Fuel - a thought

Just a thought...
We often check/compare fuel prices

But - I wonder what keeps the prices honest?
When is the last time anyone - checked that the pump gave a gallon - and not 3 quarts ??

up north - there are weights&measures inspections/tests, stickers etc... even then - it can easily be circumvented

Just wonderin'......

Violence and the fear of getting caught! There are many skippers out there that understand the levels in their tanks and their burn rates. Or simply the 6 gallon can holds six gallons... When the pump meter reads 7 on a 6 capacity things have a way of going south very quickly. A few will fill their own 1 gallon container first. Two reason 1.) Note the quality! 2.) Score the meter with their own tool.

When it comes to the big ships and what they call bunkering. The new fuel goes in a separate take and the ship does not touch it until an independent lab report comes back. (3) samples are taken. One goes direct to a lab. Seller gets one to hold, Buyer gets one to hold.

On a reasonably busy fuel dock someone with an small 18 gallon tank will catch on before you have to worry about it.

Two possibly boring stories.

I worked in a marina that had an above tank on land and over 150 feet of hose out to the end of the dock. On hot days the fuel would expand and leak out. I once pumped 10 gallons into a six gallon tank!

We chartered from ST Lucia and went to Grenada and back. The winds were frequently light so we had to motor a lot more than I like. The prop was also way too big so we couldn't get more than 1900 rpms out of the engine. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere close to a real marina I needed fuel badly but you had to get a "boat boy" to put it into a 50 gallon drum, bring it to you and hand pump it in. Besides the inflated price for the service I'm pretty sure, judging by how much the gauge moved, the amount I paid for didn't end up in our tank. Then he wanted a tip! Didn't get it.

Grenadines maybe?

StormJib - Thanks - didn't know those things

As for the bunkering - sounds similar to gold assaying - 2 extra samples, one for each party
Bunker fuel - just a version of Black Gold

beerMe... 10 gallons into a 6 gallon tank... heck of an "Angel's Cut"

Your good Rick! It was in Clifton Harbor on Union Island.

Been there done that but didn't buy the T-Shirt <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> And yes it was around the corner at Chatham. Told him to pound sand.