Need info on trip from San Diego to Cabo

At $1372 per 200 gallon bladder to get to the OP's 400 gallon wish, or close to it $2512 for a 500 gallon single bladder, No thanks. $2744 versus about $320 ($40 each) for 8 drums 55 gallon drums or 6- 65 gallon drums and another $80 for padding material ratchet straps and the like.

The only concern I would have with Plastic Drums is that I can't find (easily) any that are made for transporting diesel fuel. Those ar5e usually metal because of the nature of the contents. The ones readily available on the street are the blue plastic drums of variable thickness that were designed for holding water, mass produced liquids like juices, etc. They are not designed with a diesel fuel vent system or structural tie down points, don't have labels and such. They can be thinner walled or relatively thick, but to what standard? How does the compression of ratcheted tie down straps affect the material when the tank is filled to the point when expansion due to temperatures expand the tank in the day or contract it at night? How do you account for UV degradation while a marina or yard has it stored outside, maybe risk not getting the same ones you brought along with you and purchased new, lots of variables when you let something go out of your sight in a foreign country.

What does that all mean? The risk is all on the owner for transporting diesel (a hazardous liquid). If anything goes wrong, it is ultimately a discussion between him and his insurance company (along with his captain?). What's the safe bet?

The ones I usually get are blue Plastic, and usually have had Apple juice concentrate in them. They are pretty thick. The ratchet straps don't compress the drums at all. I ratched them fairly tight, then fill with fuel...... Never had an issue with integrity or anything. Never needed to vent them either, I usually leave about 3" of air, and fill them during the day, put a Ziploc bag between the bung and the drum and tighten. One of the caps usually is vented and has a tiny hole in it, but I've never needed to vent them. If one split it would just pour out of the transom on an aft deck MY. The drums are thick enough that I had customers stop in Haiti (without me on board) and they rolled the drums 2 blocks to a gas station, filled them, and rolled them 2 blocks full down the street and transferred the fuel into the boat's main tanks. Guess they wanted to see Haiti LOLOLOL. I've seen several new boat dealers all deliver yachts to Central America with drums. I've yet to hear of a drum issue. I've heard of bladders splitting the seam, I had a 2 year old Goodyear bladder do that many years ago. If you have an issue with a bladder, guess what the insurance company isn't going to pay either as it's not a permanent tank.

Fuel is lighter than water or juice.
Those ole blue barrels in Jax were used for pickles. Free or cheap.
When I made deliveries into the islands (yes, long ago) The drums are preferred on our trips. Gravity is our friend, we just siphon the fuel off the for deck when we could. We just left the drums behind in the Bahamas and seemed welcome down there,,,, then..

Blue plastic drums are used for hazardous chemicals and farmers have long used them to store diesel.

It's good plastic. Till you need to dispose of them.
That's why I luved to leave them behind.

Sadly, unlike us coming home with the current; From Cabo, They are against the current. Return fuel capacity will really be needed then.

On a Farm. Not on a boat. The farm land does not move. If it spills, it gets covered up and nobody knows. Farmers are notoriously resourceful (and cheap), not something you would expect from a Yacht owner (the cheap part). They also use clear/white roto-molded plastic tanks for all their fertilizer/pesticides. I have used these for Bait Receivers at the dock, drill them full of holes and float them, they work great. If you want to get technical, it would be illegal in the US to transport 55 gallons of diesel fuel over the highway without it being stored in a metal drum designed for that purpose.

But let's get back to boats. The blue drums are everywhere but can vary in wall thickness. Some are more robust than others and have been used successfully. But the owner should know the risks, should have the information available to make that risk assessment.

The old Goodyear bladders had issues, but trying to google them today and can't find that product anymore. The modern bladders designed and engineered for that purpose have a five year warranty, something the blue plastic drums can't offer.

For the OP - remember to factor in the generator fuel burn when calculating range/fuel capacity.

PACBLUE- do you have any experience with the blue drums yourself? They're all thick and all robust, they're designed to carry all sorts of chemicals via tractor trailers and to be loaded and unloaded off of trucks in OSHA an Hazmat approved factories. They don't have varying wall thickness because they're all made by the same 2 companies to the same standard (UN
1H1/Y1.9/100 )and need to be as strong as the metal ones. They are rated for a medium hazard liquid...…. IE diesel...…… but not gas. White drums are low hazard, blue are medium hazard, and black drums are high hazard liquids.

I use barrels and find them very reliable , easy to move, fill and cheap. Also consider slowing your cruise speed down to 8 kt, Most boats get considerable better fuel performance at slower speeds.

I have used the common blue plastic drums during Incline Stability Tests for Motoryachts, as they have a good weight density for their footprint and can be moved without marking the decks. Pressed them full and record each weight.

I am just trying to make a point about being aware of what you are using. Some are 2.2mm thick, while others are not. Here is an excerpt from the U-line catalog, a common supplier:



Another supplier states that it is the responsibility of the FILLER when using fluids that fall under CFR Hazardous Chemicals. So buyer beware, use what you are comfortable with, but know the ramifications.

First, your statement as to the legality of transporting diesel over the roads in blue drums is false. The drums are approved for carrying of hazardous materials, including diesel. They are not approved for gas. Rating and warnings are a different thing as ultimately the responsibility always remains with the user. Doesn't matter if it's rated for hazardous chemicals, if it leaks it's your problem.

I will give you my experience with drums of all sorts, receiving chemicals shipped in them to a manufacturing facility and transporting those chemicals from one facility to another. Today's drums are far superior to those of 20 years ago, both plastic and metal. The only time I ever had a problem was a leak decades ago on the road in GA when I received that dreaded call as the driver saw evidence of the leak, parked the truck, checked it and notified local authorities plus called the company we had contracted for our hazmat cleanup. Fortunately, he took swift action and the hazmat contractor was there in less than an hour. That was a steel drum but clearly not in the best of shape.

