onthewater
New member
Hello All:
In addition to Sal Salis Vita we also have a 19' Welcraft center console that we keep on a lift on our lake. It's very close to where we live, but we can't see the boat from our house because of the trees. The kids use this boat for tubing/skiing, while Lori and I have a favorite cove for Friday night Pizza and beverage.
In mid-September, I filled the Welcraft with fuel, and we haven't used it since. Last Monday I prepared to winterize her, and brought a 6 gallon can of gas along just to "top off" the tank.
I was surprised when the 6 gallons quickly emptied with no hint of the tank being full. My first thought was, "I wonder which one of the kids used the boat, and didn't tell us we needer to put more gas in".
The plot thickens...
I took a couple more 6 gallon cans to the gas station and filled them up. Back at the boat, another 12 gallons disappeared. Hmmm...me thinks something else is going on.
This boat is a 1995 model, and earlier this Spring, the fuel sending unit stopped working. (It was on my list to fix, but since it's more fun to work on Sal Salis Vita, this repair is now on next year's list).
To make a long story short, I went back to the gas station two more times before the tank was almost full. In all, over 29 gallons of gas was added, and it has a 30 gallon tank.
Obviously, some rascal (and I use the term rather loosely, as this is a family site) siphoned all the fuel from our tank. I'm glad we didn't head out for one last ride to look at the Fall colors, or take in that final nice day. If so, we would have needed a tow back.
It had a "regular" gas cap with the straight "two eared" key. Since every one and their brother has one of those keys, it's (obviously) not at all secure.
After doing some research I found there are several locking gas caps on the market. One uses a regular small key (like a padlock) that's inserted into a center lock. The problem I see is corrosion in the marine environment (especially in salt water). It would be splashed, or rained on, and moisture would eventually make its' way into the lock mechanism.
After looking some more, I found a replacement cap that has a "unique" (over 40) "round cut" key pattern similar to the method used to protect locking lug nuts on expensive wheels.
They come in two different sizes, so I measured our old cap and ordered the 2" model. It came today, and it fits!
The cap seems well made out of stainless steel, and comes with two keys, a wrist lanyard for the key, and a "neck drop" to secure the cap while fueling.
Obviously, a determined and inventive thief would find a way to defeat this cap and still steal our fuel, but, on the other hand, maybe he would just move along in search of a less secure boat to violate.
Since there are no moving parts to break, and it matches the filler neck, I think we made an improvement.
In fact, I believe we'll get a couple more for Sal Salis Vita (that are keyed alike) to protect her fuel tanks, as well.
The manufacturer is www.Ve-labs.com
I ordered it on ebay from macsrad (an accommodating fellow) at: NEW Single Locking Boat Fuel Cap 2" (130543648677). The cap and accessories cost $32.95, which doesn't seem bad considering how well made it appears, and the fact it's for a boat. Shipping was $16.68.
All the usual disclaimers (not associated/just happy customer, etc.)
Considering this creep stole well over $100 worth of fuel, hopefully this will dissuade a "repeat performance".
In addition to Sal Salis Vita we also have a 19' Welcraft center console that we keep on a lift on our lake. It's very close to where we live, but we can't see the boat from our house because of the trees. The kids use this boat for tubing/skiing, while Lori and I have a favorite cove for Friday night Pizza and beverage.
In mid-September, I filled the Welcraft with fuel, and we haven't used it since. Last Monday I prepared to winterize her, and brought a 6 gallon can of gas along just to "top off" the tank.
I was surprised when the 6 gallons quickly emptied with no hint of the tank being full. My first thought was, "I wonder which one of the kids used the boat, and didn't tell us we needer to put more gas in".
The plot thickens...
I took a couple more 6 gallon cans to the gas station and filled them up. Back at the boat, another 12 gallons disappeared. Hmmm...me thinks something else is going on.
This boat is a 1995 model, and earlier this Spring, the fuel sending unit stopped working. (It was on my list to fix, but since it's more fun to work on Sal Salis Vita, this repair is now on next year's list).
To make a long story short, I went back to the gas station two more times before the tank was almost full. In all, over 29 gallons of gas was added, and it has a 30 gallon tank.
Obviously, some rascal (and I use the term rather loosely, as this is a family site) siphoned all the fuel from our tank. I'm glad we didn't head out for one last ride to look at the Fall colors, or take in that final nice day. If so, we would have needed a tow back.
It had a "regular" gas cap with the straight "two eared" key. Since every one and their brother has one of those keys, it's (obviously) not at all secure.
After doing some research I found there are several locking gas caps on the market. One uses a regular small key (like a padlock) that's inserted into a center lock. The problem I see is corrosion in the marine environment (especially in salt water). It would be splashed, or rained on, and moisture would eventually make its' way into the lock mechanism.
After looking some more, I found a replacement cap that has a "unique" (over 40) "round cut" key pattern similar to the method used to protect locking lug nuts on expensive wheels.
They come in two different sizes, so I measured our old cap and ordered the 2" model. It came today, and it fits!
The cap seems well made out of stainless steel, and comes with two keys, a wrist lanyard for the key, and a "neck drop" to secure the cap while fueling.
Obviously, a determined and inventive thief would find a way to defeat this cap and still steal our fuel, but, on the other hand, maybe he would just move along in search of a less secure boat to violate.
Since there are no moving parts to break, and it matches the filler neck, I think we made an improvement.
In fact, I believe we'll get a couple more for Sal Salis Vita (that are keyed alike) to protect her fuel tanks, as well.
The manufacturer is www.Ve-labs.com
I ordered it on ebay from macsrad (an accommodating fellow) at: NEW Single Locking Boat Fuel Cap 2" (130543648677). The cap and accessories cost $32.95, which doesn't seem bad considering how well made it appears, and the fact it's for a boat. Shipping was $16.68.
All the usual disclaimers (not associated/just happy customer, etc.)
Considering this creep stole well over $100 worth of fuel, hopefully this will dissuade a "repeat performance".