Soaring Gas Prices and Possible Gas Theft

D

ddenver

New member
Saw somewhere (or heard) that Gasoline prices are expected to hit $4.00 per gallon by Spring.

With that in mind, I was wondering if anybody has heard of Gas being siphoned / stolen from boats? With perhaps 50-60 gallons gas capacity (depending on boat) onboard, and the cost of filling those tanks approaching $250 (assuming 60 gals X $4/per), it makes for an inviting target to the all too many lowlife folks who have no respect for other people's property.

Especially, if one is considering mooring a boat over the summer months -tied to a buoy - in a fairly remote area where folks are less likely to see such criminal activity.

Are locking gas caps available? Would one need a vented or non-vented gas cap? While this would not dissuade real determined thiefs, it might cause some less aggressive thieves to go elsewhere.

Also, it would prevent possible harmful vandalism such as kids pouring things into a fuel tank that did not belong there (water, sand, etc.).

Hate to be pessimistic, but just concerned since I live in a very rural area and would indeed be subject to such activities w/ very few if any folks around to keep an eye out if we moored up the boat off our community beach.

Tanks,
Dan
 
Marine gas caps are mostly non vented, because the tank has a separate vent, but I don't know if any screw in caps are locking. You could rig a hasp type lock to go over the cap.

That might not be enough because someone could still pump gas from the motor connector.
 
ddenver-

I have THIS style of lockable Perko gas inlets on my CD-22.

20945_M1.jpg


Also, keyed inserts are available for your existing inlets without changing out the entire deck fill fitting HERE.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
When I was trying to drain my tanks to do a repair a few years ago I found them impossible to siphon. The tube I was using woudn't go past the neck and into the tank no matter how hard I tried. I surmised there must be some kind of built in anti-siphoning device. I'd advise you to try sticking a hose in the tank before buying locking caps.
 
I certainly wouldnt worry about it. I think if someone comes on your boat looking to steal things, radios, fishing poles, radar, etc., would be easier targets then trying to steal gas.

Tom
 
Hi all,

I would assume there is a tapered spiral wire in the neck, like in automobiles. This prevents hoses from being routed into the tank.
 
I'd think siphoning of boat gas tanks more likely to happen when the boat is ashore and on a trailer. Especially since more thieves have cars & trucks than boats. A kicker motor would be worth more and easier to grab quickly and then turn around for sale with less suspicion. Before our marina had regular security patrols there were some incidences of these being taken (most likely by a thief with a quiet boat). C.W.
 
No "anti siphon" wire or devices in most boat fuel fills. There is plenty of gas thieft (I had been a victum in the past) from boats.

If one wants to steal the gas, they will find a way. Some marinas, the thiefs were comming by boat--and occasionally using pumps, cutting the fuel lines of outboards.
 
I syphon my tanks empty prior to any extended storage....nothing in the hoses...but it takes a limber hose to make all the bends...

Wow ~ Just think what fuel is going to cost on Lake Powell this year... it was high two years ago....If fuel in town is $4... at Powell it will be $6
YEOW !!!

Joel
SEA3PO
 
all indications point to $4.00 per gallon for gas and who knows for diesel.
while those figures aren't going to kill us, (the 4 or 5 miles per gallon people) what effect do you think this will have on the big boys? what about big boat sales? my last boat had twin 454's, 1.8 gallons per mile!
pat
ps: i agree, rather have them steal my gas than my electronics.
 
A couple of weeks ago someone stole 30 gal. from our rescue boat at work. Imagine how that thief would have felt if we had a call and someone died. We found it before we needed the boat. He or she even put the cap back on.
 
cbull":3m4anb2h said:
Imagine how that thief would have felt if we had a call and someone died.
Click to expand...

As I'm sure you well know .....as DOD said..."they don't give a s---...."
Back in the 70's, I worked for a department that had two aid rigs stolen...the story about one of the thefts ended up on Paul Harvey News radio. (Another time a neighboring department had their ALS boxes stolen from their rig, while the crew was in a class).
 
During the gas crunch in the early 70's I was on my way up the NJ Turnpike in an advance life support ambulance to pick up a guy on a respirator on a private flight to Teterboro airport. I stopped at the rest area to fillup on the way there. The attendant said the day was an "odd" day and our license plate number was "even". I explained where I was going and he said "Come back with a guy on a respirator and I'll fill you up".
 
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