Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

These are my first times at marina gas stations. I haven't seen these style mechanical type pumps since the 70's!

Are there any commonly known (to regulars) fees that marinas charge that don't show up on the per gallon pump price? The per gallon price (including taxes, according to the pump) happen to be $3.889 this last time. Pump shows that I pumped 14.9 gallons. My noggin says the total should then be $57.95, but the pump total sale came to $72.90. Or $4.89 per gallon. This higher total was on the pump - I was in a bit of a hurry and didn't catch it until later and then the marina was closed.

While it is expensive I'm not aware of any tacked on fees associated with Marina Gas other than tipping a few bucks if the dock jockeys tie and fuel me up...

The marina where I store my boat charges at least $1-$2 more per gallon than the nearby stations, but they have non-ethanol premium gas which is hard to find. Plus, I call on my way to the lake and they have it filled with fuel and in the water so that all we have to do a is step on board with our food and drinks and set sail. I'm paying a higher price for the convenience.

My other choice would be to bring lots of containers of fuel in my Tahoe (totally impractical) or retrieving my trailer, loading the boat, driving to a station, then back to the lake, launch, store trailer a mile or so away, drive back to the lake...NAH

Thankfully, my Honda is a gas miser.

Thanks T Cro

Thanks TDJ,

Yeah - I wasn't surprised at the price per gallon, but I even went back to the pump to see if the price was really 3.889 and not 4.889.

I don't know if this a local thing, but was told that I shouldn't bring containers to the dock - But everyone does it. And yes, it would be a hassle not only to bring containers to the dock, but pouring it in, too.

urbnsr wrote:Thanks T Cro

Your welcome... Don't hold my feet to the fire but I think I last paid 4.70 for High-Octane Pure Gas to our closest marina which is not known for cheap gas but they are a short boat ride from our private community marina... But then again it could have been 4.12 a gallon.

Many privately docks will NOT allow you to bring your own gas down on their docks due to the fact that many people spill it and it is an extreme fire safety hazard allowing such...

You may have paid for someone else's gas while they paid for yours.

When the marina is busy with lots of boats coming and going, I tend to not fuel up.

Being retired, I can fuel up during the week when everyone else is gone.

But out one weekend and needed gas. Got inside to pay and told the lady "$28 on pump 4" and she said "Quick! Catch that guy, he just paid for your gas."

His bill was about 4 times higher than mine.


So be careful to note which pump you're connected to and double check while paying to avoid future issues.

No fees up here at my marina aside from tipping.

I did notice the price of fuel was $2.50 when I looked last weekend. I hope it stays at that level but I have my doubts because highway fuel is up to almost that level now. Maybe it was an error on the pump.

Yea, I think you paid someone else's ticket. Too late now.

Yeah - I agree I need to pay more attention.

I did pay attention when I pulled up (docking went smooth, BTW!). No one was around to pump this time, so I picked the pump that was used the time before. I made sure the meters all reset to zero when I lifted the side handle.

Afterwards, I just looked at the total sale, walked in and gave the lady that total amount. I'm sure they checked the pump total after I left to make sure, but I don't think they have a way for that old of a pump to report the last amount to them inside. Not 100% sure. I don't think there was a mix up between customers, I just didn't suspect that the total sale amount was not the sum as the displayed price per gallon times displayed gallons pumped.

I will mention it to them next time I see them. If they have a pump reporting problem, they can at least address it. If not, I do have another marina across the lake somewhat close and I think a total of five marinas total.

PK

I think I tipped them.

I am a little confused and there is a reason for me asking for clarification.

1 - Did the price per gallon used to say $3.889 per gallon?

2 - Did the price per gallon say $4.89 per gallon when you recently fueled up?

3 - Did the final total on the pump say you owed $72.90?

4 - Is this a mechanical style readout or the new LED readout?

If the answer to 2 and 3 is "yes", then why not conclude they went up on their price since the last time you filled up?

My reason for asking question #4 is my marina had an issue with the calibration as the price per gallon on the pump (old mechanical style) was from last year and they could not change it so you simply told them how many gallons you pumped and they used a calculator to give your total - in other words, the only thing accurate on the pump were the gallons pumped.

The last time I used the pump (old mechanical type. Not LED) this past Sunday, it said $3.889. I double checked that when we later docked for the day and the marina was closed. A few weeks ago, I used the same pump and the price on the pump was about $4.89 - It was close to that, but I didn't write it down.

So the pump recently did show $3.889 per gallon, 14.9 gallons pumped. The total sale price on the pump indicated $72.90.

You may have something there. Maybe the pump is not capable of working right. But when I came in and announced the total sale price, she should have asked for the gallons pumped. That is, if they know there is a problem. If there actually is a problem.

I would be willing to bet that is the problem. They changed the price per gallon on the pump but did not recalibrate or reset or hit some other lever - I don't have a clue how those things work. The pump said $3.89 per gallon but the total was based on the old price of $4.89 per gallon.

Yeah - I'll bring it up to them next time I get the chance. I realize that this issue is more academic now and I bet I check closer next time.