Hippocampus
Guru
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2020
- Messages
- 4,181
- Location
- Plymouth
- Vessel Name
- Hippocampus
- Vessel Make
- Nordic Tug 42
When possible leave your tank near empty. After few times of that they probably will move on to another more productive boat. Alternatively wire an alarm. One contact at the center of the lid. The other on its inside edge. When the circuit is broken the alarm goes off. When you’re on the boat hit the breaker to turn the system off. You can even add a camera and a light appropriately placed. If they know a picture is being taken when they unscrew the lid doubt they would come back.
Don’t know how you unscrew it for acces. Other thought is to fill the holes or slit used to unscrew it. Then set it up to be unscrewed with something unusual such as a star, square, hex etc. or make your own design as many people carry those designs in their tool kits (I do). Still it’s less likely a thief will come to the boat with those in hand. Would be reluctant to modify the fill hose or vent line. But by modifying just the cap you could go back to a standard one once the threat is gone. Personally prefer that to other possibilities I and others have mentioned. KISS.
Have had sailboats where you used a winch handle to unscrew. That might be simplest. Even though you’re power it’s should be easy buying a cheap winch handle and a new lid which might be just the thing.
View this the same as locking dinghies and their engines when using a public dock. I just need to be more difficult than my neighbors not perfect. Thieves will usually hit the easiest mark.
Don’t know how you unscrew it for acces. Other thought is to fill the holes or slit used to unscrew it. Then set it up to be unscrewed with something unusual such as a star, square, hex etc. or make your own design as many people carry those designs in their tool kits (I do). Still it’s less likely a thief will come to the boat with those in hand. Would be reluctant to modify the fill hose or vent line. But by modifying just the cap you could go back to a standard one once the threat is gone. Personally prefer that to other possibilities I and others have mentioned. KISS.
Have had sailboats where you used a winch handle to unscrew. That might be simplest. Even though you’re power it’s should be easy buying a cheap winch handle and a new lid which might be just the thing.
View this the same as locking dinghies and their engines when using a public dock. I just need to be more difficult than my neighbors not perfect. Thieves will usually hit the easiest mark.
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