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Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board
Re: The 70's and now
Posted By: Walter Kaprielian In Response To: The 70's and now (Harv)
Date: Wednesday, 8 March 2006, at 9:14 p.m.
Harv-I don't remember ethanol being around in the 70's, but if it was, it was for a short period of time. N.Y, has had it as an additive for environmental reasons for the winter months for quite a few years. But just for the winter. It's been with us here in N.Y, on a 12 month basis for going on our 3rd winter now. Previous to that, we had our boats filled and in winter storage before the ethanol gas arrived, and back in the water again after it stopped being delivered. The problem reared it's ugly head with everyone after a second full winter of storage in our tanks...cooking so to speak. I have a B-20 Bahia Mar I bought from a Lake Erie guy 3 seasons ago. It ran like a bandit the first season. Second season it's lessened performance was blamed on the age of the carburetor. Carburetor was replaced, performance improved considerably, but didn't hit full rpm's...blamed on the new prop I bought. Lived with it. Third season, Harder starting, strange valve sounds. Oops, carb all black underneath. Rebuilt the carb, flushed the valve seats, disconnected the tank, connected a plastic outboard motor tank and the motor runs and sounds fine again. I can't live with that kind of insecurity with a single engined boat I bought so I can fish alone. I love the boat and am (like everyone else) kicking around my options. Unfortunately, the only one I'm really going to feel secure about is the most expensive one. Either that or sell it. Most of us blamed our gasser problems on the age of our engines...or tuning...or the usual boaters complaints. Most Bertram guys I know are maintenance freaks. They never even considered this left field government endorsed entry. With a full teak deck, thank God I had converted my 31 to diesel before all this started happening. I suspect this Spring we'll see and hear a lot more boats having this problem. I'm hearing complaints from auto mechanics and outboard owners now. Where the hell are the engine manufacturers and boat companies on this...to say nothing about the Coast Guard? Pay your Sea Tow insurance in 2006.Ugh! Walter
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