BoatU.S. - December 2010

damage inboard gasoline engines and out-
board motors. That’s why we’ve pushed
for testing marine engines all along, but
this piecemeal decision-making leaves the
boating consumer with more questions
than answers.”
Podlich said that BoatU.S. mounted
a grassroots appeal seeking to delay the
decision until comprehensive testing on all
engine categories is completed. BoatU.S.
members inundated the White House with
more than 11,000 messages in the first 24
hours. In all, prior to the October deci-
sion, a wide array of consumer groups sent
more than 22,000 messages to President
Obama.

“BoatU.S. appreciates the need to diversify our country’s fuel and our energy sources,” Podlich said. “But thousands of boaters, having suffered through the transition to 10-percent ethanol, agree that we should learn from history, and understand what a new fuel mixture will do before putting it in the tank. This decision now means that owners of small engines, including boat motors, could inadvertently fill up with E15. But the partial decision and the segmented approach to ruling on E15 seems to indicate that EPA intends to allow for marine-engine testing to be completed and fully analyzed before making a decision regarding the safety of E15 for boat engines,” she added. Meanwhile, BoatU.S. advises that owners of trailerable boats who fill up in gas stations should avoid E15 fuel when it becomes available. EPA also proposes a pump-labeling requirement advising consumers that E15 is illegal for use in vehicles older than 2007 or any other engine. (Presumably the labeling could change once EPA reaches a decision on 2001-2006 vehicles.) McCarthy promised that the agency would “work with the industry” to educate consumers about the new fuel. For information visit www.BoatUS.com/gov. —R.L.

he U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) announced on
In announcing the decision, McCarthy
told reporters the agency had “concerns
about small engines” burning E15 relative
to air emis-
sions and
“durability.”
She didn’t
elaborate,
but accord-
ing to the
BoatU.S. Vice
President of
Government
Affairs,
Margaret
Podlich,
while there
is no man-
date in this
decision to
increase ethanol in the marketplace, when
fuel distributors and retailers do begin to
sell E15, it could lead to consumer confu-
sion, possible misfueling incidents, and
potential damage to boat engines and fuel
systems.

Ethanol, a gasoline additive originally intended to improve air quality, is now found in three-quarters of the nation’s gasoline stream at the 10-percent concentration level. Ethanol-blended gasoline is considered a “renewable fuel” under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which mandates increasing renewable fuel production from four billion gallons in 2006, to 22 billion in 2016, and 36 billion gallons by 2022.

“But using fuel that is over 10-per- cent ethanol will void the warranties on every marine engine sold today,” Podlich explained. “E15 represents a 50-percent increase in ethanol content, so it could

T
Women, Start Your Engines!

The Southern California Yachting Association will hold its 22nd Annual Women’s Sailing Convention February 5, at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, Corona del Mar, California. With BoatU.S. as primary sponsor, workshops will be presented by top women sailors; many are Coast Guard-licensed captains. Topics include diesel engines, weather, nighttime sailing and navigation, introduction to racing and tactics, spinnaker rigging, docking, safety and overboard procedures, going aloft, and more. The $170 fee includes all meals and handouts. Preregister after December 20 at www.SCYA.org, or contact Gail Hine at Hine@SCYA.org or 951-677-8121.

Also, the National Women’s Sailing Association and the Mack Boring Technical Institute will offer a two-day, hands-on workshop on performing basic diesel-engine service and emergency repairs, on January 8-9. Fee for the course, to be held at the Mack Boring facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, is $450 and includes lunch and training materials. Register by November 30 at www.WomenSailing.org or contact Val Cook at wsf@WomenSailing.org or 501-682-2064. — Claire Wyngaard