Re: Article on Ethanol and Boats
First let me say I don't like ethanol and I think turning food into fuel is a scam. But after living with E10 for more than a decade I agree with the person from West Marine, there just aren't that many problems related to it. This nightmare panic about problems that sets in when new areas are required to use it are very overblown, you do get the possibility of plugged filters, but just change em, if you don't have one you should. There is the possibility of phase separation, but we rarely see it. The problem with fiberglass tanks is real, but I haven't seen them being used in a very long time, so not many people need to worry about it. Any fuel systems should be able to handle E10 by now, if your's can't, then it means it's long over due for a carb rebuild and new hoses, the kits have E10 compatible parts and have for a very long time. While I think the marina owner is correct in what he saying, it also serves him well to scare people about E10 and have them get fuel from him. If you use good fuel handling practices you shouldn't see any change with E10 when compared to the straight gas. Use a fuel stabilizer if you're not going to use it for a while and get a good fuel/water separator, check what's in the tank at the start of the year and change the filter. These things should be done no mater what fuel get's used.
