07-05-2008, 09:50 PM
[size 2]Boaters wary of ethanol
By GLENN ADAMS
BELGRADE LAKES, Maine – With the recreational boating season getting into full swing, some boat and marina owners across northern New England are less worried about the cost of gas than they are about the type of fuel that's going into their tanks this holiday weekend.
Across the country, many boat owners already have gone through the transition to gasoline with a 10 percent ethanol mix, known as E10.
Now, marinas in the nation's northeast corner are beginning to see ethanol-blended fuel, and there are fears of potential problems.
Some marinas say they're busy rebuilding carburetors and replacing filters and hoses. The Web is full of horror stories and warnings, and it's a common topic in boat shops.
"People are talking about it constantly," said Judy Marsh, owner of Paul's Marina in Brunswick, who blames E10 for fuel hoses disintegrating prematurely on some boats. "Not a day goes by that someone doesn't come in and talk about it or ask, 'What do we do?'"
In addition to damaging older hoses, water in the gas tank can mix with ethanol, causing fuel separation and creating problems.
Water and gunk
Tom Fulweiler, manager of Adams Marina in Tilton, N.H., said he's already installed 15 filters designed to separate water from gas this season.
"We have more problems with water in the gas this spring than we've had in the past because more people are using ethanol-blended fuel," said Fulweiler. "It's a big problem. The best thing you can do is install a water-separating fuel filter."
Another potential problem is that ethanol is a solvent, so it can loosen grime and gunk that's been accumulating in older fuel tanks and deposit it in filters and carburetors, choking off the fuel supply or impeding smooth operations.
E10 has been accepted by automobile manufacturers since the 1980s, but ethanol-related problems have been reported in older cars and trucks. Auto manufacturers warn that ethanol can corrode fuel lines and damage hoses and seals in cars not made to carry ethanol.
Likewise, there could be problems for older boat engines.
"This is a nightmare that's ahead of us," said Stephen Thibodeau Jr. of Bamforth Marine in Brunswick.
On New York's Long Island, boaters started using it three or four years ago, before anyone warned them what it could do to their boats "and for a while, nobody could figure it out," said Bob Adriance, technical director for the Boat Owners Association of the United States, based in Alexandria, Va.
Florida's getting a taste of it now, he said.
$35,000 fix
In California, where nearly 950,000 pleasure boats are registered, a Studio City man blamed ethanol for damage to his Mediterranean sport fisher that cost $35,000 to correct.
Lawrence Turner's lawsuit against several gasoline producers and distributors says they failed to give adequate warning of harm ethanol can cause. Turner cited damage that included destruction of his boat's fiberglass fuel tank. He also needed engine repairs.
But the problems are not universal. For example, boaters in Chicago have been using blended fuel for a decade "and boat owners there say it's no big deal," Adriance said.
As word about ethanol's effects spreads, boat owners are becoming better informed. But Adriance also cautions that a lot of misinformation is flying around, and counsels boat owners not to panic.
Boats and boat engines manufactured after the early 1980s were built with E10 in mind and the fuel is covered by manufacturers' warranties, according to the American Coalition for Ethanol.
But there could be problems with the hoses and rubber parts on older engines; also, ethanol can take the varnish off the inside of older fuel tanks, said Ron Lamberty, vice president and director of market development for the American Coalition for Ethanol in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Most problems in older boats can be resolved by replacing a clogged fuel filter -- or installing a filter if there isn't one -- and simply keeping the gas cap tight to keep out water, he said.
Fuel of the future
Adriance, meanwhile, said owners will need to learn maintenance steps to cope with gunk buildups and moisture because ethanol is not going away.
"I certainly think you will see E10 become more widely used and more available, and over the next several years you'll probably see a higher blend," said Brendan Wright of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America, which represents 46 state and regional trade associations dealing with motor and heating fuels.
Wright said increased sales of ethanol is driven to a large degree by federal policy that calls for increased reliance on biofuels. But the market is also doing its share as the price of oil makes renewable alternatives more attractive.
Back in New England, John Rice has heard about problems elsewhere, and he's not taking any chances. When he fills the gas tanks in the 20 boats he rents out at Castle Island Camps in Belgrade, he makes sure the fuel contains no ethanol.
Boat owners who don't pay attention to what goes into their tanks could see problems.
