When it comes to boat engine life, steer clear of ethanol

Maryland has over 180,000registered boaters, that’s according to boatus.com. Meaning the waters this weekend will likely be well occupied.

“All holidays are busy, Labor Day particularly because it’s the last holiday weekend of the season, of the boating season.” Said Paul Ellison, of Ellison Marine in Salisbury.

Ellison says he spends a significant amount of the season repairing rotted engines and fuel lines. Issues that he says are a result of boat owners using the wrong fuel.

When used by itself in boat motors, the alcohol-based fuel, ethanol, can be costly, slowly corroding key components of any engine while clogging it’s arteries.

“If you restrict the fuel flow to a two-cycle engine it can burn the engine up due to lack of lubrication.”, Said Ellison, “It could cost thousands of dollars sometimes in repairs.”

In 2005, the government’s Renewable Fuel Standard mandated that a portion of the nations corn crop be fused as ethanol in an effort to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and negative effects on the environment.

While it was intended to have a positive effect, it’s not doing boat owners any favors.

“The preferred fuel would be a non-ethanol fuel.”

But that choice comes with a price. Ethanol-free gas usually costs boaters more than it’s corn-based adversary.

It can also be hard to find. It’s not a problem in states like Maryland which has 37 gas stations selling it, or Virginia which has 312.

But in Delaware, there is only one station in Newark.

Ellison says it’s still the better choice to keep your boat out on the water. He also advises adding a filter to your engine as well as liquid treatments and additives can help prevent or offset the damages done by ethanol.

To find an ethanol-free gas station near you, click here.