BOATING EXPERTS TO CONGRESS: ETHANOL BEST FOR BOATS

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(Posted Tue. May 10th, 2016 - National Corn Growers Association)

Certified mechanics, engine performance experts, and professional fishermen briefed lawmakers on Capitol Hill today about the importance of ethanol in protecting the environment, preserving America’s energy security, and providing a high-octane boost to marine engines.

The briefing, hosted by Fuels America, provided an important opportunity for experts to dispel myths about ethanol and make the case for full implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The National Corn Growers Association is a member of Fuels America.

“I want to take my grandkids fishing someday. That means having clean water and clean air. Mixing ethanol into our fuel is the best way to reduce the pollutants that fossil fuels leave behind, so our lakes and rivers stay clean and marine life can flourish,” said Brian Sowers, Co-Host of Crappie Masters TV, covering the Crappie Masters All American Tournament Trail.

The Clinton, Missouri-based Crappie Masters tournament trail is sponsored in part by the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council. A major initiative of this partnership is to educate boaters and consumers on ethanol production, its performance in boat motors, and its impact on the economy. Most of the 12 million recreational boats in the United States are approved to operate on fuel blended with 10 percent ethanol (E10).

Sowers notes that 100 percent of Crappie Masters tournament winners use an ethanol blend in their tanks. That comes as no surprise to Keith Holmes, President and Owner of CK Motorsports in Nunica, Michigan and a Certified Mercury Marine Racing Technician.

“We work on a wide variety of racing engines for watercraft, and they run at their absolute best on a high-octane ethanol blend,” said Holmes. “Ethanol burns cleaner and cooler. Since the introduction of E10, we find that many engine parts have a 25 to 50 percent longer lifespan. The National Boat Racing Association exclusively uses E10 for all their races.”

“Decades of experience with modern engines shows that E10 is the best fuel for marine applications,” said Marc Rauch, Executive Vice President and Co-Publisher at the Auto Channel, based in Louisville, Kentucky. “As an oxygen booster, ethanol replaces toxins like MTBE, which are notorious for contaminating water supplies. And it reduces CO2 emissions by 34 to 100 percent or more compared to gasoline.”

Joel Hennen, president and owner of Hennen’s Auto Service in Shakopee, Minnesota, which serves communities on the Minnesota River and Prior Lake, said his customers expect to have choices at the pump, including E10. “Companies like Kawasaki, Mercury Marine, OMC, Pleasurecraft, Tigershark, Tracker, Honda, and Yamaha all approve the use of E10 in their engines,” said Hennen. “The labels are clear, and whether customers have a flex fuel vehicle or a race boat, we make it easy to pick the most affordable option with the lowest emissions.”

“Whether you farm, fish, swim, or ride a boat, everyone who spends time on the water cares about clean water and clean air. Ethanol is the best way to preserve these resources today and for future generations,” said Beth Elliott, NCGA Director of Public Policy. “Today’s briefing was an opportunity for us to educate lawmakers on ethanol and its performance in maritime engines, while continuing to highlight that it’s a renewable, clean energy source for both boats and cars.”

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is currently reviewing the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed blending requirements for ethanol and advanced biofuels in 2017.


http://www.ncga.com/news-and-resour...ng-experts-to-congress-ethanol-best-for-boats
 
Wow, everything opposite of what the studies have shown.

I see they don't mention anything about how methanol attracts water into your entire fuel system.
 
It may burn cleaner but, you better not ever let the fuel sit too long.

One on left was 6 months, one on right a couple seasons.

iPhone 2.2.13 002 fuel pumps.jpg

With ethanol fuel I'll never run out of work.
 
1. It is dangerous to use greater than 10 % ethanol in marine engines.
Some gas supplies are illegally much higher. Check gas with an alcohol fuel test kit to make sure ethanol present is less than 10%.
A recent post on a Long Island, NY message board states,
"Believe it or not, some of the fuel samples tested 48 % ethanol and most were above the 10 % 'maximum allowable by law'.".
All marine engines sold in the United States are designed to operate on fuel containing no more than 10 percent ethanol. Engines built before ethanol became popular for environmental reasons, (past 10 years) have minimal safeguards from the damage alcohol fuels will cause.

2. Ethanol absorbs water - Water molecules combine with petroleum (gas) in your gas fuel tank and lines...
Ethanol has an increased risk of fuel water-contamination due to ability to absorb H20.
(Ethanol attracts and absorbs moisture from the air). Vapor lock and fuel starvation can occur.
The gasoline you pump in your tank may be dry, but due to condensation (from humidity, temperature, etc.) water does exist in your tank. Since water is insoluble in gasoline, it sinks to the bottom of your tank -
As long as it remains below the level of your fuel pickup tube it will not affect your engine. The problem is water is soluble in ethanol and will travel thru your engine fuel system.
A water/ethanol mixture, being heavier than gas, will sink to the bottom of the gas tank, leaving a lower octane gas on top. This low octane gas (lean fuel) can cause performance issues with 4-stroke engines, and can cause damage to 2-stroke engines.
Excess water in engines will also cause premature rusting.

3. Ethanol is an amazing solvent and cleansing agent.
High levels of ethanol can dissolve, deteriorate and breakdown solid material, including rubber, plastic, fiberglass and even aluminum and steel.
Ethanol will also cleanse and release corrosive matter (gunk), varnish and rust, which will travel through the engine and clog fuel filters, carburetor jets and injectors. In many outboard engines it will also contaminate the fuel present in your fuel tank.
Ethanol tends to dissolve certain resins, which can travel through the engine intake and coat intake valves, causing sticking and bent pushrods or worse. This has been well documented for boats equipped with certain fiberglass gas tanks, made before the early 1990's.
The more gunk (rust, sediment, dirt, etc.) collected in your outboard engine over the years, the more noticeable the cleansing effects of alcohol will be noticed.
Ethanol's solvent and cleansing abilities can lead to engine failure and expensive (avoidable) repairs.

4. Ethanol can wear-down and dry-out the plastic and rubber parts in your engine.
Rubber seals and plastic material used in older boats are often not compatible with alcohol. Ethanol will make engine parts dry and brittle. Since ethanol is a cleansing and drying solution, it will clean the oil right off the internal components of a 2 stroke, Extra lubrication is necessary.

5. Ethanol blends can cause additional contamination by reacting chemically with MTBE fuel blends.
Do not mix gas that contains MTBE with ethanol E10.
Mixing MTBE fuel with ethanol blend fuel can create a gel-like substance that clogs passages in carburetors.
Stalled engines and engine damage are the result. Fuel injected engines have shown less damage, than carbureted engines, from this gel-like substance.

6. Engines with older fiberglass gas tanks have the greatest risks when using fuel with ethanol.
Fiberglass gas tanks can "deteriorate" from ethanol, causing this degraded resin stuff, (you'll see "black sludge") to circulate through your engine, coating intake manifolds and building up on intake valves - which basically destroys your engine.


http://evinrude-parts.com/boat_ethanol_danger_precaution.html
 
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