Banderas Bay | Good Nautical

DINGHY THEFT

Mexico - Pacific

DANGER

Thievery

Secure Your Dinghy and Outboard:

As reported Irma Deacon, their Outboard Motor was stolen off their dinghy transom on Sunday Night (8th December) while at anchor in La Cruz. The dinghy was raised up on their Davits.

While crimes against Cruisers are rare in Mexico, Dinghy and Outboard motor theft is probably the No 1 Issue to be aware of and guard against. It's not a La Cruz thing, it's really a "anywhere thing", we had our Dinghy stolen in Port San Luis, CA on our way South to Mexico in 2008. One season in the Barra de Navidad lagoon, 9 outboard motors were stolen over the course of 3 months. La Paz has theft that comes in waves and then vanishes, we were anchored in the Mazatlan Old Harbor when an entire Dinghy was cut off the davits and towed away at 3AM by a swift moving Panga, and I had an outboard motor disappear from my stern rail mount one night in the San Blas Estuary. Having been in Mexico since the 2008 Baja Ha-Ha, I have seen Dinghies and Outboard motors get stolen every season.

So how do you protect such an important and expensive piece of cruising gear?

First never leave your dinghy in the water at night, it makes it far too easy prey for a quick painter cut and tow away, but as Irma reported, their dinghy was raised up on the davits and the outboard was still stolen! So always have a Lock on your outboard motor to keep it from being silently unscrewed and removed from the transom. We installed a cable lock to through our dinghy and motor to the davits as well, for a bit of extra "go find one easier to steal" security.

Be safe out there folks and stay vigilant in protecting your Dinghy and Outboard motor.

Cheers
Rich-SV THIRD DAY

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Mexico - Pacific

Banderas Bay

Cabo Corrientes

Playa Los Corrales

Approach

◬ 20° 25.3384 N 105° 40.9455 W

◬ 20° 24.9523 N 105° 40.9249 W

◬ 20° 24.7520 N 105° 40.7086 W

◬ 20° 24.6290 N 105° 40.5361 W

◬ 20° 24.6121 N 105° 40.3790 W

Depth

30.0 ft

9.1 m

Bottom Composition

S - Sand

Shore Access

Beach

Notes

This deep, steep sided notch in the cliffs on the north side of Cabo Corrientes is open to the north and west but sheltered from wind for south and east. The relentless southerly swell folds around cape and enters the bay from the northwest. Los Corrales has a pristine white sand beach and a small fishing settlement on the east side of the bay.

Approaches

No info.

Anchorage

Anchor with the pangas on the east side of the bay in 9.1m on a sandy bottom.

Facilities

None. Tour boats have not reached the quiet fishing community.

Dangers

Swell

Wind Exposure

Swell Exposure

Amenities

Hiking Trail

Recommended

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editor

Mexico - Pacific

Banderas Bay

Playa Majahuitas

Depth

15.0 ft

4.5 m

Bottom Composition

S - Sand

Shore Access

Beach

Notes

Although Playa Majahuitas appears to be well off the beaten track with no road access, but a small resort lies behind the coconut palms and deck chairs on the beach. This beautiful little cove located about 3NM east of Tecomates is only 200m wide and anchorage space is further reduced by tour boats and moorings in the water in front of the beach.

Bahia Majahuitas is open to the north but the headlands on either side offer some protection from winds from the east and west but the southerly swell wraps into the bay. On a calm day it is a glorious day anchorage.

Approaches

No info.

Anchorage

Anchor off the beach in 4.5m on sand. Dinghy in to the shore, take care landing when waves are breaking on the beach.

Facilities

A jungle hike to the Quimixto waterfall can be booked at the resort which lies just behind the beach.

Dangers

Popular Anchorage

Wind Exposure

Swell Exposure

Amenities

Snorkeling

Hiking Trail

Resort

Recommended

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Mexico - Pacific

Banderas Bay

Playa Quimixto

Depth

12.0 ft

3.6 m

Bottom Composition

S - Sand

Shore Access

Beach

Notes

Quimixto is another shallow indentation in the south coast of Bahia Banderas some 5NM from Tecomates. The headland on the west side of the bay gives shelter from the wind but southerly swell wraps around from the northwest making this a rolly anchorage. Quimixto is open to the north and not recommended during the winter months.

Approaches

No info.

Anchorage

Tuck inside the headland and anchor amongst the pangas in 3.6m on a sandy bottom. Dinghy ashore at the very west end of the beach where the swell is least or tie up at the pier.

Facilities

A road connects Quimixto with Las Animas but otherwise the settlement can only be reached by boat. A few palapa restaurants can be found in the small village.

Dangers

Tour Boats

Wind Exposure

Swell Exposure