GL: Ethanol in fuel.

[D C *Mac* Macdonald]

There is no gasoline with ethanol at marinas
on my lake in NE Oklahoma.

In fact, I can't remember the last time I saw
pumps in shore gas stations that notified you
that the gasoline being dispensed contained
ethanols.  It's been several years here in OK,
for sure.

It's probably most common in states of the
midwest where grain is commonly grown.
One supposed problem with ethanol is that
it uses more energy derived from petroleum
fuels to produce than it will actually deliver.

The only way that it is "competitive" pricewise
with gasoline is massive government subsidies
which are extorted from  US  through taxes.

Pure ethanol or methanol is commonly used
in automobile racing, even though it contains
less energy.  If memory serves me correctly,
the alcohol fuel is used mostly (or only) from
a safety standpoint in that it is unlikely to
explode and alcohol fires can be extinguished
with water!

*  D C "Mac" Macdonald  *
* m/v Another Adventure *
*  '95 Carver 355 ACMY  *
* Grand Lake - Oklahoma *
*  AGLCA (#217) & USPS  *



----Original Message Follows----
From: "Dave Cooper" <swansong at gmn-usa.com>
To: "'Great Loop'" <great-loop at lists.samurai.com>
Subject: Re: GL: Ethanol in fuel.
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:03:35 -0400

<Glenn wrote: The answer to "Who has created this nightmare ? " is simple,
we have.... Most boats fuel systems should have already been converted.>

Actually the widespread use of Ethanol fuels has just really happened. To my
knowledge there is none in the Caribbean which includes Puerto Rico and the
USVI. I forget the number of regions but there are something like 20
different gasoline formulations that are require to blended for each of
them. A distribution nightmare. The fuel you purchase in Maine isn't the
same blend as that in Ohio, etc. I would bet that in doing the great loop
you'd have close to 10 different blends over the course of it. What each one
contains is a mystery to the guy at the pumps and thereby to you.
Many boats are still ill prepared for these blends. Those that have gasoline
engines with built in fiberglass tanks are really most at risk. The cost to
resolve the tank issue alone may well be more than the boat is worth.

We saw another listee that suggested go to the auto parts store and buying
fuel hose to replace older non compatible hose. I would suggest that you
don't do this as most surveyors and thereby insurance companies would look
unfavorably at this. All fuel hose on a boat need to be either USCG approved
type 1 or 2 as appropriate to the use of fuel line or filler hose. These are
not only "alcohol/methanol/bio safe" but are fire/heat resistance as well. I
forget their burn thru resistance off hand but it is a lot longer than one
might expect of a piece of hose. Much more than the alcohol resistance
automobile hose from the auto parts store.

With all the issues with ethanol, volatility/its affinity to hold water/
reduced energy per gallon/solvent aspects/etc, it appears that this really
isn't a good boat fuel.

Perhaps Ethanol was a good first start in the 70's as Glenn suggests but 35
years later there may be better alternatives. Looking at Butanol, for
example which BP is a believer in, shows that there may be options which
better suit as gasoline additives than Ethanol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biobutanol

I always worry when the legislative process mandates or encourages an old
technology vs. making a more open and less restrictive incentive to come up
with better alternatives. Mandating 10% Ethanol in gasoline sort of shuts
the door to other, possibly better, alternatives, IMHO.

As always YMMV and will with Ethanol ;-)

Dave & Nancy
Swan Song
Roughwater 58
Caribbean Cruise '07
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