Looking for anti-tamper outboard fuel tank

[wildk]

Hi, I have a small skiff I use to get from the shore to my moored boat. The skiff is tied up at a community dock, and I share it with several other boat owners in the same mooring field. It has a small tiller outboard, and we all use it to drive about 1000' from the dock out into the mooring field, so it doesn't use much gas.

Someone (not someone who shares the skiff with me) has been putting water in the gas tanks of people's skiffs, presumably because they have absolutely nothing better to do in life. I am looking for an anti tamper gas tank for the boat, maybe one with a locking cap. I haven't really been able to find anything. One possible solution is to always take the gas tank off the boat every time I leave the skiff, but this presents a problem because everyone who shares the boat will need to bring their own gas tank every time they use it.

There's always the possibility that if i prevent people from tampering with the gas tank, they will just pull the plug and sink the boat too.

 

[JimS123]

1. Booby trap it so he'll hurt himself. Be sure to inform others in your group so they don't get hurt. Of course, the next time he'll probably do even worse damage.

2. Put up a trail cam and have the sob arrested next time. Of course, if he sees it he'll probably steal the web cam.

3. Bite the bullet and have everyone buy their own can. Of course, if he's hell bent on vandalizing you he'll do even worse things.

Not an easy call. If it were me I'd leave the can, water and all, and have everyone bring their own cans and switch when in use. That way the kid might not know what's going on and may be less prone to vandalize in a different way.

 

[Original Thor]

The old OMC gas tanks fit gas caps from 67 72 Chevy c10 trucks. You can get locking gas caps for then pretty easily. Lmc trucks or even a auto parts store. Tricky thing would be finding a good steel omc tank.

 

[Scott Danforth]

remove the tank and store in a dock box with a lock
switch to electric motor and have the battery locked up when not in use
use a web cam to catch the guy

 

[Grub54891]

Build a box with a lock on it.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Depend on how often it happens, I would sit out there a couple of nights on a stakeout. Otherwise the lock box idea is a good idea although make sure it is vented.

Are you sure that someone is adding water, or is the gas condensating?

I would also suggest that for 1000ft, maybe it would be easier to just put oars on a rowboat.

 

[SDSeville]

I like the web cam idea. Just hide it well.