5:54 AM Wed 30 Sep 2009 GMT
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'Sugar cane produced ethanol in E-10'
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How can a product receive so much publicity, yet leave so many people totally unaware of its potential risks?
That has been the story with ethanol, the fuel additive marketed at the bowsers as E10.
As we pointed out in Part 1 of 'Ethanol and boats can never be mates', boat owners, particularly those with boats that may be a few seasons old or perhaps are fitted with standard fibreglass fuel tanks, are destined for major problems.
Bill Barry-Cotter, CEO of luxury cruiser builder Maritimo and owner of the Maritimo Offshore Race Team, recalled how some E10 was delivered 'by mistake' into the fuel tank of one of his race boats.
'It completely ruined a carbon fibre fuel tank, cost me a substantial amount of money,' he said.
In preparing this, I was assisted enormously by Gary Fooks, a man who has been involved on a consultancy basis to the boating industry on this matter for some time. He knows what he's talking about, too.
Sadly, as Fooks points out, many boat manufacturers have not taken the necessary steps to install suitable fuel tanks and fuel lines to combat the effects of E10.
'Even one tank of E10 could result in an expensive trip to the workshop,' he declares. Fooks added that he did want to be seen as 'non-green.' 'However, if you wish to do the right thing and support a renewable bio fuel, you have my support, just keep it for the car and not the boat,' he explained.
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Modern fuel tanks withstand ethanol corrosion, but they can't solve the phase separation. -
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Recently, as part of his consultancy work for the industry, Fooks contacted and spoke with the four major oil companies serving the Australian market. All recommended boat owners to avoid using E10.
So exactly where is the problem and what can be done to combat it?
It's worth repeating, E10 itself does not actually damage engines; damage to engines results from the solvent effect of ethanol as it virtually dissolves fuel tanks and fuel lines and fragments are passing through filters and being deposited in engines.
Basically, to use E10 without fuel tank problems fibreglass tanks must be replaced. Forget aluminium - they too run the risk of corrosion from the solvent-like E10. Stainless steel can withstand the effects of E10, but would undoubtedly lead to a rather hefty price increase in boats at the retain level.
As was pointed out in Part I, The Haines Marine Group proved to be a leading light and all that company's boats now sport roto-moulded polypropylene tanks.
On the subject of certain 'additives' claimed by their manufacturers to make E10 suitable and 'harmless', Fooks said none to his knowledge had been comprehensively tested and evaluated. 'Besides, they add considerably to the cost of a tank of fuel,' he said.
'If you're prepared to pay more for your fuel, then simply use one of the higher octane fuels such as BP Ultimate or Shell Optimax which don't contain ethanol and beat the problem that way,' he added.
What Fooks would like to see is a review of fuel tank standards for boat builders. He said fuel tank standards were introduced in the United States to meet the ethanol challenge some years ago, but he sees no sign that a similar standard is under consideration for Australia.
'I firmly believe we need to educate and warn the boating public of the potential pitfalls of E10,' he declared.
'In my view, as much as 95 percent of Australia's 600,000 boat owners know nothing of the problems and risks involved when using the E10 ethanol-added fuel.'
As you can see, boat owners, boat builders and the marine industry at large are facing a serious problem.
In the United States, there is even a class action being instigated against oil companies claiming boat owners were 'not informed' that ethanol would damage fuel tanks and other components.
As you can see, the subject of E10 is both complicated and deadly serious.
Stick around next week for more on this 'touchy' subject.
Ken Evans, director of outboard sales and service for Mercury Marine and a man with a lifetime of hands-on marine industry experience, has been travelling the length and breadth of Australia brining Mercury dealers up to date with the E10 situation. He has agreed to share his extensive knowledge exclusively for Powerboat-World readers.
Don't miss next week when Ken Evans reveals some vital information in his informative piece - 'Boat Engines - Dangers and precautions necessary with E10 blended gasoline.'
I can assure you it's worth the read.
by Bob Wonders
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:
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Double Is Pt, QLD
