Boat US says recreational boat owner need to take special precautions with storage of E-10 (ethanol) gas. Ethanol fuel can cause problems over the winter.
Prepare for ethanol: Unless you use ethanol-free fuels, your boats’ gas contains a mixture of up to 10 percent ethanol. This fuel could “phase separate” over long winter storage periods and harm boat engines and fuel systems. If you have a portable gas tank on your boat, try to use as much gas as possible before you put the boat away at the end of the season. Any remaining that’s left in the portable tank (unmixed) may be put in your vehicle.
If your boat has a built-in gas tank that cannot be emptied, add a fule stabilizer and fill the tank, leaving just a little room for expansion. This will greatly reduce the amount of moisture-laden air that can enter through the tank’s vent during seasonal temperature changes and could condense inside tank walls, potentially leading to phase separation.
For boaters in the north, protecting yourself with ice and freeze coverage may be a smart option. It’s usually not expensive. BoatUS Marine Insurance offers it for as little as $25.
(Article notes from: BoatUS www.boatus.com)
