[Rhodes22-list] The Curse of Ethanol

Mary Lou Troy mtroy at atlanticbb.net
Mon Sep 9 12:41:30 EDT 2013


Been there done that.

Our Yamaha 8HT (2009?) had issues we attributed to ethanol - this 
after using fuel additives, running the engine dry, new fuel every 
couple of weeks. We finally took it to Jim's Marine, a Yamaha dealer 
in Galena MD (Upper Eastern Shore). He did a complete service and we 
had a long chat about ethanol fuel. We ultimately decided to give up 
and run with non-ethanol fuel - he'll sell it to us at somewhere 
around $10/gal as he has to buy it in 55 gallon drums. He did suggest 
that because we have two 3 gal. tanks, for long runs, we could use 
ethanol fuel for regular running purposes and then shift to the 
non-ethanol fuel for the last 20 minutes or so into the marina. He 
also suggested that we should NOT run the engine dry but instead just 
shut it off, leaving the nonethanol fuel to coat all the parts. We 
anticipated using the boat lightly this year so we have stayed with 
just the nonethanol fuel. We really haven't given this plan a good 
test as we have used the boat more lightly than we had hoped but Fred 
has gone over and started the engine and let it run for a bit all 
summer with no problems.

There is a website that lists stations that sell ethanol free 
gas.  http://pure-gas.org/  They list by state and also have a map. 
If you click on details you can see when their info was last updated. 
The closest one to us is in Easton but we get down there sometimes. 
If you are on the Southern Bay you might find a place closer. 
Meanwhile if we are only using 3 gallons a summer, we'll just buy it at Jim's.

Best of luck,

Mary Lou
1991 R22 Fretless
Rock Hall, MD

At 12:08 PM 9/9/2013, you wrote:
>Hello everyone!
>
>
>
>My wife and I are new members and this is our first message.
>
>
>
>We own a 1984 recycled Rhodes 22 and are in our third season sailing 
>the top of Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, our Yamaha 4 stroke 9.9 HP 
>has experienced fouling issues apparently as a result of ethanol. 
>The carb has been cleaned and serviced twice this season and I have 
>installed a 10 micron in-line fuel filter as well as Yamalube fuel 
>additive to new fuel. We took out the boat last Friday and the 
>engine ran fine outbound for 20 minutes. On the return it kept 
>cutting out every 30 - 45 seconds. Boat U.S. ultimately had to tow 
>us in (they did a great job).
>
>
>
>Has anyone experienced similar issues? The only thing left is have 
>someone professionally clean out the tank but that's all I can think of.
>
>
>
>The Rhodes is a fine sailboat but oh those engines and that lousy ethanol!
>
>
>
>Thanks.
>
>
>
>Frank and Linda George
>
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