The price of gasoline and diesel here in French Polynesia just went up a bit, something like 17 cents CFP per liter. With the duty free fuel certificate one can purchase diesel for about 100 CFP/liter now, otherwise it's around 157 CFP/liter. Gasoline goes for about the same price, and we probably burn 10 liters a week when using the dinghy a lot. After a long passage we generally purchase 100 or more liters of diesel, so the fee to procure the duty free certificate here in Nuku Hiva has paid off.
If one doesn't need diesel until arriving in Tahiti, the duty free fuel certificate can be obtained for free at the government tax office next to the port captain's building. Out here in the hinterlands one gets to pay one of the yacht service agencies to do the administrative pushups to procure the certificate, and that costs a bit of money. Still worth it if you're going to need much diesel.
You can only use the duty free certificate at an official fuel station, and you'll need to have your boat papers, passport etc. in hand during the transaction. The more remote atolls don't have fuel stations, so at a place like Makemo you'll purchase fuel pumped from a drum, paying a bit of a premium. We did so back in October while beating from Tahiti back to Nuku Hiva. Diesel cost around 180 CFP/liter, purchased from the local bakery / food shop. The fuel appeared clean and fresh and gave us no problems. The attendant even gave us a ride back to the dinghy!
I routinely use Biobor in our diesel tanks. It's a biocide and lubricity additive, and when refueling I add the recommended "maintenance" amount to the filler neck then wash it down with diesel. I also keep the tanks full, topping them up from by siphoning from a 20-liter jerry can as soon as we're down 20 or more liters. Don't want to spill fuel, but also don't want to leave an air gap in the tank, which will allow condensation and may promote bio growth.
We've got one of those clear vinyl hose and "rattle valve" siphon devices (we call it the masturbator) - works a charm. I generally manage to completely empty a jerry can with no spills. Trying to pour diesel using spouts and funnels underway or in a sloppy anchorage is a terrible idea.
There are fuel docks some places, but we use jerry cans to bring fuel to JollyDogs then siphon the fuel into the tanks. It gives me an opportunity to visually inspect the fuel for contaminates, and it's just darn good exercise. Besides, the surge around some of the fuel docks can create risk for hull damage or other excitement.
Last May I helped a crew moving a Moorings 5800 from BVI to Raiatea refuel at Nuku Hiva. It required setting a bow anchor then backing gingerly towards the monstrous concrete quay, whereupon we tossed stern lines to the fuel dude ashore. Once secured he passed us the giant fuel hose using a messenger line. The entire time the surge in the bay forced the captain to remain at the helm and modulate the throttles to keep the boat from hitting the dock. As they needed over 1200 liters to fill the tanks and several drums secured to the deck, this was about the only way to get it done, but it was an altogether hairy operation. I would never risk JollyDogs like that.
We've never had a fuel contamination problem, and we've never had a clogged fuel filter or loss of engine power. Diesels like clean air, clean oil, clean fuel and clean coolant. We've known lots of boats that have lost power underway due to dirty fuel, generally the result of gunk in the tank getting stirred up and clogging fuel lines and filters while in messy seas. I have drained, opened and inspected the fuel tanks, polishing the fuel in the process. Since then I've been very careful about using Biobor, keeping the tanks full, and visually inspecting the fuel before it goes in a tank. Might sound a bit anal but try losing engine power due to fuel contamination while maneuvering close to hostile terr
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