Browsing: ethanol

Boat Reviews
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Put the Right Gas in Your Tank: BoatUS

Here’s a timely warning from BoatUS about the need to make sure you’re putting the right gas in your boat at the pump: SPRINGFIELD, Va., May 22, 2023 – Today’s gas station pumps no longer provide clear and transparent information to help consumers make the right fuel choice. Dispensing pumps have become a marketer’s dream, chock full of attention-grabbing video screens blasting amplified sound that visually plaster a captive audience with a mishmash of eye-catching advertisements from two-for-one coffee to $1 hot dogs. With all that distraction and summer boating season kicking off this Memorial Day weekend, Boat Owners Association…

Cruising Life
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Beware of Ethanol This Summer: BoatUS

SPRINGFIELD, Va., April 18, 2022 – There’s been a lot of pain at the pump lately with gas prices. The Biden administration’s April 12 move to give a waiver from the Clean Air Act to allow the sale of gasoline containing 15% ethanol (E15) during the summer months is intended to lower costs and stretch the nation’s fuel supply. However, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) says the unintended consequence of the waiver could inadvertently put a harmful fuel prohibited for use in recreational vessels into your boat’s gas tank. BoatUS notes recreational vessels are never compatible with…

Cruising Life
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BoatUS Warns of Misleading Labels at Gas Pumps

SPRINGFIELD, Va., June 1, 2021 – Efforts by the ethanol industry to create a new federal rule that would weaken or eliminate important warning labels designed to prevent boaters and consumers from misfueling with prohibited higher-ethanol fuels at roadside gas pumps has Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) concerned. The national recreational boating advocacy, services and safety group recently co-signed a letter to EPA Administrator Elizabeth Dermott addressing the proposed “E15 Fuel Dispenser Labeling and Compatibility With Underground Storage Tanks” legislation (EPA-HW-OAR-202-0448) and urging the federal regulator to side with consumers on its Misfueling Mitigation Program (MMP) to…

Cruising Life
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New Problem with E15: Finding the Warning Labels at the Pump

It’s not news that E15 is a problem for marine gas engines. In fact, it voids many marine engine warranties, the federal government prohibits its use in recreational boat engines, and the Environmental Protection Agency prohibits it for sale in many states during the summer months because it contributes to smog. But now it turns out that finding an E15 warning label on a gas pump can be an even bigger problem. (Question: Can you see the E15 warning label on this pump near Cedar Lake, Indiana, in the photo above? It took us a while, too. For the answer,…

Cruising Life
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Boating Industry Upset About Trump’s New Plans for High-Octane Ethanol

The fight over high-ethanol fuel is heading up, with the boating industry warning that President Trump’s plans to let E15 be sold year-round could damage the engines of millions of boat owners. “President Trump’s pledge to allow the year-round sale of E15 will needlessly put consumers in danger,” Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, said last week. The immediate problem started the previous day when President Trump told Iowa farmers that his Administration is “getting very close” to approving a waiver to allow E15, a fuel blend including 15 percent ethanol, to be sold year round. Currently,…

Cruising Life
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EPA Approves Bio-Isobutanol Fuel Additive; Wins Praise from NMMA

The Environmental Protection Agency just approved boater-friendly bio-isobutanol as a safe fuel additive, winning praise from the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Thom Dammrich, president of the NMMA, said bio-isobutanol “will provide consumers a safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly E15 alternative that is highly compatible with marine products. This decision will promote an innovative fuel supply with direct benefits to American boaters and consumers.” Unlike E15, or ethanol-laced gasoline which can damage engines in boats and cars, biobutanol delivers renewable energy without any side effects. It works with existing boat and car engines and the fuel supply infrastructure. The EPA acted on…

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EPA Adds More Ethanol to the Gas Supply, Despite Opposition

This isn’t good news if you have a gas engine, particularly an older outboard. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency just added more ethanol to be blended into the gas supply, despite opposition from boating and other recreational groups. The EPA’s new standard represents a 0.05 percent increase in ethanol. The EPA held hearings this past summer, asking the public how much ethanol it wanted to be added to the gas supply. At that time, owners of recreational boats, RVs and others spoke up against increasing the amount of ethanol covered by the Renewable Fuel Standard. “Ethanol has been demonstrated to…