Stealing My Gas!!!

[LongLine]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

So you're running a 4-stroke? Guess that means your gas doesn't have any oil in it. I like the dummy tank idea but I'd spike it with a pretty heavy mixture of oil. Report the theft, then cops and/or you'll be able to spot who stole the gas when their engine starts smoking real bad. It'd be a pity if they get stuck out there with badly fouled plugs. Also if you forget to switch it back...well, just carry extra plugs with you & a plug wrench.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

How about something like this?

http://www.x10.com/promotions/vr42a_ed_wireless_sec_cam_sys.html

$50 for a little fun?

I don't know how far from a house you are, but I've seen them installed in buildings and outbuildings about 100' from the receiver where one can view and record the action on the internet.

A friend has them installed in an apartment building and then can monitor them from home and his tenants can see who's at the door.Pretty cool.

Then you could share the video and shame them into oblivion

 

[stylesabu]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

i have seen the effects of sugar(corn syrup) in gas. as sugar gets melted in compusion chamber it hardens. like making candy. i saw it in a ford v8 valves started hanging open and got hit by pistons. bending valves. I'm a warranty inspector. and i had to go out and look at this. tech had head off, and valve was stuck open,he sprayed it witha little hot water and it closed. it was sugar. if it was carbon it would have spayed open. i also took a fuel sample. it had blobs of something in it it looked like a lava lamp. sugar will destory a motor.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Contrary to popular belief sugar and fuel don't mix so the most harm you will do is block their fuel filter.

I've had to repair some vandalized fuel systems for customers, and I can tell everyone for sure, that when you mix sugar in with gas, the sugar doesn't mix with the fuel , but it does turn into a nasty brown gummy sludge that will clog fuel lines, filters, pumps, injectors, carbs, etc. I haven't seen it destroy an engine though. Most likely because the engines stopped running due to lack of fuel before any damage was done.

 

[mhg]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and even newer to boating. I bought a 27' Sun Cat 1980's remodeled pontoon boat. It's got a 06-07 Mercury 60HP 4 cylinder/4 stroke engine... in great shape!

Here's my issue:

There are fisherman that go out early in the morning and unclip my gas line and pump the gas into their own tanks... this happens to my neighbors as well so we can all commiserate. They've been seen doing this, but weren't caught.

It sucks! Any way to stop this that doesn't involve a sniper rifle, a ghillie suit and an early morning?

Maybe there isn't a way... but I wanted to check...

sorry guys but my vote is for the gillie suit and sniper rifle


even if its only a round thru the hull, it will deter any return trips
as for cameras, you can go to bass pro and get a deer cam for 100.00
M.

 

[shaunlaf]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

I have all season to think about it.. getting my neighbors involved could be good too... we'll see.. I'll def. keep you guys posted once I decide on a tactic and it's effectiveness...

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

myself I vote for the camera method, no matter how tempting a bait tank with a few ounces of polyester(fiberglass resin) or a couple qts of denatured alcohol would be.
booby traps that cause a personal injury are crimminal acts.
however 20 some odd years ago while living in the Forrestal villige housing unit at Great Lakes Naval training center we had a common laundry area set up for up to 12 PRIVATE washing machines and dryers on the 2nd deck.
had to hump up your own machines as well as supplies.
living on E3 pay at the time(620 a month) while supporting a wife and 3 yr old was tough but when my laundry soap started dissapearing I emptied the box and refilled it with powdered bleach.
thefts stopped.

 

[shaunlaf]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

nice rodbolt... now that I have some good ideas to choose from.. I say we keep this thread alive with stories of how we 'struck' back to our wrong doers...

I love hearin these stories.. helps ease my frustration from this whole experience..

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

.... I agree with ruining the thief's engine and all but I'd want to catch them myself. Chances are once they find out you set them up with some bad gas they'll return the favor in some sort of vandalism and just move on to the next boat for free gas.
A thief needs to be caught and dealt with. How you deal with them is up to you but I have to say that the way I'd handle it would no doubt cure them of stealing for life.

So this is an area with a local population too? I would worry about having retaliation so here's my plan.

Get the camera and place it in a spot where you can see their faces and your boat. Get pictures of them in the act of theft.

Print out many pictures and place them all around the area, gas stations, deli's etc saying
Do you know this gas thief?

Jeff

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

The funny thing about online discussions about ways to teach people lessons...

This is a nice log of evidence against you in the event that whoever it was you burned finds out.

Something to keep in mind...

 

[shaunlaf]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

good tactic... I think overall I'll start with the camera. How I handle it will depend on who it is I catch and what I can find out about them.

 

[shaunlaf]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

true enough soggy feet...

still.. if I can get em.. I'll get em... even if the guy accidentally runs into my fist repeatedly.

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

yeah, I say that... but I'd still be kicking *** anyway.

But I didn't say that, and Im no accomplice, and I most certainly didn't suggest buying a paintball landmine, and filling it with pepperspray instead of paint.

Especially not this one. http://www.specialopspaintballstore.com/product/I000605

 

[shaunlaf]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

yeah, I say that... but I'd still be kicking *** anyway.

But I didn't say that, and Im no accomplice, and I most certainly didn't suggest buying a paintball landmine, and filling it with pepperspray instead of paint.

Especially not this one. http://www.specialopspaintballstore.com/product/I000605

Brilliant...

just brilliant.

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

all in a days work.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

The bad thing about doing this is that the guy will sue and prolly win.

 

[shaunlaf]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

yea... I'll start with the photo.. and go from there.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Plain isopropyl alcohol 70% will not mix with gas if sufficient is added and oil will not dissolve in alcohol. Being heavier, it will settle to the bottom. The engine will run a while on the alcohol mix with no oil and then seize.

 

[Vert1go]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Personally, I would camp out on the boat with my Glock. Friggin thieves.

 

[john3931]

Re: Stealing My Gas!!!

Set the fuel tank on a nice big piece of sheet metal. Set up a spare battery with an automotive coil and a wire going to the hose clamp.