Fuel Rip-off in Georgetown, Exumma

[captain mitch]

Just the other day we went to town to get fuel in Georgetown at the SHELL Station.
Our friend carried a fuel jug that he had used in the states for several years and had a very accurate knowledge of what it held.
No great surprise, the pump was more than 10% off!
The prices here are outrageous to start with , then they rip you off for an additional 10% !
Have not done a test of the pumps at the "Yacht Club" yet, will advise when we get that done.
I read an article in the paper in Marsh Hbr. last month which spoke of the idea that the government knows that "many" retailers are over charging, but is yet to act to help.
And they wonder why people don't come back

[Capt Robert]

That's not all: I learned the hard way (at that same GT station) that if you see the fuel truck filling the station's tanks...turn around and come back in six-hours. Otherwise, you get the gurry stirred up from the bottom of the tanks.

Still a great place to visit, though.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Capt Robert

That's not all: I learned the hard way (at that same GT station) that if you see the fuel truck filling the station's tanks...turn around and come back in six-hours. Otherwise, you get the gurry stirred up from the bottom of the tanks.



Still a great place to visit, though.

That is true everywhere, even the local gas station you fill your car up at, different levels of course but don't fill up until the day after they get a bulk fill if you can help it, and if possible try to buy fuel at a busy fuel dock, there really is a difference in fresh vs old fuel

[sailorboy1]

just part of the price of paradise

bet it hardly stops anyone from coming back, and I bet the govt is much more interested in helping the locals than a bunch of cruisers

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

just part of the price of paradise

bet it hardly stops anyone from coming back, and I bet the govt is much more interested in helping the locals than a bunch of cruisers

===

So did you find a suitable weather window for going across? If so, how did actual conditions compare to the forecast?

[Boatguy30]

I thought the fuel prices were pretty fair the last couple years in the Bahama. Least in Nassau and marsh harbor. Beer is the most expensive thing really

[Liam Wald]

Paying too much for fuel for your Yacht is a real Bourgeois tragedy. :-)

[Ribman]

Could it just be the difference between US and Imperial gallons?

[Sea Dreaming]

There is also fuel density to consider. If your friend last used his tank in a cool climate that will factor. Fuel will be less dense in hot climates.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Sea Dreaming

There is also fuel density to consider. If your friend last used his tank in a cool climate that will factor. Fuel will be less dense in hot climates.

A tiny bit of difference, it has to be calculated for when weighing aircraft, and fuel will vary density wise from time to time more than temperature makes it vary.
Besides we are buying quantity, not weight, so no difference

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Ribman

Could it just be the difference between US and Imperial gallons?

I thought that too, but Imperial gallons are bigger, so it would make the can appear smaller?

[masonc]

If the pumps are off, they are off for everyone, locals and cruisers alike. Caribbean Governments of British origins tend to be very strict about weights and measures. I would find the email address for the government finance department and report it.

[Sea Dreaming]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

A tiny bit of difference, it has to be calculated for when weighing aircraft, and fuel will vary density wise from time to time more than temperature makes it vary.
Besides we are buying quantity, not weight, so no difference

Of course the correct term is "volume", and as gas and diesel expand with higher temperature, it's the volume that increases.

[Vasco]

I don't get the point of this whining. Fuel is more expensive in GT. It's about the same price as in Canada. If it's short measure, it's for everyone, not just the cruisers. Many stations in the US you get short measure. They claim the pumps are set for a certain temperature. And how do you tell a jug is off by 10%? Has the jug got gradations on the side? As for not coming back I must be the exception, still coming back after 27 years.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Sea Dreaming

Of course the correct term is "volume", and as gas and diesel expand with higher temperature, it's the volume that increases.

Right, but no matter how hot or cold it gets, you will be getting one gallon of fuel when the meter reads one gallon, if it's correctly calibrated.
Now when it's very cold fuel like an above ground tank in winter you will get slightly more fuel in that gallon than if it's hot, but either way, it will measure a gallon.
Only time I have ever seen this is with aircraft with capacitive fuel probes that actually measure fuel density and read fuel out in weight, not volume. The difference in weight of fuel between JP4 and JetA was I think about 5%, but that is from memory.

Only point is, if you have a calibrated 5 gl container and the pump reads 5 gl prior to the mark on that container, the pump's calibration is off, regardless of fuel temp.
I believe that gas stations etc only make a few percent off of fuel sales, so if they could short change you say 10% on your fuel purchase, then they are likely increasing profit by a significant margin, likely doubling profit or more.
I can see the temptation.