Insurance exclusion clause re FAME

[Seahope]

I have just received my insurance renewal letter and have been reading the policy. They have changed the policy booklet and not updated my Policy details so I have sections apply 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 & 8 but the policy booklet has A, B, C, D etc. I probably need to phone them to check that A = 1.

Anyway, I digress. Cover F - Breakdown costs has the following exclusion:

"Any Breakdown costs arising from mechanical breakdown of Your Boat caused by the use of fuel containing FAME (fatty acid methyl ester)."

I seem to remember reading that bio-diesel contains FAME and that marinas will be serving up a proportion of bio-diesel so the Insurers are saying that if anything happens to our boats as a result they won't cover the damage.

I think my boat is probably modern enough to be able to handle FAME OK, but can I stop worrying and what about others?

Yanmar have approved bio diesel for their engines: http://www.yanmarmarine.com/index.cfm/go/News_article/c/main/news_id/8/Yanmar-marine%27s-b5-bio-diesel-approval/

My apologies if this is old news, but I haven't had to buy any diesel for the boat recently.

 

[Assassin]

Bio diesel is FAME, and it is added to all diesel now, you need written clarification from your insurers as to what is actually covered or excluded. Bio diesel degrades in a few weeks, unlike pure diesel, and it is this which can cause so many issues for boaters leaving their craft for long periods such as over winter.

 

[Latestarter1]

Yanmar and Volvo B5

CAT B30/B20/B5, Cummins B20/B5, DDC MTU B5.

 

[David2452]

Bio diesel is FAME, and it is added to all diesel now,

Not so, getting FAME free marine fuel is not so difficult just a matter of marinas taking the trouble to order it, I know our marina dispenses ULS FAME free.

 

[mikemanor]

ULS FAME Free

Not so, getting FAME free marine fuel is not so difficult just a matter of marinas taking the trouble to order it, I know our marina dispenses ULS FAME free.

Ditto. My marina supplies ULS FAME Free diesel.

 

[pappaecho]

I think that clause is unenforceable. No ordinary person filling up their diesel car at a filling station would know of FAME, and their knowledge would be limited to that the fuel met an appropriate British standard.
To expect a policy holder to be able to understand the constituents of the fuel is beyond their remit. Either the fuel meets the standard or not.
Seems like a cop out to me, and I wonder what a judge would make of it.

10 out of 10 for bothering to read the small print