Marine Fuel Delivery: Fort Lauderdale & Miami

South Florida has one of the largest recreational and commercial marine markets in the world — Fort Lauderdale alone hosts more than 50,000 registered vessels and is home to the largest in-water boat show on the planet. Marinas charge dock fuel prices that can run $0.50–$1.50 per gallon above what you would pay for equivalent bulk fuel delivered to your slip. For commercial vessels, charter operators, and liveaboards who fuel regularly, marine fuel delivery is a meaningful cost reduction.

How marine fuel delivery works in South Florida

Marine fuel delivery means a licensed fuel supplier brings diesel or gasoline to your vessel — at a dock, slip, mooring field, or anchorage — rather than you bringing the boat to a fuel dock. Delivery is by road-based fuel truck that accesses the marina dock, or by fuel barge for vessels at anchor or in areas without road access.

In Fort Lauderdale and Miami, road-based delivery covers most marinas along the Intracoastal Waterway, Port Everglades, Government Cut, Biscayne Bay, and major canal systems. Fuel is transferred from the truck to the vessel via a hose and metered pump, with volume and product documented on a delivery ticket.

For commercial operators, the savings are substantial. A charter fishing boat burning 200 gallons per trip at marina dock prices pays $100–$300 more per trip than a similar vessel fueling via delivered bulk. Over a season of 150 trips, that is $15,000–$45,000 in avoidable fuel cost.

Fuel types for marine engines in Florida

There are two main fuel types for South Florida marine engines, and choosing the wrong one causes expensive damage:

Diesel (ULSD) for diesel marine engines

Inboard diesel engines — the primary power plant for most commercial vessels, yachts, and trawlers over 30 feet — run on standard ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel, ≤15 ppm sulfur). Marine diesel is the same spec as on-road diesel. Delivery in Florida is typically priced at the same rack-plus basis as commercial fleet diesel.

For commercial vessels paying federal maritime fuel taxes, consult your accountant on the specific tax treatment — commercial watercraft may be eligible for different tax treatment than recreational vessels.

Ethanol-free gasoline (REC-90) for gasoline marine engines

This is where Florida boat owners make the most costly fueling mistakes. Standard pump gasoline in Florida contains up to 10% ethanol (E10) by mandate. Ethanol in marine fuel systems causes:

• Phase separation: Ethanol absorbs water from the humid Florida environment. Above a threshold (~0.5% water by volume), the water-ethanol mixture separates from the gasoline and sinks to the tank bottom — creating a layer of corrosive water that reaches fuel injectors first.
• Fiberglass tank degradation: Ethanol attacks older fiberglass fuel tanks, dissolving resins and creating debris that clogs filters and injectors.
• Carb and injector corrosion: Ethanol is corrosive to many materials used in marine fuel systems manufactured before 2012.
• Reduced engine storage life: For seasonal storage, ethanol-blended fuel gels and varnishes faster than pure gasoline, leaving deposits that require professional cleaning to remove.

REC-90 (recreational grade ethanol-free 90-octane gasoline) eliminates all of these problems. It is the correct fuel for virtually all gasoline-powered marine engines, outboards, jet skis, and small aircraft. In South Florida, it is available through specialty marine fuel suppliers — Exigo Fuels delivers REC-90 to marinas and vessel slips across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.

Where we deliver marine fuel in South Florida

Exigo Fuels delivers marine diesel and REC-90 ethanol-free gasoline to marinas, boatyards, and vessel slips across:

• Fort Lauderdale: Intracoastal from Deerfield Beach to Hallandale, Port Everglades, New River, Tarpon River
• Miami: Biscayne Bay, Government Cut, Miami Beach marinas, Watson Island, Dinner Key, Coconut Grove
• Palm Beach area: Lake Worth Lagoon, West Palm Beach marinas, Boca Raton
• Offshore commercial: Vessels anchored or moored in Biscayne Bay, Lake Worth Lagoon, and adjacent anchorages — coordinate with dispatch for barge access arrangements

Marine fuel delivery pricing

Marine fuel delivery pricing follows the same rack-plus structure as commercial fleet fuel, with volume discounts for consistent users:

• Diesel: Port Everglades rack price plus margin. Delivery margin ranges from $0.15–$0.30/gal for single deliveries to $0.08–$0.15/gal for regular accounts.
• REC-90 ethanol-free: Carries a $0.35–$0.60/gal premium over standard 87-octane due to specialty sourcing and limited terminal availability. This premium is significantly less than the engine damage costs that ethanol eventually causes.
• Minimum delivery: 250 gallons for in-slip delivery to established marinas with dock access. Smaller deliveries may carry a service fee.

Commercial marine operations in South Florida

Fort Lauderdale and Miami support a significant commercial marine economy: charter fishing, dive boats, water taxis, excursion vessels, coastal freight, and yacht delivery crews. For operators running regular charters or commercial routes, a commercial marine fuel account delivers:

• Monthly consolidated invoicing versus transaction-by-transaction dock payments
• Volume-based pricing that scales with your fleet size
• Consistent fuel quality with batch documentation for commercial compliance
• Priority dispatch during peak season and storm pre-positioning periods

To set up a marine fuel delivery account or get a quote for a specific vessel or marina, call Exigo Fuels at (305) 900-6725 or request a marine fuel quote online. We serve vessels from day boats to superyachts across the South Florida Intracoastal — see our full coverage for Miami fuel delivery and Fort Lauderdale fuel delivery.