Posted on 05/20/2009 7:00:44 AM PDT by Corky Boyd
There have been three major ethanol producers that have declared bankruptcy in the past 6 months (VeraSun, Panda Energy and White Energy) as well as several smaller ones. The problem is the high cost of manufacture, especially high corn prices....
The pressure is on Congress to force distributors to blend to 15% to solve the problem government caused in the first place. Lost in all of this, is it would void the warranties of millions of cars in the US.
But the problem is far worse for the marine industry. Even 10% ethanol is causing severe problems to fuel systems. It primarily shows up in fuel lines
(Excerpt) Read more at islandturtle.blogspot.com ...
This rather kills the market value of used boats?
I put that new additive for our wonderful Corn-gas into my boat. Called “Stabil-For Ethanol Gas”, it keeps that fuel from seperating and damaging your boat motor.
It also affects lawn mowers, weed whackers, chippers, etc. Our local repair shop, after cussing out the ethanol, said to use aviation gas instead of the automobile gas. However it is $6.00 a gallon here at the Albuquerque airport. But it is better to pay $12.00 once a year instead of $100.00 a year in repair bills.
Corn prices are going to get higher. Radio said only five percent of fields are planted in Indiana, usually 85 % by this time....
Most fields we saw yesterday are flooded even in relatively dry areas. Looks like God is saying NO to using corn for gas. Expect food prices to increase also.
There are a couple of local stations near me that sell 0 ethanol gas....they get all my boat business.
At least around Cleveland, the pumps do have stickers on them telling you how much ethanol is in the gas. They usually say something like “contains up to 10% ethanol”. That’s why I’ve been buying my gas from Marathon, who did not use ethanol, though I’m not sure what’s in their new “STP additives” that they say are in their gas.
I'm not aware that fuel tanks made with vinylester resin are vulnerable to ethanol, at least of the E10 variety. Not sure about E15.
Actually, a clogged fuel system is potentially a life threatening event. You don't want to have a fuel flow interruption far from shore, in rough water, running inlets, cruising in high traffic areas, etc. The hypocrites in Congress who claim to care so much about the consumer safety of every single product made are more than willing to put people's lives in danger when it comes to securing Corn Belt votes.
Don’t worry about it. Boats are a sign of conspicuous consumption, and are “rich peoples” toys.
New EPA standards will soon do to the boat industry what is happening to the auto industry.
I’ll have to ask my fellow boat mechanics if they see much of this fuel problem yet.
I’m pretty much out of the business now.
“non-oxygenated” gas is harder to find here in MN, but is all I use in my vintage cycle.
The Oregon State Marine Board posts marinas and other sites selling straight gas, I don’t know if other states do the same or not. Worth checking tho’
I don’t have to ask a mechanic about ethanol problems in boats. I recently pulled a much larger power boat off a sand bar and towed him to the dock. Toxic Ethanol Poisoning of the Gasoline.
I have a built in gas tank on my boat and rig my second motor to a portable tank. I use anti-ethanol additives.
Since this will be a single outboard and fishing 15+ miles off shore, obviously the fuel reliability is an issue. Additionally, I've heard comments about the ethanol eating at engine parts too, though I need to gather more information on this aspect.
From what I've learned, many boats use aluminum tanks, but I'm surprised at how many dealers have no idea what kind of tanks are in the used boats on their lots. Almost makes me want to buy new, or at least new old stock, so that I'm dealing with the manufacturer rather than bob the plaid-clad sales rep.
Maybe if I wait to buy until next spring, I can buy directly from the United Boat Workers union, who, under obamacare, might end up owning all the manufacturing companies.
The ethanol eates away the rubber/plastic fuel lines in all motors(chain saw, trimmers,boat,etc.)
With 2 cycle engines the oil that you mix has a fuel stabilizer in it. With ALL other small four cycle engines
you should add fuel stabalizer to the gasoline/ethanol mix.
FYI, ALL offshore motor boats should have 2 engines.
You mentioned aluminum tanks, and then engine parts.
Ethanol is corrosive to soft metals such as zinc, magnesium, aluminum, etc. Any metal made of this must be plated (in chrome or electroless nickel), or must be anodized.
Interesting. I think by law, Florida must have ethanol, except at marinas that have an exemption. Of course the marina has to pay extra for that. Naturally, they won’t pass that on to consumers.
“FYI, ALL offshore motor boats should have 2 engines.”
Good is you can afford it and the fuel that the extra one eats.
Even better to have three just in case the first two fail.
Around here, one well maintained one will get you by for most purposes, except going to Bimini, or the Bahamas, but even then, you’d need a boat with enough fuel capacity, which normally gets you up to twin engines anyway.
However...engine failure is only one kind of failure that can leave a boat with no power at sea.
For the rest of us who have bills to pay and a budget to live within, there is Towboatus and Sea tow. A bit of insurance can save a lot spent on that extra $20,000 outboard.
Most modern outboard designs (4 stroke and DI 2 stroke) are very reliable. The key if you're going offshore in a single-engine boat is to be absolutely rabid about maintenance...wholly different than the casual maintenance most folks perform on lake boats.
And NO ethanol.
...and violate several EPA laws and state/federal tax laws in the process. The avgas has lead in it, and we all know how evil that is.../s
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