[Psml] Fiberglass gas tank problems

Mon Apr 14 11:24:13 EDT 2008

Hi Dick,

Carver may not be in a position to provide informed advice regarding the 
engine parts. Try contacting the engine manufacturer or marinizer. They 
might be more knowledgeable and interested.

Replacing your 22 year-old fuel lines might be a good safety item, and 
should not be unreasonably costly.

Being in fresh water you will not have the problem I had with a foamed-in 
aluminum tank. Salt water leaked around the foam and corroded out the bottom 
of the tank. Had to lift the sealed-in deck panel and dig out and replace 
the tank.

Phil Arcuni
Key West

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick Remski" <rremski at woh.rr.com>
To: <plarcuni at sprynet.com>
Cc: "'United States Power Squadrons Mailing List'" <psml at usps.org>
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: [Psml] Fiberglass gas tank problems

> What about other ethanol issues? I have aluminum tanks in a 1986 Carver
> Mariner and it is labeled "Do not use fuels containing ethanol" at the gas
> fill port. I believe there is concern over deterioration of the rubber 
> fuel
> lines, fuel pump diaphragms, and other "rubber" components in the fuel
> system. I have asked Carver for advice but have not received a reply yet.
> Anyone have experience with this issue?
>
> Some states have the policy that they do not have to inform the fuel
> purchaser whether ethanol is present or not!
>
> D/Lt/C Dick Remski, AP
> D/24 Dayton Sail and Power Squadron
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: psml-bounces at usps.org [mailto:psml-bounces at usps.org] On Behalf Of
> Markus Ritter
> Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 9:56 AM
> To: rremski at woh.rr.com
> Cc: 'United States Power Squadrons Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [Psml] Fiberglass gas tank problems
>
> Boat US is on top of this issue as well.
> http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/fueltest.asp
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: psml-bounces at usps.org [mailto:psml-bounces at usps.org] On Behalf Of 
> The
> Old Hokie
> Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 2:12 AM
> To: markusritter at hotmail.com
> Cc: United States Power Squadrons Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Psml] Fiberglass gas tank problems
>
> What a misdirected lawsuit!   It should be aimed at the Federal 
> Government,
> the ones who required the various refiners to re-formulate the gasoline to
> meet the EPA standards.   Trying to blame the oil companies is trying to
> blame the victims, not the guilty party.
>
> Dave Garthoff - Akron Squadron
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gene Duley" <gduley at mindspring.com>
> To: <garthoff at uakron.edu>
> Cc: "United States Power Squadrons Mailing List" <psml at usps.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 1:48 AM
> Subject: [Psml] Fiberglass gas tank problems
>
>
> Power Squadron Members;
>
>            If Consumer Affairs reports it-it is serious business.
> Regarding Public Relations-this bit of safety news should really get some
> name recognition for USPS-provided the Power Squadrons are willing to 
> spread
> it.  In addition to all of the Squadron Newsletters and Educational 
> classes,
> this information should (in my opinion) be placed on the VSC site in order
> for the Inspectors to spread the word.  The examiners could also call 
> those
> owners that they have already checked, to inform them of this real 
> problem.
>
> Personally, I had heard (several years ago) that the new gas adversely
> affected the "rubber" fuel lines.  Any gas in the bilge is an explosive
> situation!
>
> PC Gene Duley/Redondo Beach/D13
>
> ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
>
>>From Consumer Affairs.com
>
>      Ethanol-Blended Fuel Blamed for Boaters' Problems
>      Blended fuel damages marine tanks, engines, the class action charges.
>
> A class action lawsuit charges that major oil companies are
> manufacturing and selling ethanol blended gasoline that damages marine 
> fuel
> tanks, engines and other components.
>      "The price of gas is bad enough, but selling gasoline that dissolves
> gas tanks is a new low even for the oil companies," said Brian Kabateck, 
> the
> lead attorney on the case. "The oil companies know this fuel is corrosive,
> but they're keeping consumers in the dark to pump up their profits. The 
> cost
> to the consumer is thousands of dollars in repairs."
>
>      Companies named in the suit include ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell,
> Valero, and ConocoPhillips, as well as PetroDiamond, Tower Energy and Big
> West.
>
>      Oil companies have long mixed additives into their gasoline as a way
> to boost octane. Methyl tert-butyl ether, commonly known as MTBE, was 
> widely
> used as an octane booster until 2004, when it was banned in many states
> because of environmental concerns. In response, ExxonMobil, Chevron and
> other oil companies selected ethanol as a replacement.
>
>      Consumers were never informed about the differences between MTBE and
> ethanol-mixed gasoline, nor were they informed about the disastrous 
> effects
> ethanol has on fiberglass marine fuel tanks.
>
>      Fiberglass is widely used in the construction of boat fuel tanks.
> Fiberglass is a combination of individual glass "threads" bound together 
> by
> a resin. Ethanol dissolves this resin, destroying the tank. Moreover, the
> dissolved resin enters the fuel system, causing damage to the engine and
> other components.
>
>      Ethanol blended gasoline is particularly harmful in the marine
> environment because of "phase separation," Kabateck said. Ethanol attracts
> water. When enough water is absorbed by the ethanol blended gasoline, the
> ethanol and water solution separates from the gasoline (phase separation),
> with the gasoline floating to the top.
>
>      This results in a layer of water with a high-concentration of ethanol
> at the bottom of the fuel tank.
>
>      "The environment pays the price for Exxon and Chevron's deception 
> each
> time a damaged fuel tank leaks gasoline into the water," Kabateck added.
>
>      The suit was filed in U.S. District Court, Central District of
> California in Los Angeles.
>
>      The suit seeks to represent a class comprising all owners of boats
> with fiberglass fuel tanks who filled their tanks with ethanol blended
> gasoline from a California retailer. The suit also seeks to represent all
> persons in California who own boats with a fiberglass fuel tank that had 
> to
> be replaced because of damage caused by ethanol blended gasoline bought 
> from
> a California retailer.
>
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