Diesel

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Paul&Ness

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Does anyone buy diesel from sources other than marina fuel pontoons? If so, how do you transport it to your boat and transfer it to your tanks? I am looking at options: buying diesel direct, 1500Ltrs at a time, storing in a bunded tank and then transporting to the boat in manageable quantities. Alternatively buying red diesel from a garage an transporting to the boat. All allowable, at the quantities needed, under ADR regs. Buying direct, declaring 60/40 as allowed by HMRC would represent a significant saving; as far as I can work out, so far that is. I would appreciate any comments :)
 
Hi try and buy FAME free diesel.no /little biofuel content (less Diesel bug problems ) how long would it take you to use 1500 litres ? as long time storage has diesel bug potential in storage tank as well as boat tanks, Marina fuel prices even at 60/40 in my neck of the woods not significantly cheaper than road side fore courts ,,just convenient and my local marina pumps are Fame free ,,just a thought :encouragement:
 
rafiki_ said:
I don't know where you more, but most marinas will not allow you to refuel on the pontoon. All sorts of H&S issues.
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That's true in our marina. But I guess they would not spot the occasional 5 litre can.

I don't like the idea of lugging fuel to the boat so budget for and accept the marina charges. We are not excessively charged here - diesel at the marina is cheaper than road fuel - under a quid a litre at the 60/40 split when I last looked.
 
I have only recently taken ownership of the boat and have used 1000 ltrs at least already. I accept that that kind of usage probably isn't indicative of regular use over a longer period. I have been quoted 86ppl for buying red diesel in quantities of 1000 ltrs. I'm just researching options and your comments are most welcomed :)
 
So that prompts another question on the same theme... are marinas that offer 'fuel at cost' really offering what they say. I phoned a well known marina last week and was quoted somewhere nearer £1 ltr for berth holders. Surely they can buy in large enough quantities to get a buying price closer to 86 ppl I have been quoted. I am not trying to upset the applecart here, rather understand the world of marine diesel :)
 
If I pickup diesel from Conwy harbour on a 60/40 split I pay £1.08 on a 60/40 split. A mile up at the Quays Marina I pay 81p for the same. When I queried the HM he said smaller fuel berth, greater fuel transport fees and more regularly. Makes sense, how true it is though .... ??
 
I buy red diesel from the local BP. I use plastic 25 litre barrels. They used to contain industrial chemicals. I transport these in the boot of my car to the boat and transfer it to the tanks with a jiggle siphon.
 
I sometimes fill 5 gallon drums, haul them out in the dinghy and use the same jiggle siphon.

But usually I get a small road tanker, the same guys that deliver heating oil, and tie up at the fishermans pier to fill up. I usually only take about 300 liters, but they give a good price. To be fair, they don't have to travel far. I guess it wouldn't be worth their while if they had a long distance to travel.
Might not be practical in other parts of the world, but it's about the only way to get diesel around here.

Would be worth asking whoever supplies the fishing boats. They'd be able to tell you if it's feasible and if they're filling a trawler, they might give you a good price if you can turn up at the same time.
 
Up to a few years ago I always took my own red down, I buy 5,000 ltrs for my business and could get about 200L in back of my jeep in small barrels and Jerry cans, thought I was doing well, saving a fortune but when I sat down worked out with all the sweat I was about £20 a journey better off. But sometimes I only went down to fuel up so all that weight used more fuel in my jeep, then a year later my suspension went.

In all it would have been better just to buy at good price at a marina.
 
After lugging about multiple 20 litre jerry cans of petrol for around 12 years; I wouldn't consider going back from a diesel boat filled at the fuel berth. Nothing to do with safety, the V8 petrol engines were a lot more refined than my current D4 as well, it's just the sheer logistic hassle of having and handling so many cans of fuel. I wouldn't use the redundant six jerry cans for carrying diesel to the boat for those reason even though I can buy red diesel from a local farmer cheaper than the marina diesel.
 
Paul&Ness said:
I have only recently taken ownership of the boat and have used 1000 ltrs at least already.....
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I'm sure that this won't apply to you but it's interesting that so many people buy motor boats without understanding how much fuel they will require.
I've seen many instances where new boat owners have filled up once, gone out a couple of times, and never ventured forth again. The boats then just become weekend gin palaces.
It's one of the reasons why boat insurance is relatively cheap; most of them never leave the berth.
 
Your post is somewhat relevant and I understand your comment. My reason for the original post is based on using the boat as much as possible. I am not shocked by the fuel consumption as I had done my research before making the purchase :) However, you don't have to be a genius to work out that you can use the boat more if you can trim back on some of the expenses. A 25ppl saving on 1300ltrs would be a saving of approx £360, that equates to something like buy four tanks get a fifth free... Over the course of a year I could save a few thousand pounds or be out on the water a great deal more :encouragement:
 
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