Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board

Re: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions

Posted By: Walter Kaprielian
Date: Thursday, 23 March 2006, at 6:40 p.m.

In Response To: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions (Ron Cahoon)

I have a 1969 B-20 Bahia Mar with a 165 hp Mercruiser. I bought it about 3 seasons ago from a guy who used it on lake Erie. I fiiled it up (50 gallon tank-Took about 30) in upstate NY where I picked it up. First season, seemed to run OK. Second season, needed to have the carb rebuilt. Assumed it was age. Put in electronic ignition. Started easier. Started to hear about ethanol problems but thought I was ok. Put in a better fuel filtering system. Last season, thought I was OK but noticed I was not getting up to top rpms. I sort of blamed it on the age of the engine. We had a solid week of heavy rain and because my marina doesn't have electricity where small boats are docked, I went down every day and ran the engine to charge the batteries up from their constant use by the bilge pump. On the fifth day of rain, she wouldn't start up. My attemts finally drained both batteries. I ran a wire and charger from the other side of the marina and charged them up. When I got it started it was not only rough, but the engine was making strange, unfriendly sounds that I thought needed more than my mechanical skills. My mechanic found the new carburetor all black on the inside and my valves gummed up and sticking. Fortunately, I hadn't bent any push rods and he cleaned them up. He also ran the engine from an outboard motor tank and it ran fine. As of this moment I'm wrestling with whether to sell it or go for a D-3 with a duoprop composite drive. Big bucks though. The alternatives just seem to leave me insecure as this is the boat I go out alone with during the week. My B-31 has Diesel, but two of my friends with gassers- one a Bahia Mar and one with a hardtop express have spent the better part of last season repairing their engines. The Bahia Mar did it twice! Walter

Messages In This Thread

Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions
Ron Cahoon -- Thursday, 23 March 2006, at 3:18 p.m.

Re: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions
Rich H -- Thursday, 23 March 2006, at 4:56 p.m.

Re: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions
randall -- Thursday, 23 March 2006, at 5:57 p.m.

Re: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions
John F. -- Thursday, 23 March 2006, at 6:12 p.m.

Re: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions
Rich H -- Monday, 27 March 2006, at 10:41 a.m.

Re: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions
Ron Cahoon -- Monday, 27 March 2006, at 1:26 p.m.

Re: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions
Ron Cahoon -- Friday, 24 March 2006, at 4:21 p.m.

Re: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions
Walter Kaprielian -- Thursday, 23 March 2006, at 6:40 p.m.

Re: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions
Carl -- Friday, 24 March 2006, at 7:12 a.m.

Re: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions
Peter -- Friday, 24 March 2006, at 10:59 a.m.

Re: Ethanol/Fuel Tank questions
Bill G -- Saturday, 25 March 2006, at 10:11 a.m.