Locking Gas Caps?

[ThorSen]

I attempted a search and then struggled with the most appropriate forum for this (I really wanted to post in the ‘General Discussion’ forum, for the greatest potential for answers); and mods, please move my question if in your opinion it belongs elsewhere.

Here goes: at the risk of giving the appearance I may have lost faith in my fellow man; is anyone aware of a locking gas cap that’ll fit the 2018 SPX 190 series?

Either inside or “under” the hinged OEM flip up cap on the sidewall of the hull OR, a locking gas cap that replaces that nice, chrome OEM cap, entirely.

Backstory: we live on a relatively small lake with very few docks and almost no lights whatsoever. We have ample white lighting and even several motion sensor flood lights on our dock; however; there is apparently a band of either adult miscreants or perhaps wayward young adults which are still stealing things off lakehouse docks. (Age old scenario: the Sheriff and everyone local pretty much knows who the meth head / “Joe Dirt wannabes” are but, their nighttime thefts are so random, catching them is like trying find and squash just one or two particular cockroaches. Sigh.)

Anyway, we haven’t been hit yet but, I am running out of fingers and toes counting the neighbors around us who have. While changing a light bulb down at the dock this evening it occurred to me I should at least ask if there are any locking gas caps (I did a Google search but, came up empty)

Of course, most of our neighbors who’ve had fuel stolen had their gas line(s) cut so, perhaps I oughta re-think a locking gas cap.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Gofirstclass]

I got some for my boat several years ago and they work well. Look for a website for tanklock.com. They're not inexpensive but they are cheaper than continuously replacing gas or diesel.

 

[northern]

Is there an alarm system for boats? Based on outboard it would be difficult to protect your boat. Would some sort of beam direction motion sensor aimed at the specific areas you need covered work?. Perhaps a modified home monitoring system. Sounds like a good business opportunity.

 

[randmhall]

I hate thieves. I wouldn't be opposed to connecting the rub rail to an electric fence charger. Maybe if we quit feeling sorry for the lowlifes and ner-do-wells, and started real punishment. Instead we just tell them a I'm sorry for your misfortune that led you to crime.

 

[Stee6043]

I'd consider a well placed camera if you truly believe it's only a matter of time until they hit your dock. A low cost trail cam discretely placed would be cheaper than the gas cap I bet. Solve the problem long-term with a handful of high-res photos of the perps in the act...

If you've got power and WiFi down at the dock nab an Alro...or a Nest....

 

[hottoddie]

Is there an alarm system for boats? Based on outboard it would be difficult to protect your boat. Would some sort of beam direction motion sensor aimed at the specific areas you need covered work?. Perhaps a modified home monitoring system. Sounds like a good business opportunity.

If you had a home security system like Simplisafe that uses wireless motion sensors you could just install a motion sensor on the boat and the alarm would go off if someone got on the boat. An outside siren connected to the system would scare them off.

 

[fwebster]

Sea Ray uses deck fills from one of 2-3 well known suppliers like PERKO or Attwood. Take your gas cap off and read t he markings underneath then try to find a locking cap from that manufacturer. Almost all are a standard thread like 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" NPT .......$2 worth of PVC pipe fittings from Lowes or HD and you can figure out what thread you have, then google up the replacement caps from your manufacturer and go shopping online for a locking cap.

 

[ThorSen]

Howdy and good mornin,’ fellas!

GoFirstClass, I’m on it! I am making some progress as I am confident this is THE actual gas cap Sea Ray out on our 2018 SOX 190 OB (it is at an angle that makes fueling with a can a royal PIA (no actual gas “pumps” on our tiny lake...) https://greatlakesskipper.com/avalon-boat-deck-fill-124009-attwood-5-x-3-1-2-inch-99dfccaz1

northern, yes, we do have two LED motion sensor floodlights and one of which is angled to cover the fuel fill side of the boat (and one reason we insisted on going with LED’s is because a couple years ago these sob’s actually unscrewed the bulb on a floodlight mounted on a dock rafter - the coves and fingers on our lake create situations where there are no other docks in sight of some).

