So, it seems that not much has changed in the two years since I was last covering boating, at least with regards to ethanol.  After the enormous mess that was created a few years back when the Feds first allowed 10% ethanol in gasoline, I figured someone would have learned from the experience and not repeat the same mistakes twice.  You remember, gunk building up on certain marine engines, fiberglass fuel tanks being eaten away from the inside, huge repair and replacement bills for some boaters all because no one bothered to properly test the stuff in the rush to “go green.”  Well, apparently, the EPA is again considering upping the amount of ethanol in gasoline from 10 to 15%, and once again, that concentration hasn’t been tested on marine engines, or many other types of gasoline engines, either.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for finding renewable energy sources, and the quicker we can cut our dependence on foreign oil, the better, but shouldn’t we at least understand what the affects are going to be before we do it?  Given that the inclusion of 10% ethanol did absolutely nothing to the price of fuel the first time around, evidenced by the $4.30 per gallon we were paying at the pump this time last year, and some folks who actually track their mileage–myself included–saw a noticeable and not insignificant decline in fuel efficiency after the inclusion, I have to wonder at the rush.

By all reports, gasoline supplies are at high levels that make even OPEC uncomfortable, and demand is lower than its been in recent memory.  There is no burning need to force this issue before we fully understand how the new mixture will affect gasoline engines of all sorts.  The EPA still has a comments period open until July 20.  It’s probably a really good idea for all of us to let them know we have concerns.  After all, can any of us afford a big repair bill because of a rushed decision spurred by  lobbyists representing ethanol producers?

You can send comments directly to the EPA from the NMMA website here. Or read more about the proposal and how it may affect boaters here.