I would like to report a couple of stolen kayaks in the Southern California/Orange County area. My trusty Arluk II, dark blue or sort of purple-ish (it's very well used and faded so the color is kinda hard to determine exactly) deck with a white hull. It's unique in that it has a VCP front hatch and still sports the tie down rear hatch of the early models. It has a rudder and a Silva compass mount on the front deck. The second boat taken is an old red fiberglass whitewater boat of little or no value. Heck, I would have paid someone to take that old WW boat off my hands. I mention it only as a means of identification in the event both boats are seen together. I would imagine that the culprits would head to Newport Harbor to check the boats out, but being so close to Easter they just might have been looking for some new toys to take up to the Colorado River for spring break. I would appreciate if the local paddlers could keep an eye out for the stolen boats. Ya know, the good news is that now I have a legitimate reason to buy a new boat. The bad news is that I feel like I've lost a good and trusted friend. I don't know how many on this list can really relate, but that old Arluk and me have been together for maybe twelve or thirteen years now, doing trips in Canada and Baja and all parts in-between. Another Arluk just wouldn't be the same. As far as I am concerned my boat had a sole of it's own. I took care of it, and it took care of me in return. Oh well. Life goes on. Thanks, Scott So.Cal. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 3/27/01 6:09:42 PM Pacific Standard Time, KiAyker_at_aol.com writes: > I would like to report a couple of stolen kayaks in the Southern > California/Orange County area. My trusty Arluk II, dark blue or sort of > purple-ish (it's very well used and faded so the color is kinda hard to > Scott, Sorry to hear about "Old Blue". I know how truly close you are to that boat. Hope she turns up. Out of curiosity -- I assume the boats were taken from your yard? Harold *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Scott wrote: >>>>>I would like to report a couple of stolen kayaks in the Southern California/Orange County area. My trusty Arluk II, dark blue or sort of purple-ish (it's very well used and faded so the color is kinda hard to determine exactly) deck with a white hull.<<<<<<SNIP> I'm really busy now so I was hoping someone else would have brought this up but I guess I'll have to do it myself. Scott, I keep a database of stolen kayaks and publish a list with identifying features for them on our website. Please check it out and if you provide as much of the information asked for that you can I'll get it posted on the stolen kayak list. This list has helped recover several of them as well so its probably worth a try. Most sea kayak thieves steal them to sell, they aren't kayakers themselves. Keep track of the want ads in your newspapers and check kayak store bulletin boards to see if anyone is trying to sell it. Also look at the newspaper ads for a up to a month or two before it was stolen as some sea kayaks have been essentially presold (several buyers were lined up and waiting to see it) before the kayaks were stolen. Anyone looking to buy a kayak used should read the article in the Stolen Kayak section of the website on how not to buy a stolen kayak. The buyer is sometimes the major victim because if the kayak is identified later they lose the kayak and don't get their money back either. There is a major kayak thief now living in the San Francisco area. Haven't heard of many thefts in Southern CA though. If you've had an experience trying to buy a kayak that seemed "strange" please get in touch with me. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> but I guess I'll have to do it myself. Scott, I keep a database of stolen > kayaks and publish a list with identifying features for them on our website. Great job Matt! About 10 days ago, I was thinking on something similar for germany. But I got an idea, make a easier to recognize a special kayak for unsuspecting people. Often it is difficult to give unchangeable marks on your kayak and so I´m thinking of unmistakable entries. Bank notes (not the dollar) got watermarks. What if the kayak ´industry´ would give each kayak a worldwide unique number, laminated at a place where normally no user would paint it over over could/would remove it. i.e. in the rear compartement, shortly behind the bulkhead. Or behind both bulkheads. Okay, this would be a problem for PE-kayaks. There has to be a data bank, where every kayak is registered. So everybody could check out a special number and if a kayak is stolen, you make a remark. If the number would be changed or removed or paint over (both numbers) by the thief, every potential buyer would be alerted. If someone would steal my kayaks, I got good chances to find them. " kayaks got very special colours and in both cases the producer ask the treader, if the colours choice would be right... :-)) they are unique. Each Prijon-PE Kayaks got a unique number, printed behind the cockpit. Several years ago, an old Taifun was stolen from my old club. I still remember the number 00571. It was one of the first, the thief must had been an idiot. But the kayak was never found. Poor Ralf! good luck to all Jochen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Scott wrote: Re: his stolen boaty: >As far as I am concerned my boat had a sole of it's own. I took care of it, and it took care of me in return. Oh well. Life goes on. Hello Scott, I'm very sorry for your loss, and I do hope the boats will be recovered. As I'm sure most here do, I understand just what you mean when you say you took care of your boat, and it took care of you in return. This is a sentiment that means a great deal to us, as our lives so often depend on the trustful relationship we have with our boats. Paddling a kayak is one of the truly magical ways in which we celebrate the wonder of this life, and of this amazing water planet. Obviously, those who would steal have no idea what any of this means, and their life is the poorer for it. They always lose so much more than they gain. I hope you're back on the water soon - it's where you belong. Melissa *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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