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Air Boat PROP THEIVES!!!!!!

G

GATOR GITTER

Active member
:( New Years day my 16 year old son and friend returned from snipe hunting on Lake Kissimmee to our home on Tiger Lake. Parked the air boat in the yard to get something to eat. It started raining so when the rain stopped, they went to pull the plugs. As they approached the boat they saw that the prop had been stolen!!! Along with 2 shot guns. The engine had not even had time to cool off. Lake Kissimmee air boaters, BEWARE! And watch your boat at all times as this happened within 30 06 range of my home in broad day light!
 
Thieves Suck!
the worst part is that it had to be another airboater.
was it a composite? do you have the serial numbers?
 
I call them thieves with airboating interests. A true airboater doesn't possess that kind of character and demeanor.
 
i had a buddy have one taken not to long ago. and a friend of his was at the ramp and someone asked him if they wanted to buy a prop and guess what it was the prop that was taken so he called his buddy and got the prop back. along with well you can imagine what happened
 
Those were some brave son of a guns when they were sneaking around.Can you imagine the reaction if you could have gotten a round off?

Priceless.
 
Yeah KR23,
I can well imagine what happened.

Anyone who would steal from an airboater is sure not a criminal master mind in my book.
Sounds like a happy ending to me!

Gator Gitter,
Sorry to hear that man.
Sure hope you get that prop and guns back eventually, and as an added bonus, a happy ending such as KR23's folks got!
 
Seams the thieves have been doing alot around that neck of the woods. Friend calls me, and ask if I'm going up to RR for the long weekend to keep and eye out for his daughter's truck that was stolen from camp. Unfortunately I made it up the following weekend and it was found in the woods completely stripped. Everything gone except the cab of the truck. It makes you wounder how something like that can happen and nobody sees it.
Lets hope Karma comes quickly.
 
I have drilled and safety wired the bolts on the prop, it is just a visual deterent, someone that really wants the prop can cut the wire, at least it slows them down some to were they may think twice about taking the prop. I have never had or heard of anybody having anything stolen when actually camping out in the marsh or other area only accessible by airboat, but the same is not true for places like the port or the camp.
 
Gator Gitter,
What kind of prop was it . Please put the description on her so everyone can look out for it.

Bob
 
man that sucks :evil: that is one of those things that is hard to watch for unless you engraved the hub and blades but if you post a picture up maybe one of use may see it somewhere and be able to help you recover it

I don't know whats wrong with some people now days if you can't buy it they need to keep there grubby hands off it! I would have no problem with seeing this person used as gator bait .
 
whats even worse is that if the police catch them before you have a chance to, they get a slap on the wrist and turned back loose. my truck was just broken into, they caught the kids that did it, and they got a couple months probation. THAT'S IT! and on top of that, i didn't get my stuff back. they stole over $160 worth of ammunition and hunting gear and the police told me that they couldn't give back live rounds. when i asked if i was going to be paid back, they said that the state only mandated that they pay 7cents a week!!! I made the offer that if he walked me back to their cell and let me whoop $160 out of each of their a$$es then they'd never have to hear from me again.

Its sad what its coming to- you almost hate to buy expensive things like carbon props and custom seat covers, and such, because there's always some punk who wants to steal it.

I agree, if you catch em, put that greasy hand in the prop while its running- something tells me that you wont have to worry about him stealing any more.
 
Gitter,
This is a very wide list. A posting of the prop type, any identifying marks, a picture, ect. Same for the guns. Make, model, serial #, color. Maybe some folks will make a flyer & post at airboat businesses and such.
Wide fast, communication & open eyes put thieves in jail.

If caught, I'm happy to donate a one way gator hunt for them.
 
the guy that stole a buddy of mines prop was an airboater i'll get his name a post it. not a young punk but definitely a scum bag.
 
I took the advice of another Southern Airboat member and put an alarm on my airboat. It's made by "Bulldog" and I got it at Walmart for about 20 or 30 dollars. It has only one wire to hook to your battery and is controlled by remote control. It operates on the vibration principle. I don't believe scumbags could even begin to pull a prop off without waking the whole neighborhood. I just wish it was a little louder so it would drown out the shotgun blasts following shortly.
 
Maybe it's just because I've known to many air boaters, But if I were to
one day completely lose my mind and become a thief, I would still have
more sence than to steal from an airboater. Which concludes they must
have been complete idiots with no understanding of how close they came
to gettin their ASS shot clean off.
 
An idea for discussion.

Years ago I heard the idea of a running list of CONVICTED airboat thieves to post at statewide airboat related business and clubs. This list would act to:

1) Identify who to watch and where they are
2) Place peer pressure to "keep off the list."

Communication is a strong deterrent
 
In hind sight, somebody used to offer a cover plate that had a stud protruding thru the center and a nut that resembled a locking lug-nut from a car wheel. putting a key inside locked the inner and outer portions together for removal.
Few thing piss decient folks off more than thieves. Remember when LEO's arrive it's: He had a weapon, I was in fear for my life, and I want an Attorney before answering anymore questions. Good time to own a schitt-eating dog that'll persuit "trespassers" :wink:

When you pull up to a public ramp sit around for a few minutes and see who's hanging around: do they fit? what are they doing? couple guys just sitting in a truck or on the tables ALWAYS spells trouble...beware the one that approaches and wants help ie " he have you got jumper cables? can you give me a jump?" while you're helping out your fellow man, his buddies are makeing off with whatever isn't nailed down. Observation, assesment, and prereration are the best preventatives.
 
Every segment of the population has its low lifes.
As much as I hate to admit it , the airboating community is no exception .
How often do we hear of stolen airboats ,wondering just how could another airboater do this ? Or stolen mags, props, aircraft carbs and vanadlized camps that are only accessible by airboat.

A full track had its brake shoes stolen in Holey Land some years ago . This is something only another full track owner would know the value of and how to remove them.

Very disturbing times we live in. :twisted:
 
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