Keep an Eye on Your Outboard

A recent influx of outboard motor thefts in the Florida Keys has served to remind boaters to remain vigilant on dry land. According to the Miami Herald, bandits have been targeting high-quality Mercury and Yamaha outboards. In this calendar year alone, there have been 53 cases of marine engine theft, and the vast majority of them have gone unsolved.

Officers working on the cases have said that the robbers are anything but brazen; in fact they have been known to strike only when a motor is left unattended and readily accessible. It stands to reason, then, that small boat owners would benefit by storing their boats in garages after use, or, in some cases, detaching the motor and stowing it away inside. It’s not unusual for the motor to be far and away the most valuable part of a boat, and crooks are not ignorant of that fact.

Although this problem has been particularly rampant in Florida, it’s important for all owners of small craft to remain alert. It’s best to think of outboard engine security as simply another facet of day-to-day maintenance. Just as you would provide your engine with quality boat motor oil to keep it running strong and smooth, you should keep an eye on your outboard.