Is this common in the Delta?

A

Arnold

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This is from "Latitude 38"

All is Not Well in the Delta
July 20 - Walnut Grove

Dirk and Violeta Van Ulden of the Belmont-based trawler Se La Vi 2 report that all is not well in the Delta:

"My wife and I have been tying up at the Walnut Grove municipal dock since the early 1990s and have always enjoyed the bucolic surroundings, and the easy walk to various restaurants and shops in both Walnut Grove and Locke.

"Our impression of that perfect location was shattered last Saturday night. We went to sleep at around midnight, and I was awakened at 1:15 a.m. by a snapping noise on the flybridge. When I looked out of the porthole I noticed that we were adrift in the middle of the Sacramento River, floating towards Isleton. Someone had untied us and left the docklines dangling from the gunnels. The noise that woke me was our VHF antenna snapping when it hit the Walnut Grove bridge. Fortunately, it was low tide, otherwise we would have sustained much more damage. I got the engine started and the boat under control, then noticed another set-adrift boat hit the bridge and break their mast.

If you see some 'likely suspects' loitering around the Walnut Grove public dock, you might consider using chain and padlocks to tie up.
Photo Latitude / LaDonna
В© 2007 Latitude 38 Publishing, Inc.

"I called 911 and was referred to the Sacramento County Sheriff, whose dispatcher was only marginally interested in my story but promised to send out a deputy to take the police report. Back at the dock, a group of young men were clearly agitated as they found their large ski boat was missing (it turned up the next morning in Georgiana Slough). I finally got a call from a deputy around 3 a.m. who took the report and informed me they could not do much as I didn't have any evidence of the perpetrators.

"There are appear to be no real local authorities in Walnut Grove, and the few town representatives who came to the dock in the morning could not do much more than take our names and express their sympathy. We reported to the locals that we noticed 10 to 20 non-native hoodlums hanging out the night before, drinking and playing loud music on the levee road. Few folks in Walnut Grove seem to be willing to acknowledge that they have a problem. Let boaters who make it up the Sacramento River beware."
 
I think it's common anywhere you have punks that like to cause problems. I always chain my boat or PWC to the dock for that very reason. Even in the daytime.
 
This is a shame! I had that happen to me in the late 1980s at Happy Harbor, Andrus Island. I woke just before the boat cleared the last cleat and was able to grab it through a hatch. But we didn't stay there; in the middle of the night we took off for a anchorage near Franks Tract. I was really furious, but felt there was nothing to do but get out of there!

I've not heard of this happening around Bethel Island; has anyone?
 
quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

This is a shame! I had that happen to me in the late 1980s at Happy Harbor, Andrus Island. I woke just before the boat cleared the last cleat and was able to grab it through a hatch. But we didn't stay there; in the middle of the night we took off for a anchorage near Franks Tract. I was really furious, but felt there was nothing to do but get out of there!

I've not heard of this happening around Bethel Island; has anyone?

Click to expand...

http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=88161
 
I see a big difference between stealing a boat which is unoccupied and untying a boat which has occupants sleeping to let the vessel drift downstream! Theft is theft. We all understand the motivation there. But what is the motivation in setting an occupied vessel adrift? Watching someone get hurt or killed?

Upper, theft might go up, but I don't think vandalism will. If you disagree, can you tell me why? Those will be expensive homes in Delta Coves........
 
I had friends anchored up about a mile downstream on the Georgiana Slough. When they woke up they saw a boat stuck in the brush downstream of them. After a while some people showed up and climbed down the brush into the boat. He was watching them with binoculars and was surprised to see the guy pull keys out of his pocket, start the boat and drive it away. I would imagine that this was the missing speed boat. Luckily it didn't hit their boat as it passed during the night.
 
Expensive homes could also mean bored rich kids with nothing better to do. Especially if both parents are working all the time or constantly involved in social engagements leaving the kids to their own devices. I remember something like this happening in Discovery Bay not too long ago.
 
In regards to Walnut Grove.... Hoods are hoods, no matter where you are. The wife and I lived onboard across from the dock for many years and this was the first time to our knowledge of this happening. Bear in mind that in this small town there is only one deputy sheriff covering the entire area at night. The local authorities can't do anything unless they have information regarding the individuals involved. Bottom line..when there is no security at a public access dock, you provide your own.

Mike
 
This has happened before up at the docks at Old Sac. And it was early spring with a real fast current. I've seen this stunt done at other places too. As was indicated earlier, this may be a prank, but in many cases it can become life threatening.
 
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