That, combined with fact it is impossible to predict which night(s) out of 365 a year they’re gonna pull this crap, well, you nailed it, situation is “difficult” at best. (Example: one retired couple downriver from us got literally slammed in 2016 as the thieves picked a late Winter / early Spring night that was so nasty with a sleet-type rain that they could be relatively positive no nighttime fisherman would pass by ... kayaks, canoes, according to the neighbor, everything was secured to the dock or roof uprights with cables and locks but, danger if they didn’t take the time to bypass all that crap

Stee6043, hottoddie, we do own a game camera so, I may go that route (if I can find a place where I can mount it where they couldn’t simply be able to cut the camera off whatever I mount it to and steal the camera, too! :-O. EVERYBODY down here hunts and grows up “in the woods” and I have no doubt these sob’s spend a majority of their time looking for cameras every minute they’re awake :-/

And, in addition to the white lights, we also have a “Smile, you’re on cameral” sign prominently displayed.

I am convinced all the measures we’ve taken thus far are the reasons we are one of the few docks on the lake that haven’t been pilfered but, I am one who tends to feel ya can’t have enough “target-hardening”, especially given the couple of local pos we’re dealing with ...

We have Arlo throughout our house and have looked into some form of alarm system but alas, the dock is too far from the house to communicate with any base station we’ve found.

Also, guys, please don’t read my response and think, “Geez, this guy doesn’t want any help” (I abhor forum posters that do that, myself!) but rather, I just want to let y’all know what we do have in place an what we have tried or are unable to ...

I was thinking a locking cap in addition to the white lights and signs and huge ass padlocks would be enough to make them say, “F this, let’s mosey on down to the next dock.”

Besides, in a couple weeks I’ll be parking a brand new VXR down there and my wife reminded me: “I don’t know why you’re so worried about whatever’s in a tiny little 30-gallon gas when in a short while you’re gonna have a $12,000 Yami ported alongside the dock!”

She’s right of course and that is why I am simultaneously researching the very best in cable locks etc for securing PWC’s

randmhall, you win today’s door prize and, could we “electric-fry” the bastards, we would!!!!

 

[ThorSen]

Sea Ray uses deck fills from one of 2-3 well known suppliers like PERKO or Attwood. Take your gas cap off and read t he markings underneath then try to find a locking cap from that manufacturer. Almost all are a standard thread like 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" NPT .......$2 worth of PVC pipe fittings from Lowes or HD and you can figure out what thread you have, then google up the replacement caps from your manufacturer and go shopping online for a locking cap.

fwebster, thank you, kind sir; indeed I believe I located Sea Rays source for our very cap!!!:
https://greatlakesskipper.com/avalon-boat-deck-fill-124009-attwood-5-x-3-1-2-inch-99dfccaz1

 

[scoflaw]

Easier to syphon gas from your outboards exposed gas line than trying to snake a tube down your gas fill

 

[ThorSen]

Easier to syphon gas from your outboards exposed gas line than trying to snake a tube down your gas fill

Yup. And I don’t think you or I have enough fingers and toes to count the number of gas lines these pos have cut , either.

Of course, seein’ as to how our motor end is up as high as it is on a HydroHoist, those hoses on our boat are likely out of reach. (So, I’m back to that locking gas cap ideer

 

[Stee6043]

If crime is this bad....maybe it's time to move!

 

[hillsideshortleg]

I invented this lock for male and female threads. It was developed for securing top covers on gate operators. It seems like we could modify our design to lock gas caps. It's called American Gate Lock.

 

[ThorSen]

If crime is this bad....maybe it's time to move!

Wellllllllll, I guess that’s a matter of perspective. On one hand, we’re talking off-dock thefts (and some damage) averaging $1-200 per incidents, about a half dozen times a year (that I know of); and, on the other, I spent 20 lucrative years hunting murderers and rapists so, I’m not quite inclined to put up any “Fer Sale” signs just quite yet!

Just looking for options in locking gas caps, right now and all responses thus far make me glad I inquired here (hillsideshortleg, I had no idea you were up to such a device!!!

 

[Ididntdoit]

someone makes a plastic "spider" you push down your fill hose......liquid can go in, but a hose cant get by...some people swap waste and gas caps/deck fittings on bigger boats......but if you (or someone else) forgets, it could be a disaster

 

[ThorSen]

Now see there, I have to admit; I wasn’t aware of the “hose No / has Go” devices for boats although I have seen them (glorified ping-pong balls) in fleet vehicles (fuel pilfering is a big problem in many car and truck fleet lots :-/

Oh man, that other idea could potentially be a disaster but, it’d be worth it to get back at these one or two candidates for the Darwin awards!