I got an alert from the Boat Owners Association of the United States this past week that pointed out: “The Environmental Protection Agency is asking for comments on a proposal to increase the amount of ethanol that must be blended into the nation’s gas supply for 2017. If adopted, these proposed levels will require the use of a record amount of ethanol, forcing higher-level fuel blends (including E15 or 15 percent ethanol) into more gas stations. Remember that most marine engines are built to only work with up to 10 percent ethanol and it’s prohibited to use gas containing more than 10 percent ethanol in all marine engines.”
Sounds like a future conundrum for boat owners.
“Ethanol wreaks havoc with fuel systems,” said Dennis Henson of Eagle Creek Marine of Dayton. “It’s a serious issue, even with the (10 percent ethanol) gasoline being used today. It can weaken fuel lines and corrode the whole system.”
Mike Choate, owner of Eagle Creek, said they have had to do quite a few repairs for damage caused by people using gasoline containing ethanol.
“Ethanol attracts water,” Choate said. “An engine can burn off small amounts of water, but when there is too much the fuel system incurs serious damage.”
He pointed out there are places that sell ethanol-free gasoline — made for recreational use — but not only are those stations few and far between, the price of the fuel is higher.
“That’s why when you buy gas on the water, the price is so much higher,” Choate said.
“The amount of gasoline used by boats and things like lawn mowers and motorcycles is so much lower than by motor vehicles,” said Tom Taylor, owner of South Shore Marina on Cowan Lake, “so it’s all driven by the automotive world. People just have to understand their boat motors are different and require a different fuel.
“People come in and say their motor won’t start. And the number one reason is they have water in the gas tank. They don’t understand that when you have ethanol in the gas and it let it sit, it attracts moisture and will separate. Water sinks to the bottom and you can’t start a motor with water.”
He said boat owners should add stabilizer not only when they let a boat sit with gas in it, but also when they fill up.
“I won’t say that does a lot of good, but it helps — if you use the right stabilizer,” Taylor said. “When you buy stabilizer, always turn the bottle around and look at the label. Make sure it says it’s for marine use. The stuff for automotive use actually has ethanol in it,” Taylor said.
A bottle of stabilizer costs about $14 and treats 80 gallons of (10 percent ethanol) gasoline.
He also said ethanol eats rubber in fuel lines and clogs the entire system.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen if they go to 15 percent,” Taylor said. “I guess more job security for me.”
BoatUS has passed along a website people can visit to submit opinions to the EPA about a possible increase to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline: goo.gl/yczkuK. The deadline for public comments is July 11. One of the best explanations I’ve seen about the problem is a 2013 article at the AllOutdoor Website: alloutdoor.com/2013/06/25/fi.
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