Above deck fuel tank theft & prevention

[karen622]

We have a 1993, 22" pontoon that we dock at a state park. We keep two, 12 gal. portable Moeller fuel tanks on the back deck, secured by heavy black rubber bungees, with the s-hooks crimped around the fittings so they can't come loose. If the tanks have any amount of fuel in them, they're difficult to remove, but someone stole a full tank in the past week

My question is, what are the reasonable (expense and effort) options to prevent this from happening again? Obviously, the best way is to transport them back and forth with us, but that's a pain, especially having to drive 45 minutes to get to our dock. I was thinking, securing them with locked chains, and locking gas caps. They could still use bolt cutters or poke a hole to empty the fuel, but at least it might make it more work than it's worth, and the potential thief would move on?

Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

[agallant80]

Re: Above deck fuel tank theft & prevention

I bought a Master cable lock at Home Depot. If someone wants in then they want in. If I were you, I would pretend that nothing happened leave one on the back of the boat filled 1/4 way with fuel then fill the rest up with water and wait for the same dude to take it again...

 

[jkimball]

Re: Above deck fuel tank theft & prevention

I bought a Master cable lock at Home Depot. If someone wants in then they want in. If I were you, I would pretend that nothing happened leave one on the back of the boat filled 1/4 way with fuel then fill the rest up with water and wait for the same dude to take it again...

+1
I use a Master Lock cable thru the steering wheel to secure mine.
I thought about installing some stainless hooks like transom hooks in the rear wall under my back seat to attach them too more permanently.

 

[shrew]

Re: Above deck fuel tank theft & prevention

My question is, what are the reasonable (expense and effort) options to prevent this from happening again? Obviously, the best way is to transport them back and forth with us, but that's a pain...... Any suggestions are appreciated!

The question is, how much effort and expense to keep replacing them? Id' start locking them. If that doesn't work, I'd start taking them with me. The length of the drive is irrelevant unless you have to hold them in your lap the entire time. The trunk/bed doesn't care how heavy they are.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Above deck fuel tank theft & prevention

I know how you feel. I had 2 stolen last year while we were off on a vacation. I took some 1 x 1/6 aluminum bar stock and bent it to fit and bolted them down and used odd bolts and nuts.

 

[karen622]

Re: Above deck fuel tank theft & prevention

The question is, how much effort and expense to keep replacing them? Id' start locking them. If that doesn't work, I'd start taking them with me. The length of the drive is irrelevant unless you have to hold them in your lap the entire time. The trunk/bed doesn't care how heavy they are.

We actually joked about that, filling a tank with something other than fuel (urine came up LOL), sugar, anything that would really ruin your day if you had it in your tank

I think we're going with the fabricated cage-type solution. We'll cut down stainless bars to just fit around the tanks, secure them to the deck, and use locking caps. If someone still wants to steal them, at least it will be as inconvenient as possible.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Above deck fuel tank theft & prevention

Had it happen in my yard,under the yardlight,from inside the boat behind the flap in the back. I hooked a spring loaded float switch to the tank,hooked to the horn. It went off once after that, but the tank was still there! Never another theft! If you are not there though I'd do as others suggested,that horn will kill the battey,and be annoying to fellow sleepers.....lol