Pleasure boating (Port Charlotte, Naples: sale, school, restaurant)

[rock creek]

I would rather pump my own fuel anyway.

[HarborRat]

My boats aren't big enough to worry about getting gas at a marina. I have a bunch of 5 gallon tanks and I fill up at the local circle K with regular gas (yes, ethanol). Marina's gas sits around forever, it is no where near as fresh as the road stations.

I don't think ethanol is the culprit many make it out to be. When it first came out it did cause a lot of problems. That was because the alcohol "cleaned" the crap out of your old tank and sent it right to your filters and carb jets, clogging them. Why was the tank dirty in the first place? Not because of ethanol. It just did the cleaning, and "caused" the problems. Since those first few years everything under the sun has been blamed on ethanol. On a new boat...no problem. On a small boat with a small red "clean" tank and newer ethanol rated hoses....no problem at all. On an old boat that has already been through the "ethanol troubles" (ie your tank has already been cleaned by it, filters already been changed a few times)....no problem.

If you are running a boat that has a removable tank: clean it or change it...then spend $25 or so on a new hose/primer bulb that is ethanol rated. Guess what, that is the whole system...you are now ready for ethanol. I think all motors since 1991 were made to run on the stuff....stop worrying....stop blaming ethanol for every little problem boat motors have had since the beginning of time.

/End rant

[Harbor Hopper]

Originally Posted by MikeM8560

Just Gueese. I e bought alot at stump
Pass marine they alway handed me the pump
Gasparilla marins they don't pump
Either and hand you the hose. Ever went to fish ills. Even the marina up north in Nh used to hand me the hose and thats what they told me I've never given a tip when I pulled it. Mi even had to hold my pump
Out hose at Gasparilla too

Well we've obviously had different experiences. When I had my 32' in MI, on Lake Michigan, the marinas ALWAYS did the fuel pumping and crapper pumping. But then again, it was much larger boats & yachts up there than down here (and you certainly aren't going to expect the owner of a yacht to pump his/her own fuel & crapper). My lawyer buddy up there actually tips like $100 when he puts $500 in fuel in his boat! I told him he is crazy!!!

[Harbor Hopper]

The ethanol battle/debate has been ongoing for many years, and it will be for many more. For many people, it's the added water the (regular pump gas with ethanol) attracted from sitting over a few months in their tanks. That's why the explosion of "water absorbing fuel additives" on the market now. I'll still use regular pump gas and do the 30 gal gas caddy trips back & forth if I'm going to use the fuel right away (spring, summer, fall), but if it's going to sit for any period of time (i.e. winter), no way.

[rock creek]

That's the other problem with Ethanol you can't let it sit, the ethanol evaporates and leaves a gooey mess at the bottom of the tank. If you run it often enough it's ok like in a car or truck but a boat likely sits for a while between outings and then therein lies the problem. There is stuff out there like, STABIL, now made for ethanol but I don't know how good it works.

[rock creek]

Am I the only one who needs 2 boats, one for crusing, and one for fishing and enjoying the skinny water

[HarborRat]

Originally Posted by rock creek

Am I the only one who needs 2 boats, one for crusing, and one for fishing and enjoying the skinny water

You are not alone. I'm in the middle of a boat lift project that will hold my "real" boat, and a few months ago I put in a wooden ramp that holds my little boat.

[fiege1224]

I think 2 boats is the way to go.I have a 27ft diesel for crusing and a whaler for the shallow areas. I use the diesel the most. My diesel runs a long time on a gallon for a boat. The diesel is also less at the marinas. I do run 3 water filters and 1 air to keep the water out. If you think fuel here is bad go to the Bahamas.

[rock creek]

That's a good idea I'd like to go to the Bahamas. Did you set sail from the Gulf or from the Atlantic?

[MikeM8560]

I've for a 21' center console for around fishing.
I'd like a nice deck boat or a SIMM runabout 24' ish for lunch and beach runs. I did the 32 cruiser thing When I wasn't living on the water and realy didnt cruise just used it as a cabin. To stay on for the weekend but around here I was about the only local at the marina who wasn't a cruiser from up north.