Marine Fuel

[n1111z]

So I'm boating more now and noticing the fuel at marina is running $3.50 and it's $1.70 everywhere else (Florida). Is there any difference in the fuel? Anybody got any ideas besides lugging 10 cans down to the dock in my backyard?

 

[Dave burke]

I’ve been told that fuel with no ethanol is best for boats. Not sure it’s really true. But even if that’s what you’re getting, no way is it should be that much more.

There’s always a premium at marinas but the difference you’re seeing seems extreme

 

[Scarab 215]

You can do a search and find a wealth of information regarding fuel on this forum.

Some info here

If I understand correctly, a newer boat is designed to run on ethanol gas. Many boaters take precautions when the fuel will be siting for an extended period of time.

Happy Fueling....

 

[Dave burke]

Interesting article. Thanks. A bit scary though.

I almost always use premium gas in my boats and store it for 6 months with fuel stabilizer. Never had a problem. Even had an old Chaparral which I didn’t put in the water for two seasons. Put it in the water last year and she started right up!

 

[Breer]

You can do a search and find a wealth of information regarding fuel on this forum.

Some info here

If I understand correctly, a newer boat is designed to run on ethanol gas. Many boaters take precautions when the fuel will be siting for an extended period of time.

Happy Fueling....

Good read! appreciate you posting that. I knew it was bad for seals and all but pretty interesting to learn why.

 

[Street glide]

I always used non ethanol gas at the pumps it's ussaly abt 80 cent more a gallon the regular gas . Most marinas use non ethanol and are always higher than the gas stations .

 

[Weeb]

Marinas can have higher octane as well as being ethanol free. They still gouge us though.

 

[captras]

Part of the high price is because they can. You pay for the convenience of not having to drag gas cans around. They do have additional expense to make sure the fuel can't leak into the water, special tanks and delivery pumps, and additional insurance costs. As mentioned, most marine gas is ethanol free... so you are getting a higher quality gasoline, supposedly. Here in Tx it is at least $1.00 more per gallon.

 

[Nexus]

Some info here

Intersting read with good info. The punctuations are not that great, however!

 

[tdonoughue]

Here in Tx it is at least $1.00 more per gallon.

Speak for your own side of town! Here at Lake Conroe, we have several places that give the same price at the pumps at the waterfront and up on the surface! Shell and Valero on 105, for example...

I'm sure it has ethanol, but equally sure I store my boat out of the water and go through many tanks a season, each treated with stabilizer, so I have had no issues.

I like it a lot.

 

[captras]

That's convenient for you. Not that many places on Livingston, but the ones I have seen are ethanol free and about $1.00 more.

 

[nesnah2]

I gas up at a gas station, and just add an ethanol treatment to combat the moisture absorption issues that come with ethanol (only a concern if it sits for an extended period). Gas at our marinas here in SWMI is over $3.50/gal currently, and I keep my boat at home.

 

[Julian]

My boat gets a taste of both (gas station regular with ethanol, and marina non-ethanol) and I can't tell the difference. These boats are made to run on either (with the exception of the super charged boats that want higher octane).

My marina price is still high because they are still selling gas they bought before the prices plummeted. They said they are due for new cheap gas soon (so they'll lower their prices)....but they always are $1 higher than the local gas stations.

 

[anmut]

If the manual states the motor can run on 10% 87 octane, as mine does, then that's what I feed it. Also gas up before we get to the lake or river.

 

[Griswold]

Generally speaking, unleaded fuel sans Ethanol has been recommended for all marine applications agnostic of injection type. As some have stated above, numerous publications have suggested that late model, DI (direct inject) engines are better adapted to handle increased levels of Ethanol ie. E15 (15% ethanol or greater) since the fuel is fed directly into the combustion chamber bypassing the valves/intake. Simply put, the combustion of Ethanol results in a higher ratio of water production and since water has the ability to corrode faster than traditional fuels, there are those who are concerned that it’s use may yield to faster break down of the engine and its components. Bear in mind that most fuels contain at least some level of Ethanol (E10/10% or less) as is government mandated so unless you’re using race gas, you’re more than likely already running at least some level of Ethanol through your motor and this limited quantity does not represent a threat and you could probably get away w running higher levels ie. </= E85, BUT you’re not actually winning at the pump and here’s why. The efficiency of Ethanol is approx 20-25 percent less than that of gasoline and as such the 25% savings at the pump is lost during combustion so sort of a darned if you do, darned if you don’t situation.