E15 – Boaters Watch Out

Two men on a boat carrying a paddleboard on the rear.

E15 – Boaters Watch Out

A good portion of boaters around the country trailer their boats. When trailering to rivers, lakes, bays, or to the ocean it is easy to pull into a gas station and fill up your boat at the same time as you fill up your towing vehicle. We just pour in the Ethanol Treatment as recommended as we top off the boat, then go about our way to the ramp. Finding Non-Ethanol gas is like finding lobsters during lobster season. Unless you are familiar with their hiding spots, they’re few and far between. Over the past several years, dealing with the current E10 ethanol issues has been costly; whether buying extra additives or paying the mechanic’s bill to clean out the injectors of your engine.

Well once again Washington is stepping in to cause us to spend more money, but this time it may ruin a boater’s favorite past time. The EPA is introducing E15 Ethanol to your convenient gas station. According to all the reports we have found, including from the National Marine Manufacturing Association (NMMA), E15 will destroy an outboard motor or any other motor not outfitted to handle this decrease in regular fuel. In a 2014 Boating Industry article written by Jonathan Sweet, he cites, “In 2011, the EPA issued the waiver allowing the use of E15 in all 2001 and newer vehicles. It is prohibited in marine engines, but industry advocates worry there is potential for miss-fueling if boaters fill up at a gas station (as many do) rather than at a marina. Testing by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and others has shown that E15 can cause severe damage to marine engines.”

The NMMA sent a letter to EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt, urging immediate and effective education for the American public given the damaging impact of E15 on marine engines. You can read more at this link.

http://boatingindustry.com/news/2017/09/05/nmma-urges-epa-to-educate-consumers-about-e15-waiver/

When filling up your boat, please be aware of the type of fuel you are using. Let’s get the word out to our friends and neighbors about E15, because a minor mistake will definitely ruin your day of boating.

Warning: Gas Stations Now Offer E15 – Don’t Use this Level of Ethanol in Your Boat!