Solent fuel - best place to go? Is it all FAME free?

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npf1

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I want to fill up before winter, hence will need around 500 litres of FAME free red. My boat's on the Hamble (not in a marina) but I will be out and about on the Solent in the next few weeks so can easily call in most places to fill up. I will be biociding the fuel as it might last me more than next season (rags/sticks).

So my questions are:

Are all suppliers selling FAME free diesel or do I need to go to a specific place?

Where's likely to be the best price?

Thanks in advance.
 
npf1 said:
I want to fill up before winter, hence will need around 500 litres of FAME free red. My boat's on the Hamble (not in a marina) but I will be out and about on the Solent in the next few weeks so can easily call in most places to fill up. I will be biociding the fuel as it might last me more than next season (rags/sticks).

So my questions are:

Are all suppliers selling FAME free diesel or do I need to go to a specific place?

Where's likely to be the best price?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Where ever you fill up remember you can fill up at the heating rate not 60/ 40 I'm told.

A friend had a meeting with someone from the rya and was told he could legitimately fill up once to see him over the winter months.
 
Agreed and a number of coastal and farming garages sell at zero added duty - round about 85p per litre - fine for heating only. Down side is carrying it to the boat, I draw the line at 20 litres so I routinely pick up a drum load when passing. This time of year 95% of it is for heating only, in spring I buy it at the 60/40 split.
 
volvopaul said:
Where ever you fill up remember you can fill up at the heating rate not 60/ 40 I'm told.

A friend had a meeting with someone from the rya and was told he could legitimately fill up once to see him over the winter months.
Click to expand...

But wouldn't that fuel be used for propulsion afetr the winter?
 
npf1 said:
I want to fill up before winter, hence will need around 500 litres of FAME free red. My boat's on the Hamble (not in a marina) but I will be out and about on the Solent in the next few weeks so can easily call in most places to fill up. I will be biociding the fuel as it might last me more than next season (rags/sticks).

So my questions are:

Are all suppliers selling FAME free diesel or do I need to go to a specific place?

Where's likely to be the best price?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

You can go anywhere and just state that you want it all at commercial rate. They will ask you to sign a declaration and you will have to give your name and address. It is not up to the fuel berth operator to take responsibility. You can declare what you like. The 60/40 rate means that you won't be investigated. I fill up at commercial rate wherever I go.

Itchen Marine is competitive.
 
Thanks for the replies so far. But is everyone selling 'FAME free' fuel as I seem to recall a thread a while back that concluded that's what should be used?
 
From previous threads on this topic I believe most of the fuel sold in the Solent is from Esso Fawley and that they produce a 'blend' for that purpose that is essentially FAME free.

See here
 
Last edited:
AdeOlly said:
From previous threads on this topic I believe most of the fuel sold in the Solent is from Esso Fawley and that they produce a 'blend' for that purpose that is essentially FAME free.

See here
Click to expand...

Love the terminology 'essentially FAME free', yep as discussed in earlier post FAME free can include up to 1% FAME.............
 
Taken from the Premier Marina Website.

MARINE GAS OIL SOLD AT PREMIER MARINAS
The marine gas oil sold at Premier Marinas (excluding Falmouth Marina) is Advanced Marine Diesel 10.

Sourced from Esso's refinery in Fawley, Hampshire and supplied by WP Marine, part of the WP Group of companies (Wessex Petroleum Ltd) www.wp-marine.co.uk.

ADVANCED MARINE DIESEL 10
WP Marine's Advanced Marine Diesel 10 is a low sulphur fuel containing 10ppm (parts per million) sulphur. This high quality fuel is recognised as FAME FREE and is guaranteed by Esso to contain less than 1% bio element.

Advanced Marine Diesel 10 also contains Soltron(r). Specifically developed to work with marine diesel at a dilution rate 10,000:1, Soltron(r) contains a blend of 20 naturally occurring enzymes which combine inside the fuel tank to optimise the combustion process and enhance fuel efficiency. Soltron(r) also provides lubrication in low sulphur marine fuel oil and neutralises bacterial growth from contaminants.

Based at Esso's Fawley Refinery near Southampton, WP Group is the South's leading independent supplier of fuels and lubricants, marketing Esso fuel and Mobil lubricants across a wide portfolio of business sectors and industries.

Boat owners should be aware that this fuel may not comply with legislation outside the UK and customers should seek advice from their destination marina before travelling abroad.

Please note: Whilst Premier has taken every reasonable care to check that its fuels will work efficiently with marine engines and heating equipment, we recommend that should you have a concern about using a particular fuel with your equipment you should contact the manufacturer directly.
.
 
That's interesting.

I'm based in Chichester and was led to believe that Chichester Marina was classed as "inland" (by about a mile or so) and hence had to supply diesel with bio content, whereas the other Premier Marinas in the Solent didn't, although they did have Soltron added to it.

Subsequently, I've not filled up in Chichester for some time.

I also had heard there had been diesel related problems (bug etc) in Chi, but maybe things have changed?

P4Paul's info suggests this is the case. Can anyone confirm?
 
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