Boaters oppose more ethanol in their tanks - Sell Boats
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Bill Griswold remembers fishing in Rehoboth Bay with his family when his boat's motor sputtered and quickly died.
Stranded on the water, the Griswolds were towed back to the marina. A mechanic showed them what was wrong with the boat's four-stroke engine.
"The fuel line and filter system were completely clogged with a gum that looked like mayonnaise," Griswold said.
Griswold is like many boaters who say that gasoline containing 10 percent ethanol has damaged their boat's engines and spurred them to spend thousands in replacement costs. The boating industry and many states aren't happy about an ethanol industry request now before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to start allowing gasoline to contain up to 15 percent ethanol by volume.
Ethanol is a corn-based alcohol that has won federal support because it lowers carbon emissions and reduces the nation's dependency on petroleum. However, critics say ethanol burns at a higher temperature and is disruptive to a multitude of small engines, including aircraft, chainsaws, weed whackers and snow blowers.
Robert Gaudette, director of boating services for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said he remembers the roll-out of E-10 gasoline causing havoc among boaters. By now, he said, many of the state's 200,000 registered boaters have adjusted to the new fuel.
"Boat manufacturers can handle E-10. They're not exactly sure what (a higher blend) will do," Gaudette said.
E-10 requirement
The federal government requires marinas in many parts of Maryland and throughout Delaware, including Sussex County, to sell E-10 gasoline. The EPA has identified the places as "nonattainment" areas, which means they have poor air quality and only ethanol blends emitting fewer greenhouse gases can be sold there.
Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield is proud to sell fuel without ethanol -- even if it means boaters must pay 20 cents more per gallon to get it, said Lloyd Tyler, the facility's executive director.
Somers Cove had sold the E-10 gasoline, but in August went back to an ethanol-free blend, he said. He said it is becoming more difficult to find ethanol-free gasoline, as fewer refineries are now producing it.
"We had so many complaints from our boaters, particular the outboards, the smaller ones," he said. "They said it caused excessive condensation in the fuel tanks, and on the fiberglass or plastic tanks, it causes them to peel, and that mess gets into the fuel lines."
The Wicomico Yacht Club also switched back to selling gasoline without ethanol in it, said Scott McCurdy, a member of the Allen-based club.
"Most people are willing to pay 10 or 15 cents more on a gallon because that cost pales in comparison to repairing or getting a carburetor replaced," McCurdy said.
McCurdy, the owner of North Bay Marine in Fenwick Island, said while adding certain additives to the fuel can help, ethanol can cause water to build up in the gasoline and can damage a boat's fuel line. Furthermore, boaters who wait extended periods of time between using their boat tend to experience more problems, he said.
"In the last two summers, we have done more carburetor work than in the past 10," McCurdy said.
Joe Morris, who owns the marine store at Lewes Harbor Marina, said ethanol will degrade parts of older engines that aren't resistant to alcohol. For example, it will destroy rubber fuel lines and plastic gaskets.
Morris said ethanol acts as a detergent, scrubbing off soot that ends up clogging up filters and carburetors. Unless boaters put special additives into their fuel, they run the risk of the ethanol causing "phase separation." It occurs when gasoline, water and alcohol separate into layers within the tank, and the result is that the engine stalls.
"The engine literally starves for gasoline," Morris said.
Rise in ethanol by volume
Last March, Growth Energy, a national pro-ethanol group, and 54 ethanol manufacturers petitioned the EPA to allow gasoline to contain up to 15 percent ethanol by volume.
The deadline for the EPA to decide whether to boost the ethanol amount is Dec. 1. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told Reuters last week that it may work past the deadline because it is still reviewing test results on the higher blend's effects on engines.
Meanwhile, a bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, would try to ensure the new blend is sufficiently tested before entering the marketplace. Senate Bill 1666 would require EPA's Science Advisory Board to study the compatibility of the new fuel blend with current engines before any new standards are adopted. At this point, the bill has been referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Cardin released a statement in which he said that while he supports developing biofuels to help the U.S. decrease its dependency on foreign oil, the new products cannot harm boats, chainsaws, lawnmowers and other products.
"We need to let good science guide us in making sure that we are getting the clean air benefits and engine performance that boaters, lawn care companies and others who rely on smaller engines deserve," Cardin said.
Delaware's DNREC was among those who submitted materials to the EPA in which they opposed the E-15 request. DNREC submitted 17 pages of materials.
"Most cars are only equipped to handle ethanol at 10 percent. They'll experience performance issues, run hotter and see a drop in gasoline efficiency at E-15," said Majorie Crofts, acting director of DNREC's Division of Air and Waste Management.
Griswold is convinced that ethanol is to blame for the problems his boat had on the water. To counteract the effects of E-10, Griswold has spent thousands of dollars to modify his boat and use gasoline additives, he said.
"All of the sudden, an engine that had been flawless had two breakdowns while out on the water," he said.
