Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

[hostage]

I went to fill my boat up at the Marina last week and spent $5/gal for 91 w/o Ethanol.

I can fill up a 5gal Gerry Can at BJ's for $3.77/gal of 87 w/ Ethanol.

I am guestamating that I use about 5gals/outing.

Does higher octane have any preformance on a Carb 4.3L V6 @ 190hp? I am now filling my boat to half way if I go to a station or marina, so I am not carrying the extra wait around. I have filled up with 87 w/o any issues, though it was mainly when they didn't have blended gas.

 

[tgell001]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

No blended gas at the marina is a thing of the past now your just over paying for the higher risk of water in the gas. I always use 91 or 93. I ran 87 once and it just didn't "purr" the same. But if you care about your boat use ethenol treatment. I've had a few buddies need to replace their gas tanks because of that crap.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

Different engine manufacturers have specific Octane specs for their engines. Follow the spec for your engine. Running too low a rating can damage the engine, unless you have a full time closed loop system or are running in at very high altitude. Using a higher octane rating than is necessary for your engine will decrease your power and fuel economy fractionally and cost you more to do it. It won't harm anything past your wallet.
The convenience of buying on the water is the only real decision.

 

[hostage]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

I guess I am going to empty the Gerry can into the lawn mower get some fresh gas stablize it then fill it up.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

I always lugged cans to fill my 19 footer (4.3LX). Regular gas (cheapest) worked just fine. I kept my 35 gal tank topped off for pece of mind, since I was usually in the ocean. 3 Jerry cans was about all I ever needed to use to fill her up.

 

[trejac]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

I 87 use all year except the first tank of the year, which was 93. Last tune up i had done the I had 93 in the tank so the mechanic set the timing to the 93 with new plugs and plug wires. Ran AWESOME!!!!!!!! that was my 4.3 merc. sold that boat!!!!

As for 5 gal gas cans..... my boat is at the marina so I filled it up the 53 gal tank at the start of the year and I use a 5 gal gas tank everytime I go out. I usually only go out for a couple hours in the evening. I REFUSE to pay the extra dollar at the marina. Once a month I pull the boat home, give it a full detail and fill it up.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

Its a tough call, but some marinas have treated gas such as valvtech in it. My 4.3l calls for 87 octane. I am opting for the marina that already has treated fuel but at a steeper price.

 

[shrew]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

Are you keeping your boat at a marina, or at a private dock. MANY marinas (note not all as I haven't been to ALL Marinas) do not allow refueling with portable gas cans at the slip. If it's a private dock or mooring, then that is completely up to you. If you're in a slip at a marina, you might want to check first.

 

[642mx]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

I've ran both (most of the time) 87 octane w/ 10% ethanol from the local c-store, and non-ethanol gas from the marina.... the biggest difference I've noticed is I seem to be able to go further on a tank of non-ethanol from the marina. I've never put a pen and paper to it to see if the gains I notice are worth the extra money spent...

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

i always top the tank off at the gas station my four winns omc 5.8l, calls for mid-grade. the only time i put regular in is at the end of the year with a tub of stabil, gas sits for 5 months i am not putting mid-grade in to let it get old[even with stabil]. i dont notice anything differnt my wot is the same and power to get up on plane seems the same. i do think the mid-grade goes further but like stated,

I've never put a pen and paper to it to see if the gains I notice are worth the extra money spent...

i wont use marina gas just because they want an extra buck a gallon and whats 400 lbs of gas [besides $200+ on a good day] when my boat and trailer come in at 6,200lbs, not quite sure why people make a big deal about it, its like hualing 2 more people in the truck....

 

[seaboo]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

No blended gas at the marina is a thing of the past now your just over paying for the higher risk of water in the gas. I always use 91 or 93. I ran 87 once and it just didn't "purr" the same. But if you care about your boat use ethenol treatment. I've had a few buddies need to replace their gas tanks because of that crap.

UMMMM......All the Marinas on my lake (all 6 of them) do NOT have blended gas (all 100% gasoline). I personally pay the price for the gas at a marina. They buy in smaller loads than a big gas station so they pay a higher price, and for the convince and the "unseen" value (little extras the marina gives you, selling ice to you after the store is closed, throwing you a fuse when your ign. fuse blows and you don't have a spare, keeping an eye on your stuff, letting you break parking rules so you can unload gear close to your boat, not bitching when you almost get in a fight at the dock, sliding your boat in for an impeller change in front of the other boats lined up for service, ect., ect.) the extra money is well spent in good will IMHO. Plus they have to make a living too, figure out how slim a profit margin your marina, after paying employees, power and such (it aint much).

 

[reddogg]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

I always fill up at the chevron thats on the way to the bay. If I get carried away havin fun, I'll pull in to the marina and get a few gallons. Don't really care about ethanol since I've already replaced anything it could hurt.

red

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

I always haul 3 plastic gas cans purchased @ WalMart--40 lbs each. Our gas is $5.00 at the marina.

Most boats just require the plain ole 87 octane regular @ $3.45--as of today. $1.55 x 15 gal= $23.25 sweat equity per weekend

Anyway, I need the exercise. $23 will produce a lot of 12 ounce curls.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Gas at Marina or get a 5gal Gerry Can?

I use 6 gallon portables, you say you use 5 gallons each time out, you can use portables on any motor even I/O's with a little work. Why many marrinas don't allow you to carry gerry cans is because do you know the cost of the clean up from even the smallest of spills? Believe me $5.00 gallon gas would be cheep. Person had their fuel oil tank leak about 5 gallons got to the water $18,000 dollars later all was good.