"Our guests from New York have the biggest problem," said Rice, referring to people who pumped the alcohol-blended fuel into their boat tanks in their home state before heading north.[/size]
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By GLENN ADAMS
BELGRADE LAKES, Maine – With the recreational boating season getting into full swing, some boat and marina owners across northern New England are less worried about the cost of gas than they are about the type of fuel that's going into their tanks this holiday weekend.
Across the country, many boat owners already have gone through the transition to gasoline with a 10 percent ethanol mix, known as E10.
Now, marinas in the nation's northeast corner are beginning to see ethanol-blended fuel, and there are fears of potential problems.
Some marinas say they're busy rebuilding carburetors and replacing filters and hoses. The Web is full of horror stories and warnings, and it's a common topic in boat shops.
"People are talking about it constantly," said Judy Marsh, owner of Paul's Marina in Brunswick, who blames E10 for fuel hoses disintegrating prematurely on some boats. "Not a day goes by that someone doesn't come in and talk about it or ask, 'What do we do?'"
In addition to damaging older hoses, water in the gas tank can mix with ethanol, causing fuel separation and creating problems.
Water and gunk
Tom Fulweiler, manager of Adams Marina in Tilton, N.H., said he's already installed 15 filters designed to separate water from gas this season.
"We have more problems with water in the gas this spring than we've had in the past because more people are using ethanol-blended fuel," said Fulweiler. "It's a big problem. The best thing you can do is install a water-separating fuel filter."
Another potential problem is that ethanol is a solvent, so it can loosen grime and gunk that's been accumulating in older fuel tanks and deposit it in filters and carburetors, choking off the fuel supply or impeding smooth operations.
E10 has been accepted by automobile manufacturers since the 1980s, but ethanol-related problems have been reported in older cars and trucks. Auto manufacturers warn that ethanol can corrode fuel lines and damage hoses and seals in cars not made to carry ethanol.
Likewise, there could be problems for older boat engines.
"This is a nightmare that's ahead of us," said Stephen Thibodeau Jr. of Bamforth Marine in Brunswick.
On New York's Long Island, boaters started using it three or four years ago, before anyone warned them what it could do to their boats "and for a while, nobody could figure it out," said Bob Adriance, technical director for the Boat Owners Association of the United States, based in Alexandria, Va.
Florida's getting a taste of it now, he said.
$35,000 fix
In California, where nearly 950,000 pleasure boats are registered, a Studio City man blamed ethanol for damage to his Mediterranean sport fisher that cost $35,000 to correct.
Lawrence Turner's lawsuit against several gasoline producers and distributors says they failed to give adequate warning of harm ethanol can cause. Turner cited damage that included destruction of his boat's fiberglass fuel tank. He also needed engine repairs.
But the problems are not universal. For example, boaters in Chicago have been using blended fuel for a decade "and boat owners there say it's no big deal," Adriance said.
As word about ethanol's effects spreads, boat owners are becoming better informed. But Adriance also cautions that a lot of misinformation is flying around, and counsels boat owners not to panic.
Boats and boat engines manufactured after the early 1980s were built with E10 in mind and the fuel is covered by manufacturers' warranties, according to the American Coalition for Ethanol.
But there could be problems with the hoses and rubber parts on older engines; also, ethanol can take the varnish off the inside of older fuel tanks, said Ron Lamberty, vice president and director of market development for the American Coalition for Ethanol in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Most problems in older boats can be resolved by replacing a clogged fuel filter -- or installing a filter if there isn't one -- and simply keeping the gas cap tight to keep out water, he said.
Fuel of the future
Adriance, meanwhile, said owners will need to learn maintenance steps to cope with gunk buildups and moisture because ethanol is not going away.
"I certainly think you will see E10 become more widely used and more available, and over the next several years you'll probably see a higher blend," said Brendan Wright of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America, which represents 46 state and regional trade associations dealing with motor and heating fuels.
Wright said increased sales of ethanol is driven to a large degree by federal policy that calls for increased reliance on biofuels. But the market is also doing its share as the price of oil makes renewable alternatives more attractive.
Back in New England, John Rice has heard about problems elsewhere, and he's not taking any chances. When he fills the gas tanks in the 20 boats he rents out at Castle Island Camps in Belgrade, he makes sure the fuel contains no ethanol.
Boat owners who don't pay attention to what goes into their tanks could see problems.
"Our guests from New York have the biggest problem," said Rice, referring to people who pumped the alcohol-blended fuel into their boat tanks in their home state before heading north.[/size]
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