Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Putting a Boat Away for the Winter?

What You Need to Know About E-10 Gas

Nearly full tank or nearly empty tank? That is the big question facing boaters now in the midst of preparing their boats for the long winter hibernation. The concern is ethanol - an octane enhancing gasoline additive that has some unfortunate, harmful side effects on marine engines. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has some tips learned from fuel industry insiders on how to store a boat with E-10 gasoline (containing 10% ethanol) over the winter.
  • The octane issue: Some boaters choose to leave their boat's gas tank mostly empty over the winter, and then refill in the spring in the hopes of "refreshing" the fuel to regain any octane loss. However, a nearly empty gas tank introduces a bigger problem: the strong possibility of phase separation with the E-10 gas. Incidentally, over long winter storage periods, E-10 gasoline loses octane at about the same rate as non-ethanol gasoline.
  • The path to phase separation: Ethanol (an alcohol) can attract and absorb water - about 10 times more than regular gasoline - and still burn harmlessly through the engine. However, there comes a tipping point when the ethanol can no longer absorb the water, and the alcohol will separate out or "phase separate" from the gasoline. When this happens, the solution of water soaked ethanol will settle to the bottom of the tank, which is where the engine's fuel system pick-up is located. Can you see where we are headed with this?
  • More water, less absorption: The problem with leaving a tank mostly empty is that it increases the tank's "lung capacity" to breath in moist air (water) through the tank's vent. If the tank is mostly empty over the winter, there will also be less E-10 gas in the tank to absorb the moisture. This combination of more water and less capacity for absorption greatly increases the chances of phase separation. Adding fresh gasoline in the spring would not remedy the problem - the phase-separated ethanol remains separated at the bottom of the tank.
  • The Water Separator issue: E-10 can hold up to 1/2 percent of water by volume and up to that concentration the water molecules will dissolve in the gasoline forming a soluble mixture that will pass through a water separator and burn harmlessly in your engine. The only time water will collect in a tank and not be absorbed is if phase separation has occurred, and by then it will be too late. A water separator is not a solution to the phase separation problem.
  • The Fuel Additive issue: Fuel additives are good for many reasons and should be used when laying up a boat for winter, but no additive will stand up to a good-sized slug of water. And once too much water has entered the tank and the gas has begun to phase separate, no additive will return the fuel to its original state. The only solution to phase-separated gas is to have a professional drain the tank and start anew.
The best advice for storing E-10 in your boat's gas tank over winter:
Keep the tank nearly full. This greatly reduces the volume of moist air that can enter the tank via the fuel tank vent when temperatures fluctuate in the fall and spring. With any fuel, an antioxidant (found in many additives) will help keep it fresh during lay-up. Finally, never plug up a fuel tank vent - it creates pressure that could cause dangerous leaks in the fuel system.

For more information go to www.boatus.com/seaworthy/ethanol.asp. A free, downloadable winterizing checklist is available at http://www.BoatUS.com/seaworthy/winter.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

USCG Marine Safety Alert




PROBLEM WITH MUSTANG INFLATABLE PFDS

Washington, DC

The Coast Guard has become aware of certain Mustang Survival Inflatable PFDs with Hammar MA1 hydrostatic (HIT) inflation systems which may not inflate and require a new re-arm kit to properly inflate by manual or automatic activation. This safety alert identifies which products are affected. Certain inflatable PDFs may be subject to delayed or non-inflations. To determine if you are impacted please follow the instructions below.

USCG Approval                Mustang Product
N/A                                   MA7214 HIT inflatable re-arm kit
N/A                                   MA7218 HIT inflatable re-arm kit for LIFT
160.076/8611/0                 MD0450 Inflatable Vest PFD with LIFT
160.076/5204/0                 MD0451 Inflatable Vest PFD with LIFT (no harness)
160.076/5201/0                 MD3183 Deluxe Inflatable PFD with HIT
160.076/8608/0                 MD3184 Deluxe Inflatable PFD with HIT (with harness)
160.076/5300/0                 MD3188 Inflatable Work Vest/PFD with HIT
160.053/116/0                   MD3188 Inflatable Work Vest/PFD with HIT  

If you have a re-arm kit MA7214 or MA7218 you need only to check
the lot number on the CO2 cylinder label. If your CO2 cylinder is
marked with lot numbers 404121 or 404122 please contact Mustang
Survival’s customer service group at the number below.
 
If you have a PFD listed above refer to the sewn-in approval label to
determine if it was “Made in Canada” and the “MFG DATE” is April
or May 2012. If so, you will need to check the lot numbers of the
CO2 cylinder. The CO2 cylinder lot number is visible through the
yellow bladder fabric. Manually unpack your PFD by opening the
zippers and unfolding your PFD. Find the CO2 cylinder that is
attached to the round inflator within the yellow bladder. Press the
yellow bladder fabric against the cylinder to read the label to view
the lot number through the fabric. If your CO2 cylinder is marked
with lot numbers 404121 or 404122, please contact Mustang
Survival’s customer service group for instructions and to arrange for
a replacement inflator assembly.
 
All other CO2 cylinder lot numbers are satisfactory. Repack your PFD so it is ready for use per the instruction manual. Mustang Survival Customer Service Group: 1-800-526-0532

This Safety Alert is provided for informational purposes and does not relieve any foreign or domestic requirement. Developed by the Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division, United States Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC. For additional information contact Mr. Martin Jackson at Martin.L.Jackson@uscg.mil
 
Additional information is available at www.mustangsurvival.com/HIT

Please note the following photographs.
View of lot number through fabric

Lot number on cylinder label.