T&T: RE: Biodiesel

[Scott Bulger]

I STRONGLY suggest you research Biodiesel and get the FACTS from as many
sources as you can.  From my research I can tell you the following:

 

a.        Many organizations are spending millions of dollars in lobbying
efforts in Washington D.C. to promote it's use, these organizations have no
interest in you operating and maintaining your boat, they are out to
influence land and agricultural prices, NOT provide an energy solution to
the nations problems.

b.      There are countless stories of motors being RUINED by biodiesel, you
will NOT find these stories published by the main stream press for many
reasons.

c.       Find mechanics who maintain motors that have run Biodiesel, they
are THE most knowledgeable people available, ask them, they KNOW.

 

I'll tell you what I know.  Three years ago I met a U.S. Army NonCom that
ran the motor pool at a very large government installation in the Pacific
Northwest.  I asked him about Biodiesel and he told me the following:  "The
Federal government requires us to use Biodiesel as 20% of our consumption.
We pick 20% of the vehicles in the motor pool and make them our `Biodiesel'
inventory and watch them self destruct.  These vehicles are junk in 24
months.  The motors are destroyed and the vehicles written off and replaced.
Seals and gaskets fail, injectors are destroyed, many parts of the motor are
impacted that you wouldn't expect.  Meanwhile the natural diesel vehicles
run for years and years".  

 

The problems are so numerous you shouldn't have any problem reaching a
conclusion on your own behalf.  Just don't be drawn in by the big business
and government hype that Biodiesel is a viable solution to the energy
problem, it's NOT.   

 

There may be places where Biodiesel can provide an alternative, but the
boating and marine environment is not one of them.   

 

This is my humble opinion,

 

Scott Bulger, N40II, Seattle WA