But as of this month, there is an answer to this new problem that doesn’t rely on easy to pick fuel caps which also protrude just where you need to put your feet.
Mike Grady, director of Tactile Marine, was pushed into innovative action by an attempted fuel theft on a friend’s boat. He told MJ, ‘It is getting more and more lucrative to steal fuel. Unfortunately, although it sounds petty, the costs come to a hefty sum since boats can easily have £3,000 to £4,000 of diesel on board.’
After looking at the options, Mr Grady went on to design an anti-siphoning mechanism, which following a year of waiting for patents, has now been taken into production – just in time to meet the rise in demand.
It is unfortunate for owners that they will under pressure from two kinds of larceny: bills are expected to soar from November 2008, as the UK government hikes duty and VAT – meaning an increase to the cost of red diesel from about 70p a litre to about £1.27 a litre – and as the cost goes up, it is expected that the incidence of siphoning theft will rise as well.
Mr Grady goes on to say, ‘The good thing about the anti-siphoning device is that it is easy to retro-fit, takes about ten minutes, and has a near universal application since most of the filling inlets on the different classes of boat are similar in size.’
He also says that, in keeping with the times, the device has an environmental element since it also removes the risk of spillage that usually results from siphoning attempts.
‘What is more, it doesn’t involve a fuel cap, which often gets left undone because of the risk of corroding shut, or simply sticks up in a place that you need clear for your footing.’ he adds ‘And fuel caps are easy to break into with a bit of wire – and if you have a key for one, there’s a good chance you will be able to open most of the others…. the anti-siphoning device gets round all of this, and just keeps the fuel where you put it.’
For more information, contact Mike Grady, .tactilemarinel@aol.com.
