What’s the point of polishing fuel?
QI read with interest the articles about diesel fuel ( YM, April 16), but was horrified by Jonty Pearce’s test of the FDG1120 fuel polishing system, for which the component parts add up to £794. If he only uses half a tank of fuel a season, it seems a lot to spend just to keep a quarter of a tonne of fuel sitting in his boat for two years. Why why not just replace the tank with a smaller one and fill it up more often?
Richard Pyecroft
AJonty Pearce replies: I quite understand Richard’s point. My wife and I did discuss removing the tank and replacing it with a smaller one. As our Southerly had been fitted with a new fuel tank just before our ownership, we were reluctant to repeat this expensive and mutilating job – either the cockpit glassfibre has to be cut or the large tank has to be cut up into pieces with an angle grinder. It can’t just be lifted out.
The Tek-Tank replacement I researched would have freed up space in the lazarette, but the capacity of the tank was also a benefit.
Regarding cost, I think Richard has totalled up the different option choices. The FDG1120 and polishing kit at £340 includes all you need. I apologise for any confusion. For us, the peace of mind of the fuel polishing system is worth this price. A tank of 100 litres is just as prone to diesel bug as one of 260 litres.