Fuel Price Downunder

Hickers said:

Bundaberg was $1.14 per litre on the 8th of May. Good enough value to top up the tanks!
Hickers
Clipper 45
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Not so good when compared to the US prices above. I understand 1 US gal = 4L, so $1.75 per gal = ~ 44cents per litre. Compared to $1.14/L. Also remember it was no time ago we were paying ~ $1.50/L. Make you weep, wouldn't it..?

Put in 450 gallons of diesel yesterday at $2.10 at Palm Cove.

$2.22 on the Erie Canal. Not bad, although last we paid at home was $1.79, but we're told that is $1.89 now.

rochepoint said:

89.9 cents a litre at a marina in Sidney BC, Canada

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Which Marina? Open to the public? I am currently at Sucia Island in the San Juans and was considering topping off at Roche Harbor before heading over to Sidney.

A few weeks ago it was $2.25USD in Neah Bay. I took on 308 gallons for the run between Astoria OR and Neah Bay WA in 13 hours (190 miles)

Alaskan Sea-Duction said:

Which Marina? Open to the public? I am currently at Sucia Island in the San Juans and was considering topping off at Roche Harbor before heading over to Sidney.

A few weeks ago it was $2.25USD in Neah Bay. I took on 308 gallons for the run between Astoria OR and Neah Bay WA in 13 hours (190 miles)

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Just phoned North Saanich Marina as Van Isle Marina switchboard is closed now and the current price at NSM is 96.9 cents a litre or $3.67 a US gallon, this is in Canadian funds. Hope this helps as I have no idea what the price is in Roche Harbor or how much the US dollar is worth, hope this helps............

Paid $2.25/gal at Cap Sante in Anacortes about 10 days ago

Got my tanks topped off while on the hard from the truck, at $1.62 a gal.

Fueled up the end of last month at Top Rack in Norfolk, VA @ $1.60 per gallon. A quick check shows them up to $1.70 per gallon now. Still a great price!

Ted

$1.89 US per US gallon at Semiahmoo Marina this afternoon. ($1.99 advertised price, but a 10 cent discount for 200 gallons.) Quick calculation... 1.89 USD / USG * 0.264 USG / L * 1.29 CAD / USD = $0.64 CAD per liter.

Fill up before you come to the Caribbean I paid $3.11 per US Gall in September 2015 in St Maarten.

And $3.15 at Bitter End Yacht club in Virgin Gorda (BVI's ). In December 2015.

Martin J said:

Fill up before you come to the Caribbean I paid $3.11 per US Gall in September 2015 in St Maarten.

And $3.15 at Bitter End Yacht club in Virgin Gorda (BVI's ). In December 2015.

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We paid all those rates when we were there, but kept one thing in mind. They were still less than rates were in the US 18 months or so earlier. US prices, June 2014-$3.90. Feb 2013-$4.11. So, we weren't too upset with $3.15.

$1.38 a litre at Abell Point Airlie Beach, ouch. Townsville Breakwater Marina are quoting $1.22.


Hickers
Clipper 45
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The Townsville price seems OK to me. Black mark for Airlie Beach, I think I'll follow Benn's advice and dodge the place entirely. Just checked Raby Bay Marina and its 120.9 there. I'll load a 2-3000 litres on my way past in a week or so.

Fuel is expensive but 5 nights for shaggers is $300 at Abell Point which is ok. Staff were good but ask for the south marina section which is where you Want to be. Sorrento pizza, great!!


Hickers
Clipper 45
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Hickers said:

$1.38 a litre at Abell Point Airlie Beach, ouch. Townsville Breakwater Marina are quoting $1.22.


Hickers
Clipper 45
No Fixed Address

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Is that good news or bad news for you? Here (using US dollars) it would be bad news.

Tidahapah said:

Bruce if anything happens to our fuel supply this country is totally buggered. We have no Australian flag or manned tankers any more, most of our fuel is shipped in from Singapore and our stockpiles amount to about 1 week at the outside.
<snip>
We have been to busy shipping out our resources with no monetary gain for the country to worry about trivial things like self sufficiency.

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We have Dutch Disease on a massive scale.
One of the many reasons I am getting into a vessel large enough to leave the country to lands further north where the cost of living and vessel maintenance is considerably less.
But all that should be saved for another thread and discussion.

Back to fuel prices.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hickers
$1.38 a litre at Abell Point Airlie Beach, ouch. Townsville Breakwater Marina are quoting $1.22.


