How does this affect my boat?

Your diesel engine relies on a high quality fuel, that has been properly filtered and separated (from water), with no flow restrictions, to achieve proper atomization, combustion and efficiency. Fuel that is infected with bacteria is not reliable. Filters clog prematurely, creating flow restrictions and ultimately total blockages. Gauges and other sensitive in-line instruments such as flow meters become faulty. Corrosive acids carried through the fuel system can cause expensive damage to injectors, pumps, fuel tanks and hoses. Performance suffers, and maintenance costs are elevated. But perhaps the most critical concern is the potential for blockages causing total engine failure while underway. The sea is unforgiving, and this situation can have devastating results. This is particularly true in foul weather, where a good sea can stir up the growth in a fuel tank and cause rapid filter plugging.

What about Biocides?
Until recently, biocide dosing was the common method used to control microorganisms in fuel oil. There are many brands of biocides available for diesel fuel treatment, but they are all composed of highly toxic chemicals. These toxic chemicals are typically so concentrated that handling is extremely dangerous to humans, and even small spills can be harmful to the environment. These chemicals are also poisonous to animals and plant life. When biocides are used, tank bottoms become hazardous, and the contents must be properly handled and disposed of in accordance with state and federal regulations for hazardous waste disposal. Adding biocides to the fuel system can actually cause problems. The fallout of dead cells collecting on the bottom of the tank forms a sludge material that can still find its way through the fuel system, clogging fuel lines and filters, potentially leading to performance problems and possibly engine damage. This can be especially true in rough weather, where the contents of a tank are effectively shaken into suspension. Further, over time, biocides lose their effectiveness as microbes build immunities to the chemicals. Occasional dosing can accelerate this action. Owners have reported bio-mass growth in systems despite regular treatments with biocides.

The De-Bug™ Solution:
For Permanent Control of Microbial Contamination
 After more than a decade in worldwide installations, De-Bug's performance in microbial decontamination has been unsurpassed. Time proven for years in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and the Far East, they offer the first permanent and environmentally safe protection against the "bugs" that plague diesel fuels and circulation oils.This leading technology was developed over ten years ago in New Zealand. De-Bug is not a filter, and not a chemical. It is a static device that typically installs within the fuel line, allowing fuel to pass through it enroute to the supply pump. Within the unit, microorganisms are destroyed as they flow through scientifically determined optimum flux feilds produced by multiple ceramic coated permanent magnets located within the unit. This unique design, exclusive to DE-BUG, is known as the "TRI-MAG Bug Killer Pak". When properly sized for the total fuel flow in the fuel system, the DE-BUG Unit has an effective "kill" rate efficiency of almost 100% (97.6%)within a single pass. DE-BUG is a one time, permanent installation, with no moving parts, no electrical hook-up, and maintenance that may require only an occasional cleaning. And unlike chemical biocides, bacteria cells are destroyed in a way that does not result in messy fallout which can still clog filters.