'IT'S JUST A NIGHTMARE'

Ethanol-laced gas has been wreaking havoc among boaters, who are finding it harder to find a marina that sells ethanol-free fuel.

For some time, boaters could find "real gas" at marina pumps. But John J. Killius, owner of Henchen Marina and Fishing Camp, Henderson Harbor, said marinas in the region are being forced to switch to E10, which contains up to 10 percent ethanol in gasoline, because they are simply unable to find a distributor that sells ethanol-free gas.

He said that Aug. 27 "was the last day we carried real gas" and that three of the first six boats that used ethanol-laced fuel at his marina had their engines die.

Nearly all the gasoline sold in the United States contains ethanol — a move intended to lessen the country's dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"It's just a nightmare. Seven to eight out of 10 of our customers have had fuel-related problems this year," said Gary D. Cornell, a mechanic and co-owner of Cornell's Marina Inc., Henderson Harbor. "There are around 12 to 15 carburetors sitting here at the shop right now because of alcohol problems."

Barbara J. Caster, executive secretary of the Boating Industries Association of Upstate New York, Cicero, said ethanol can dissolve some fiberglass fuel tanks, soft metals and plastic as well as rubber hoses, seals and gaskets.

"Using E10 voids your warranty, and you just can't get ethanol-free gas anymore. People are just getting fed up with this," she said.

To make matters worse, she said, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering increasing the amount of ethanol permitted in gasoline.

Last spring, Growth Energy, a biofuels trade association representing the nation's ethanol producers, requested that the EPA permit the use of E15.

"Everybody's telling us that this is inevitable, but we will continue to fight it," Ms. Caster said.

Last month, 39 organizations — including marine, environmental, motor vehicle, energy and recreational industry groups — requested that the House Committee on Energy & Commerce and Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works hold hearings on the pending EPA action that could raise the blending limit.

"EPA has indicated that it should make a decision on granting a waiver for E15 by the end of September, and we believe that many important questions remain before EPA can make this decision," said an Aug. 25 letter to the committees.

Also, Mr. Cornell warns that anytime fuel with ethanol sits unused for about three weeks, it starts a phase separation in which the water-laden ethanol separates from the rest of the gas and clogs up the engine by sinking to the bottom of the fuel tank.

"Cars normally don't have this problem because most people go through a tank of gas in about a week to 10 days. But most boats, people take them out once a month," Mr. Killius said.

However, simple prevention measures could save boat owners hundreds of dollars in repairs next year.

"People need to start adding stabilizers or their engines are going to stop working next spring when they try to run it again," Mr. Killius said.

Ms. Caster said there are several fuel additives, such as Star Tron, Sta-Bil and K100-MG, which can help prevent phase separation problems.

More important, Mr. Cornell said, is the fact that boat owners should try to keep as little gas left in their tanks as possible.

"Burn as much gas as you can before you store your boats for the winter," he said.