Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board

Re: Why doesn't Boat U.S. do this?

Posted By: Doug LeBlanc
Date: Monday, 10 April 2006, at 12:34 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Why doesn't Boat U.S. do this? (Walter Kaprielian)

Walter,

I asked Boat Useless that very question. Here is their response:

Hi Doug,

Ethanol (and MTBE) have been used to boost octane since lead was outlawed.
Airplanes are still using leaded gasoline. It may be possible for boats to get an exemption as well BUT the price of gasoline would then climb to somewhere between $4 to $5 per gallon. Whatever is decided, we will need to be careful of the strategies we use to achieve a net gain for boaters.

I'm not aware of any problems with ethanol in the Midwest, where it has been used for over a decade. In the Long Island Sound area, which had been using MTBE and only recently switched to ethanol, there was a period of a year or so when many boaters had problems with clogged filters. That was because ethanol is a solvent that cleans the gunk off tanks. Over time, the tanks gets cleaned and the filters no longer become plugged up. The problem with fiberglass tanks is a much larger one but affects far fewer boats.

My guess--and it's only a guess--is that there won't be an exemption for boats because people won't be willing to pay the difference. I suppose it's also possible that a few marinas could still get permission to sell leaded gasoline. There is a another meeting tomorrow on ethanol and I may be able to tell you more.

Regards,
Bob Adriance

I got that from him last week and have not heard another peep.

FYI:

Boat Useless Insurance has alerady stated that they will not cover any losses due to tank failure caused by Ethanol as they consdir it to be corrosion. Unreal!

Regards,
Doug L.

Messages In This Thread

Kindred spirits in the ethanol debate *LINK*
Peter -- Saturday, 8 April 2006, at 11:57 a.m.

Re: try again on the link... *LINK*
Peter -- Saturday, 8 April 2006, at 12:01 p.m.

Re: Why doesn't Boat U.S. do this?
Walter Kaprielian -- Saturday, 8 April 2006, at 2:26 p.m.

Re: Why doesn't Boat U.S. do this?
Charlie Haws -- Sunday, 9 April 2006, at 11:57 a.m.

Re: Why doesn't Boat U.S. do this?
Tony Meola -- Sunday, 9 April 2006, at 10:22 p.m.

Re: Why doesn't Boat U.S. do this?
randall -- Monday, 10 April 2006, at 9:34 a.m.

Re: Why doesn't Boat U.S. do this?
Charlie Haws -- Monday, 10 April 2006, at 3:26 p.m.

Re: Why doesn't Boat U.S. do this?
Doug LeBlanc -- Monday, 10 April 2006, at 12:34 p.m.

Re: Why doesn't Boat U.S. do this?
Walter Kaprielian -- Monday, 10 April 2006, at 3:14 p.m.

Re: Why doesn't Boat U.S. do this?
Mack -- Monday, 10 April 2006, at 11:21 p.m.