[Rhodes22-list] The Curse of Ethanol

[Art Czerwonky]

Marlin,

What have you learned about the octane effect on the engine.  Avgas is typically 100 octane, occasionally available at 80/87.  I haven't seen this solution used, but it sounds plausible if it does not damage the engine.  As an oddity, the Exxon station at Lavonia, Ga (lake Hartwell) has non-ethanol now.  I doubt you could find non in the Annapolis/DC area, and only a few south along the Potomac.

Art

marlangreen at gmail.com wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I bought my Rhodes last October. Fortunately, it had a very recently
>purchased (2011) and little used Mercury 4 stroke. Over the winter I spoke
>to several outboard mechanics about the ethanol issue and did some
>research. I considered the fuel additive for ethanol, but in the end went a
>different direction.
>
>My current approach is to purchase aviation gas from a local regional
>airport. It' runs $5 - $7 a gallon and sometimes even a bit higher, but it
>has no ethanol in it. I feel like it is worth the money to prevent any
>ethanol problems. Some marinas here on the Chesapeake are stocking a
>similar gasoline that doesn't have ethanol. It has a specific name, but I
>don't remember what it is called. Anyway, I just thought I would pass that
>along.
>
>Marlan
>s/v Nautisaurus
>Mayo, MD & Washington, DC
>www.nautisaurus.com
>
>
>
>On Mon, Sep 9, 2013 at 12:27 PM, Rick <sloopblueheron at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi Georges,
>>
>> Ethanol dissolves rubber and plastic.  If the fuel tank and hose to your
>> motor are 1984 vintage, change them to newer resistant items.
>>
>> Rick
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Sep 9, 2013 at 12:08 PM, Carman George <
>> carmangeorge1326 at hotmail.com
>> > 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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