Hickers
Clipper 45
No Fixed Address

Is that good news or bad news for you? Here (using US dollars) it would be bad news.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot]

Good and bad. Bad compared to the US, good by our prices. Diesel at auto service stations ("servo") is currently around $1.20. Marine prices are usually higher, so it`s good. In Sydney, diesel at marine outlets is currently $1.30 plus.

Brian, check out fuel prices at GCCM, last time they quoted me with discount, being a customer was $1.16 but could not avail myself of it on my way out so fueled up at Mooloolaba at $1.20

$1.31 at Reef Marina Port Douglas , $1.38 at Cairns so Townsville and Bundaberg are the cheapest we have seen on this trip since Raby Bay.


Hickers
Clipper 45
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hi Hickers, your travels so far sound envious,(again).
Talking fuel prices.... on your way back south, if you ever need to go back that way, check Hamiliton Island. I was given the good tip at Airlie by a yachtie to hold off till I went out to the Whits before I fueled up. True to his word Hamiliton marina diesel was cheaper than the local Caltex roadside bowsers in Airlie ....with the woolies discount thrown in !!!!
Guess they like visitors at Hamiliton marina ...and you get an escort to the bowsers by a lovely in an inflatable !!!

Thanks for the heads up, good excuse to visit the tavern there!!


Hickers
Clipper 45
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I got fuel at GCCM when leaving. Worked out to be $1.20 after discounts. Port of Bundaberg marina has 11 cents off if you stay in the marina. It will be $1.18 so I will top up before leaving tomorrow.

Gee, that's double or triple the price in the US.

Mark, yes it's ugly. About US$3.46/USG at current exchange rates.

markpierce said:

Gee, that's double or triple the price in the US.

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Insequent said:

Mark, yes it's ugly. About US$3.46/USG at current exchange rates.

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And yet, even so, fuel is still probably the cheapest part of trawler style boating over here in Oz. Take fuel cost differences however, and how much cheaper boats are over in the US to begin with, and you guys don't know you're alive...

At least we know who our rich friends are

Insequent said:

Mark, yes it's ugly. About US$3.46/USG at current exchange rates.

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It sounds like still a fairly significant downward adjustment over time. That is less than US prices were not too long ago. Even today, there are some US marinas higher. Then within our immediate cruising grounds the Bahamas are higher than that.

Brian,
Looks like you are in Bundy, how's the trip north going?
Are you solo or have company.
I am still holed up in Mackay but having a quick trip to Cairns next week, by train not boat.
Did you see John on Flemingo when you passed up the Straits, last I heard he was up round Moon point.
Safe travels.
Cheers
Benn

Benn
Yes, in Bundy now, and solo. I intended to go from Platypus Bay to Pancake Creek on Sat (a bit over 100 nm) but got the crap beat out of me. Forecast was for 15 -20 kn S-SE winds, but I ended up with 25 kn S, and short/steep 2m SW waves from tidal run against the wind. Those waves on the beam were a big problem, Naiad's just couldn't keep things sane. Trap for young players, I'll take more notice of tides next time! Furniture sliding all over the salon but nothing broken. So I bailed out half way, and headed to Bundy. Also I thought I might need to haul out to repack starboard rudder shaft, but discovered loose nuts on one side of the gland so I think it will be OK until I haul for antifoul in a couple of months.

I did not see Flemingo - I thought they would be further north?

Doug told me that you beat a hasty retreat to Mackay a little while ago - were you in the Swains?

I'm off to Lady Musgrave in the morning. Prob stay one night then head to Fitzroy Reef as weather is looking pretty good for a few days.

Brian,
had a couple of weeks in the Swains but the weather was not so flash. We had good weather for each of our long passages, Mooloolaba to the bar, Rooneys to Fitzroy, Fitzroy to the Swains and then Mackerel Reef to High Peak Is.
Did not move around as much as we usually do in the Swains due to the stronger winds. Had to Hole up in Fitzroy for 4 days waiting for wind to die down, then 3 days in Blu Lion Reef and then another 4 days at mackerel Reef.
Nearly got into some real strife at High peak Is when the wind came round to the SW at 25 kn early in the morning. A story for a later date.
Lets just say the Excel nearly got ditched but thank god it holds like a son of a bitch.
Family commitments are keeping me in Mackay for now.