Now to the boat topic. I believe both drums and bladders have their place. I also contend that both are superior today to what they were years ago. I know of marinas, such as Green Turtle Bay, that regularly provide plastic drums and fill them for boats planning on going North on the Mississippi. I believe either Alton or Grafton is doing the same South with Hoppie's no longer operating. Just more trawler type boats needing help going north due to the current.

On a large boat with plenty of deck space, such as a 130' crossing the Atlantic, I'd likely select bladders from ATL. Might even get custom shapes made. I'd go with all the bells and whistles. However, on a small boat where engine access is a hatch on the aft deck, I'd go with plastic drums. One reason for them over metal is that metal subjected to rough seas and salt is more likely to leak than plastic due to seams and welds while the plastic is poured as a single piece.

The OP's boat is 68' and I'm not familiar with the layout. I don't know if he could accommodate bladders. If he could, then to me it's a toss up. But, if he can't, then drums are his only choice. I'd also look at storage at the other end if intending to reuse them. I would put bladders with the highest risk of deterioration due to poor storage. I'd put steel drums next and plastic drums the easiest stored.

Well, I wouldn't say false but here is some clarification, and you can google the heck out of it and dig deeper if you feel the need:



So it would have to be a DOT specified container, usually yellow for diesel, stamped or clearly marked, not the usual water or fruit juice surplus blue drums that are so readily available. Probably because of the flash point of diesel fuel, something more relevant to liquids that are used for fuel than other hazardous chemicals.

All of this is of course, if you want to operate by the "book". My main point is that there is a right tool for the job, just make sure you have it and are aware ahead of time.

It's pretty clear that there are two camps on this issue. I've done several bladder trips to/from Cabo, done trips with Nauta bladders, done a bladder trip from Lauderdale to San Diego, and too many drum trips to remember. At one time, my partner and I received every larger Azimut and SeaRay shipped to Long Beach for delivery to the dealer in Acapulco and used only drums. By larger I mean 37'+. We had a travel kit that had a set of bungs made up with all the plumbing that we could just slip a in pick-up tube to go to the bottom of the drum, and, all the fittings with hose barbs and snap connectors (like air fittings) to quickly connect up the pump and hoses and seal at both parts when disconnected. The drums,pump, pick-up tube, and hoses, we left behind in Acapulco, the quick connects and ready plumbed stuff we cleaned up and flew back with us.
Speaking for myself, I prefer the white (natural) polyethylene drums, because you can see the fuel level through them. Been surprised when the blue ones filled too much. Both blue and natural drums are made from high density polyethylene. The thing about using drums is that the first thing you have to do is buy nitrile "O" rings to seal the bungs, because the original white ones absorb diesel and grow enormously.
The drum manufacturer statement regarding both blue and natural is:
"These Closed-Head UN Certified Plastic Drums are made from High Density Polyethylene. UN Certified plastic drums are designed to meet all requirements under the CFR-49, IATA / ICAO and IMO Regulations for Hazmat shipping. These drums are perfect for stowage and shipping of Hazardous Materials."
Apparently, CFR-49 is the code that applies to virtually all transportation, including all highway, marine, railroad, air, and pipeline transportation.
Just stop at Turtle and get enough fuel to make the trip safely. Carrying fuel is a pain, especially when it's time to transfer it. Most of the time, it's along that god-awful stretch from Sacramento Reef to Cedros, with good-sized following seas rolling the boat.
The phone number for fuel at Turtle Bay (Maria) is 615-159-7520, by last reports. Be prepared to speak Spanish.

I made this trip last year in my 42 sf leaving from ensenada. We carry 560 gallons but I added 3 55 gallon barrels so we would have more than enough. We put 1 in each corner and tied 1 to back of fighting chair. I bought a diesel transfer pump online for $25 and 12 foot of clear hose. We stopped in turtle to transfer fuel but i used less than 150 gallons at that point. We tied the 2 empty barrels to the bow railing so they were completely out of the way. BTW i owned a 200 gallon bladder at the time but it was going to be a bigger hassle than barrels. Get a bunch of barrels, fill up in San Diego where your fuel will be 30-50% less and don't get robbed at the fuel stops which range from 7-9$ a gallon.

Turtle Bay ...you're in and you're out unless there's a lot of boats at the same time or they're waiting on a fuel delivery. Mag Bay you have to spend a whole day going up to San Carlos for fuel. In my opinion it's a PITA.

In Turtle Bay, it is easy in and out, good anchorage if you want to anchor. to get fuel you will european style moor stern to the rickety prier. The panga guys will bring you the nozzle, be sure the meter is set to zero and pump away and be prepared to pay thru the #ss, they don't even use spit. recommend you buy pesos in US and pay in peso, conversion rate is not favorable.

In Mag Bay you can have the fuel delivered to Belchers or Man of War while at anchor or go to San Carlos. You tie up to a pier and get one of the fuel service guys to be the go between, I have used Chrispen. You can reach him buy radio. His service fee is about 50 US, He takes you to pay for the fuel, pay pay for the pier charge, not much about 20 US and then the fuel is brought to the vessel. Other service guys will be competing for your business. You pay the actual Pemex set rate at San Carlos about 3.90 US. The channel is well marked and dredged to approx 20 feet. Make sure you have the latest charts downloaded. You pay for the fuel amount in advance so make sure you can hold all that you pay for, at this point you are less than 200 nm from Cabo.

Fuel quality is good at both locations. I were to need fuel in that area I would get fuel in San Carlos. The difference is cost verses time. San Carlos takes a little more time but often welcome at this point in the journey.