Boating experts: Biofuels blends are A-OK with us, despite the naysaying

May 15, 2016 |

In Washington, Keith Holmes, President and Owner of CK Motorsports in Nunica, Michigan and a Certified Mercury Marine Racing Technician told US lawmakers that ““We work on a wide variety of racing engines for watercraft, and they run at their absolute best on a high-octane ethanol blend. Ethanol burns cleaner and cooler. Since the introduction of E10, we find that many engine parts have a 25 to 50 percent longer lifespan. The National Boat Racing Association exclusively uses E10 for all their races.”

The briefing, hosted by Fuels America brought experts to DC to dispel what they described as myths about renewable fuels.

“One hundred percent of the winners on our tournament trail use an ethanol blend in their tanks,” said Brian Sowers, Co-Host of Crappie Masters TV, covering the Crappie Masters All American Tournament Trail based in Clinton, Missouri. “I want to take my grandkids fishing someday. That means having clean water and clean air. Mixing ethanol into our fuel is the best way to reduce the pollutants that fossil fuels leave behind, so our lakes and rivers stay clean and marine life can flourish.”

“It doesn’t matter whether a boat has a two-stroke or four-stroke engine, an in-board or out-board motor, or a built-in or portable fuel tank,” said Marc Rauch, Executive Vice President and Co-Publisher at the Auto Channel, based in Louisville, Kentucky. “Decades of experience with modern engines shows that E10 is the best fuel for marine applications. As an oxygen booster, ethanol replaces toxins like MTBE, which are notorious for contaminating water supplies. And it reduces CO2 emissions by 34 to 100 percent or more compared to gasoline.”

“We serve communities on the Minnesota River and Prior Lake, and our customers expect to have choices at the pump,” said Joel Hennen, President and Owner, Hennen’s Auto Service in Shakopee, Minnesota. “Companies like Kawasaki, Mercury Marine, OMC, Pleasurecraft, Tigershark, Tracker, Honda, and Yamaha all approve the use of E10 in their engines. The labels are clear, and whether customers have a flex fuel vehicle or a race boat, we make it easy to pick the most affordable option with the lowest emissions.”

More on the story.

Category: Fuels

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