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Bill Griswold remembers fishing in Rehoboth Bay with his family when his boat's motor sputtered and quickly died.
Stranded on the water, the Griswolds were towed back to the marina. A mechanic showed them what was wrong with the boat's four-stroke engine.
"The fuel line and filter system were completely clogged with a gum that looked like mayonnaise," Griswold said.
Griswold is like many boaters who say that gasoline containing 10 percent ethanol has damaged their boat's engines and spurred them to spend thousands in replacement costs. The boating industry and many states aren't happy about an ethanol industry request now before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to start allowing gasoline to contain up to 15 percent ethanol by volume.
Ethanol is a corn-based alcohol that has won federal support because it lowers carbon emissions and reduces the nation's dependency on petroleum. However, critics say ethanol burns at a higher temperature and is disruptive to a multitude of small engines, including aircraft, chainsaws, weed whackers and snow blowers.
Robert Gaudette, director of boating services for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said he remembers the roll-out of E-10 gasoline causing havoc among boaters. By now, he said, many of the state's 200,000 registered boaters have adjusted to the new fuel.
"Boat manufacturers can handle E-10. They're not exactly sure what (a higher blend) will do," Gaudette said.
E-10 requirement
The federal government requires marinas in many parts of Maryland and throughout Delaware, including Sussex County, to sell E-10 gasoline. The EPA has identified the places as "nonattainment" areas, which means they have poor air quality and only ethanol blends emitting fewer greenhouse gases can be sold there.
Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield is proud to sell fuel without ethanol -- even if it means boaters must pay 20 cents more per gallon to get it, said Lloyd Tyler, the facility's executive director.
Somers Cove had sold the E-10 gasoline, but in August went back to an ethanol-free blend, he said. He said it is becoming more difficult to find ethanol-free gasoline, as fewer refineries are now producing it.
"We had so many complaints from our boaters, particular the outboards, the smaller ones," he said. "They said it caused excessive condensation in the fuel tanks, and on the fiberglass or plastic tanks, it causes them to peel, and that mess gets into the fuel lines."
The Wicomico Yacht Club also switched back to selling gasoline without ethanol in it, said Scott McCurdy, a member of the Allen-based club.
"Most people are willing to pay 10 or 15 cents more on a gallon because that cost pales in comparison to repairing or getting a carburetor replaced," McCurdy said.
McCurdy, the owner of North Bay Marine in Fenwick Island, said while adding certain additives to the fuel can help, ethanol can cause water to build up in the gasoline and can damage a boat's fuel line. Furthermore, boaters who wait extended periods of time between using their boat tend to experience more problems, he said.
"In the last two summers, we have done more carburetor work than in the past 10," McCurdy said.
Joe Morris, who owns the marine store at Lewes Harbor Marina, said ethanol will degrade parts of older engines that aren't resistant to alcohol. For example, it will destroy rubber fuel lines and plastic gaskets.
Morris said ethanol acts as a detergent, scrubbing off soot that ends up clogging up filters and carburetors. Unless boaters put special additives into their fuel, they run the risk of the ethanol causing "phase separation." It occurs when gasoline, water and alcohol separate into layers within the tank, and the result is that the engine stalls.
"The engine literally starves for gasoline," Morris said.
Rise in ethanol by volume
Last March, Growth Energy, a national pro-ethanol group, and 54 ethanol manufacturers petitioned the EPA to allow gasoline to contain up to 15 percent ethanol by volume.
The deadline for the EPA to decide whether to boost the ethanol amount is Dec. 1. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told Reuters last week that it may work past the deadline because it is still reviewing test results on the higher blend's effects on engines.
Meanwhile, a bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, would try to ensure the new blend is sufficiently tested before entering the marketplace. Senate Bill 1666 would require EPA's Science Advisory Board to study the compatibility of the new fuel blend with current engines before any new standards are adopted. At this point, the bill has been referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Cardin released a statement in which he said that while he supports developing biofuels to help the U.S. decrease its dependency on foreign oil, the new products cannot harm boats, chainsaws, lawnmowers and other products.
"We need to let good science guide us in making sure that we are getting the clean air benefits and engine performance that boaters, lawn care companies and others who rely on smaller engines deserve," Cardin said.
Delaware's DNREC was among those who submitted materials to the EPA in which they opposed the E-15 request. DNREC submitted 17 pages of materials.
"Most cars are only equipped to handle ethanol at 10 percent. They'll experience performance issues, run hotter and see a drop in gasoline efficiency at E-15," said Majorie Crofts, acting director of DNREC's Division of Air and Waste Management.
Griswold is convinced that ethanol is to blame for the problems his boat had on the water. To counteract the effects of E-10, Griswold has spent thousands of dollars to modify his boat and use gasoline additives, he said.
"All of the sudden, an engine that had been flawless had two breakdowns while out on the water," he said.
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