I Built a Jet Ski Thieves Can't Steal
Jet skis are some of the easiest vehicles to steal: no keys on many models, parked unattended at docks, and trailered away in minutes. I test how thieves actually do it, then engineer an anti-theft system and bait a few rigged jet skis to see if it holds up.
“After the car theft videos, the most common request I got was about boats and jet skis, which get stolen constantly and rarely recovered. I want to buy a couple of used jet skis, rig them with trackers and a custom immobilizer, and test them against real-world theft methods with help from marine law enforcement. Funding covers the hardware, the water time, and the build so we can do this properly and safely.”
19.1M views expected
| Metric | Below expectationsBelow | As expectedExpected | Above expectationsAbove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Views | 8.1M | 19.1M | 27.8M |
| Video revenue | $32,566 | $76,445 | $111,350 |
| Pal pool (20%) | $6,513 | $15,289 | $22,270 |
Revenue assumes $4.00 RPM.
The forecast leans mainly on the recent car theft series, since this is the same format of exposing theft methods and engineering a countermeasure, just on the water. The junkyard vehicle build and the police sniffing dog video round it out as comparable vehicle-engineering and outsmart-the-bad-guys formats.
"As expected" weights 5 comparable videos 65% and the channel's median 35%; the other two outcomes keep the channel's own spread. AI picks the comparables, code does the math.
Last 30 long-form uploads
What the forecast leans on
Where $10,000 goes
- Two used jet skis for bait and testing$4,500
- GPS trackers, cameras, and immobilizer build parts$1,800
- Marina slip, trailer, and boat rental for chase/filming$1,700
- Fuel, safety gear, and permits$1,000
- Contingency for repairs and damaged equipment$1,000
What could go wrong
- Bait setups depend on cooperation from local marine police and may take weeks to produce a real theft attempt.
- Saltwater can damage electronics and cameras, which could mean rebuilding the immobilizer mid-shoot.
- Used jet skis may need unexpected engine repairs before they are usable on camera.
Forecasts are estimates based on the creator's public channel data and an assumed RPM; they are not a promise of returns. Pals receive 20% of the project's eligible revenue for 12 months after publication, pro rata to their contribution. If it underperforms, Pals may receive less than they contributed.