Not to make you feel any worse, but I had a boat that got stolen within the 1st 24 hours of ownership! Bought it, brought it home, went out fo the evening, came back rather late, and frankly didn't notice if it was there or gone, but next morning, were getting ice chest, food and stuff and walked outside to load it up and no boat. Have never seen it since then despite a lot of PI work as well as the local PD and Lake Enforcement Division.

Hope yours has a better outcome. And, I agree as earlier, a tongue lock is well worth the investement, as is case hardened hoist chain, then lock wheels to trailer or wheel to wheel if tandem axle.

Good Luck.

I would likely question those 'blue meanies' over at MT, just for cautions sake. Puppy Eyes

actiondcpd · Posted: Sep 27, 2004 1:54 pm Post subject:

MrBlean, That sucks man! Did they take the boat right out of your driveway? Who would do such a thing.

MrBlean · Posted: Sep 27, 2004 2:34 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the commiserations. The trailer was fitted with a wheel clamp which the thieves levered off. It was right outside my house and my partner was in at the time. They just drove up in broad daylight and took it away.

A hitchlock may have been more effective but at my previous club, thieves cut through solid steel gates, steel securing chains etc and stole 3 boats from the boat park under the very nose of the club steward. They also stole 3 brand new caravans (trailers). If hey want to steal it, they will come prepared for every eventuality having cased it out in advance.

Living at the coast, I suspect the people who stole this don't actually know exactly what is is they have taken - it's just a boat they hope to sell. Sure, it's a nice looking boat but they don't appreciate how unusual it is. With the tower fitted it is truly unique so to anyone who knows anything about ski or wakeboard boats it will stand out like a sore thumb.

Our insurance company tells me that of the ski boats they cover, 23 have been stolen this season. Only 1 has been recovered so far.

Most frustrating thing is I have only just fitted a heater and the tower and haven't used either yet Crying or Very sad

I just hope it doesn't end up in a harbour somewhere and gets used in the sea for several weeks and is then recovered. It will never be the same thereafter. Despite being '94 vintage it has only 350 hours on it. Will be almost impossible to replace.

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

MrBlean

My sincere hope that they will find it before someone puts it in saltwater. If not, hopefully the insurance company will compensate you (like in kind) and if that's not possible, fair market value including all the improvements you have made.

MrBlean · Posted: Sep 27, 2004 2:53 pm Post subject:

Am looking forward to the usual hassle with the insurers offering a paltry sum which in no way compensates for the uniqueness of the boat, it's far above average condition and all the mods I've done.

lcap · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Posts: 10973 City: Homeless

MrBlean

At least you know the game and the challange in front of you. Judging by your debate skills and attention to detail, I'm certain the documentation is well in hand.

I would not want to be the adjuster......

MrBlean · Posted: Sep 27, 2004 4:06 pm Post subject:

That's very flattering but not altogether true. The adjuster always has the upper hand as any boat has a "list" price as a function of it's age. Justifying anything above that based on its condition and/or additional equipment fitted is difficult.

At present I'm spending all my efforts trying to advertise the loss of the boat in the hope someone will recognise and report it.

The insurance documentation is in hand but I hope it doesn't come to that. However, I'm not very optimistic on that front.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Sep 27, 2004 7:31 pm Post subject:

MrBlean that is Fking bullsh*t! I hope you catch them bastards, and then they meet a chap named bubba in jail the next night!

JR · Soul Rider Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 473 City: ATX

Sorry to hear about the theft MrBlean, hope that she turns up soon!

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Sucks... We were gone for a weekend in the winter of 99 when thieves took down the fence next to my Dad's shop and stole our boat. Locked and out of sight storage.

The boat was recovered an few hours before the insurance check was cut.

Hope it all works out for you.

Brit Rider · Posted: Sep 27, 2004 11:12 pm Post subject:

Brit Rider · Posted: Sep 27, 2004 11:13 pm Post subject:

and jeff, ona side note.. have you checked the local gypsy camps? stealing caravans too.. sound sliek they are going on holiday.. without wanting to sound at all non P C.. i'd run your search through to ireland!

Ralph · Posted: Sep 28, 2004 12:14 am Post subject:

I watched Snatch least week. Hate those damn pikies.....

MadDog · Soul Rider Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 465 City: Upstate NY

MrBlean, That really sucks. I hope your boat turns up in one piece, and the thieves are caught. Good luck.

Brit Rider · Posted: Sep 28, 2004 5:10 am Post subject:

Ralph, haha.. hey maybe it was traded for a dog a new caravan? Laughing

any news yet Jeff?

redrocket · Criminal Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 53 City: Great Falls

Brit It's dag, you like dags

MrBlean · Posted: Sep 28, 2004 5:45 am Post subject:

No news. Concensus of opinion seems to be that it was stolen to order. Was probably in a container and on it's way to somewhere like Greece or Cyprus by the time we noticed it missing. The thieves had a 3 hour advantage so the boat could have been safely tucked up in a container in Southampton docks before we even knew it was gone. Unfortunately, I was 300 miles away when the theft was discovered. Not that I could have done much about it.

