Within our first 1 1/2 years of cruising, we have been the victims of theft of our dinghy motor in the Rio Dulce, and then our dinghy and motor in Bocas del Toro.   We have not had good luck in this area.

We have always, since day one, faithfully raised our dinghy with the motor attached up on the arch every night for safety and security.   We can count the times on one hand that we have not raised it all the way to the top.   Here are two of the times.

In July, 2006, we were in Rio Dulce, Guatemala when the river and marina were flooded, so we anchored right out in front of the marina, where the security guard could still keep an eye on Valentina.   Our motor to lift the dinghy had quit working, so we lifted the dinghy and motor about 4 feet out of the water, above our cap rail, locked it with the cable and went to sleep.  When we arose the next morning, after a hard rain, we did not have a motor any longer.

It was an 8 hp Yamaha 4 stroke that got stolen.  So, we bought a new 4-stroke Suzuki outboard.

We upgraded our dinghy while we were in the Bay Islands.  This dinghy was an 11' Caribe with a modified "V" hard bottom.

We loved this dinghy and motor and were able to lift it up on our arch nightly for security.  Sonny pulls the bow up with the pulleys and Kay lifts the stern with the motor with the use of our Anderson electric wench.  It is a very good set-up for us.

When we were in the Bocas Marina in Bocas del Toro, Panama we were lifting our dinghy nightly as always.   Everyone that walked by said, "Hey, you don't have to lift that....it is completely safe here.   Nothing gets stolen, and we have security."   So, for two nights, we did like everyone else.  Our dinghy, with the motor locked in place, was tied between Valentina and the dock.  Our third night in the marina, our dinghy and motor were stolen while we were sleeping.

In Central America, getting new a new dinghy and motor is not only a real expense, it is a real hassle.   We made a trip to Panama City, but could not find a dealer who had a dinghy we could see.  And motors, we could have one six months later.   Whew...

So, we ordered a new Yamaha 20 hp four stroke with an electric start from Appi at Marine Warehouse in Miami and he shipped it to us.   Then, we found a Caribe 10' dinghy with the front compartment in the free zone in Panama City that was shipped to us.   Not exactly what we wanted, but it will work.  You do not get to see what you are ordering, only a picture on the internet.  The dinghy arrived on the ferry at Bocas del Toro, deflated and shrink wrapped.

So now we have installed chain and locks on the motor, a fuel tank, and battery in our dinghy.

Hopefully, we will not be victim again.   It goes up.....every night.