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Fuel cooperative

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by RKP, Jan 9, 2021.

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  1. RKP

    RKP New Member

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    Hey everybody, I am not much of a forum poster, so bear with me.

    I am transiting a 94' Cheoy Lee from Biloxi Miss to Washington State in the coming months.

    We can skip a lot of questions when I tell you we routinely transit work boats to Naknek from Seattle, where the Alaska work boat fleet is stationed. So offshore, weather, whatever, been through it a ton of times.

    However, we are able to prearrange a prepay fuel along that route. I am looking for similar service for pleasure boats. Typically, I would use the Tuna Boat Association for arrangements, based in San Diego, but I cannot get them to answer the phone....COVID I suppose.

    Regardless, we have long legs, 1,700 Nm at 10 knts. I just need to prepay fuel if I can, wondering if the pleasure boat community has a cooperative I could use.

    Thanks in advance,

    RP
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I have never heard of such a thing as far as pleasure yachts go. Not a coop anyways. Most of your stops will be in Central America and things are well, MUCH different there. Do you know where your stops will be? Or what the routine stops even are? Credit cards do work at all those stops.
  3. ychtcptn

    ychtcptn Senior Member

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    Just use a fuel broker:
    Gail and Marianne are excellent: tangosierra.us
    They will prepay or have the credit necessary to get you fueled up along the way and know all the best agents as needed.
  4. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Another thing to be mindful of, as I've done the Atlantic side of this route recently. Not sure how soon you're leaving, BUT many countries have various COVID restrictions and cannot stop there OR need a test within 3 days, which obviously isn't possible if you've been in transit for 3+ days to get there. As of right now Mexico is ok to stop in, Belize NO, Guatamala need a test within 3 days, Colombia NO (although San Andres may be different), Panama test within 48 hours, BUT can take the test when you arrive. I think your best bet as far as logistics go is to fuel in Mexico, and from there straight to Panama.
  5. RKP

    RKP New Member

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    Thanks for the replies you guys, what I needed was a fuel broker, as ychtcptn provided. Had planned to run from Biloxi to Roatan. Will look into restrictions. We won't be leaving the boat anywhere on this trip, COVID risk too high...
  6. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Most countries won't even let you pull in and fuel or touch land without a covid test within 3 days of arriving. Belize, you cannot touch land for ANYTHING right now, the borders are 100% closed. Right now Roatan is open, but that could change any day now. Talk to Barefoot Cay marina, Gary Lewis is the manager and a really good guy and they should be able to accomodate your size, it's deep enough to get in there. He can also handle your fuel needs, they do tack on $0.20 a gallon over the truck price or the commercial fuel company dock is East of there.

    BUT, I have no idea on earth WHAT a commercial fuel broker is going to do for you. You're out of your element when it comes to delivering a yacht. You're not running a commercial ship and taking over 20,000 gallons of fuel. There is only 1 fuel distributor on Roatan, by using a fuel broker yeah you may save $0.20 a gallon, BUT you're going to waste 2 days of your time doing so. Because, who is going to clear you in and out of customs, immigration, etc.? You'll spend 2 days trying to handle clearing in and out on your own, if they'll even let you without giving you some hoop to jump through like needing a Malaria shot, like I saw them do to a sailboater that went to customs on their own. Whereas a marina like barefoot Cay will handle ALL of your customs/immigration paperwork and getting everyone to and from customs for a very nominal fee and you'd be able to clear in/out and fuel all on the same day. Versus wasting the day trying to clear in, then fueling the next day, then wasting a day trying to clear out, while the locals waste your time and make you jump through hoops because they can.
    BAREFOOT CAY | Boutique Roatán Resort

    Also, not sure why you can't call the commercial fuel supplier directly and get a better price than going through a broker who is going to make a commission on the sale. It's not like Roatan is San Diego harbor with 15 fuel suppliers, it's a small island with 1, so the price is the price. Here's the commercial fuel dock:
    Roatan - Clipper Oil
  7. RKP

    RKP New Member

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    I'm sorry, I may have been misunderstood. We only bunker at sea during fishing season and you simply cannot afford to go to shore (think Bering sea crab season). What the commercial co ops do is lock in a price and volume for a time certain. It is the exact same thing as buying crude "on the storage". Your price per bbl is guaranteed regardless of market fluctuations. In the commercial fishing business, your variable costs are nailed as close as possible, so you can afford all the broken bones and such :)

    I agree the "price is the price", I want to lock it in now before I arrive. In this instance, this is my personal boat, so I want to know what I am paying before I leave.

    As far as customs, immigration, etc., let's just assume I use a different mechanism than most, I have no concerns there.

    Thanks again for the advice.
  8. RKP

    RKP New Member

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    I guess I should add that we buy fuel as a commercial fleet, not a single boat. We buy 150,000 gallon lots. Diesel is just a business commodity in Alaska.
  9. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Yes, but Roatan is an entirely different animal. So is most all of Central America......you're not bunkering at sea, you're on a yacht, and well it is what it is. Panama is your only bet of getting a brokered price ahead of time.
  10. Oscarvan

    Oscarvan Senior Member

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    In the RV end of it we now have fuel services that pool buyers and negotiate discounts, much like the trucking companies do for their fleets. Substantial at times. I've paid as much as $1 less than the green number on the 100' pole along the interstate. You get a fuel card (proprietary debit card) and you have to be able to take the big nozzle at the truck pumps. It all makes a big difference on a 3000 mile trip.

    Be nice if someone would do this for the marine world.
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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  12. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    If you can take fuel from a fuel truck, you're getting it about as cheap as you're gonna get it. Off road diesel, no road taxes, only middle man between the port and you is the fuel truck........
  13. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    I'll also vouch for the VanStone sisters. Been using them for years, and was very pleased when they set up their own shop at Tango Sierra