One of the thieves did drop a packet of cigarettes and a lighter on our drive so we may get some fingerprints. Only, useful, of course, if they are on record. If they are and the guy gets caught, I will personally remove both his hands with a chain saw so he won't be able to leave those grubby prints anywhere else again.

Had also considered the pikey angle and am working on that.

chaz28o · Posted: Sep 28, 2004 6:16 am Post subject:

Wow, very sorry to hear about this MrBlean

We have the same problem here. Cars & Bikes are ripped off and taken to Mexico where they're sold to who knows where?

You'd think that here in the US (post 911) that the boarder would be tightened up, but the reality is, it isn't.

Not sure about the UK, but this type of crime sounds as organized there, as it is here. And if it is, it's probably good you weren't around to......? Who knows what might have happened...

MrBlean · Posted: Sep 28, 2004 6:30 am Post subject:

I'm sure such thieves are not completely unprepared for a confrontation but I'd been cutting down some trees in our garden at the weekend and my chain saw was left on the kitchen floor overnight. They don't know how lucky they were I wasn't around at the time Evil or Very Mad

Broccoli B · Posted: Sep 28, 2004 11:34 am Post subject:

MrBlean, my deepest simpathys go out to you and your wakeboarding/waterskiing family. It's always hard to loose something that seems like a part of the family. Especially with that beautiful tower on their. It looks as if it were made for the boat, good choice.

Cheers

Brit Rider · Posted: Sep 28, 2004 11:51 am Post subject:

redrocket, true sorry,

A tell you whah.. il swop yu a dah for a van? hooze a but it? Rolling Eyes

dirty pikies

MrBlean · Posted: Sep 28, 2004 12:25 pm Post subject:

Fishmaster · Posted: Sep 28, 2004 5:56 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry to hear about your boat getting stolen. I'm worried leaving mine now as a boat is the same cove as me, a 3 week old VLX, was stripped and damaged in the process. If you find them let me have a few shots at them when you get done. Great job on the tower!

Hopefully it was insured and your ready to go shopping for another boat!

MrBlean · Posted: Sep 28, 2004 10:43 pm Post subject:

Right now I'm not sure I want another boat. We both ski and board and boats as capable as the 205 at doing both are hard to find. It will be a hard act to follow. We may team up with others and share a boat.

I know it happens all the time but I'm just appalled that someone could do this. And the usual thing applies; I thought it would never happen to me.

I just can't bring myself round to the fact that I'm almost certain to never enjoy that boat again. Like relationships, you don't realise what you have until it's gone.

Brit Rider · Posted: Sep 29, 2004 7:28 am Post subject:

Jeff,

The maxums up for grabs still Wink

I know 'TV ski' have a few ski nautiques around.. might be worth looking into Question

I haven't heard of any 205s as nice as yours floating round for sale.. they tend to be snapped up fast.. especially with x2's and older x stars being so expensive here Shocked

The 205 is an awesome boat, must have been pretty much perfect for your duck swerving and boarding... Sad

MrBlean · Posted: Sep 29, 2004 7:46 am Post subject:

This has been the last straw in a completely sh*t summer. I've already had several genuine offers of potential replacement boats as well as a guy phone me who has an almost identical 205 also with a custom tower! Spooky or what?

However, I'll be honest and say I don't think I will buy another boat. We were always scratching around for crew/riders and didn't use the boat as often as is necessary to justify having that kind of money tied up (plus the extortionate club fees).

Many skiers have the same problem so we may team up with another (existing) boat owner and split the costs somehow next season.

Since moving to the coast I've been doing a lot more windsurfing of late. In the conditions I go out in, it's pretty exhilarating and you don't have to pay nearly £4/gallon for the motive power - that comes FOC - and I only have to wander down the road to partake.

I'll have to perfect my forward loops in that discipline rather than on a wakeboard. It's also less hard on the knees as well as the wallet. I s'pose I could always take up kite surfing if I feel I need even bigger air!

Just noticed this is my 999th post Confused

I must wean myself off this site Embarassed

Brit Rider · Posted: Sep 29, 2004 10:40 am Post subject:

haha, I jsut got my 1000th on wakechat... Make sme feel like such a forum junky! Embarassed

Let me know what happens, if you are up in my neck of the woods next season jsut drop me a line in the office and we'll hook up for a set. Cool

I've heard you'll give me a run for my money on the slalom Wink

Later

Hollywood · Posted: Sep 29, 2004 11:11 am Post subject:

MrBlean, would the local authorities really fingerprint a pack of cigarettes over a stolen boat?