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Most of the island is zoned aConservation-Native Area and is predominantlywetlands. Part of the island was usedas a dump, and there will be some clean-upcosts the city will have to come up with topay for that. The city is planning to turn theisland into an “eco-preserve.”Without the bridge, sailors and other tallcraft will not have to wait to enter or exit theanchorage and mooring field. Because of mechanicalfailures when the bridge would not open,some boats have been unable to enter the protectedanchorage during bad weather. Other boaters havebeen trapped and not able to leave when the bridgewas stuck in the down position. Without the bridge,these problems will be eliminated.Dockage Rates to Rise atPlantation Key Yacht Harborin the KeysThe Islamorada Village Council voted to raise dockagerates at Plantation Key Yacht Harbor at Founders Park.Currently marina bulkhead slips pay $25 per foot permonth and other slips pay $14 per foot. The Councildirected the village manager to raise the rates so that theaverage charge will be $25 per foot. The manager said themarina was losing money on a daily basis because theywere charging old rates.Ethanol-Laced GasolineDissolves Fiberglass Fuel TankA boater in California recently filed a lawsuit against10 major gasoline producers because gasoline withan ethanol additive has been dissolving fiberglassfuel tanks. Boaters have found that their tanks weredissolving and leaking fuel into their boats’hulls—causing severe damage, besides anextreme fire danger—because of the ethanol thathas been added to fuel. In 2004, Californiarequired all gasoline sold in the state to carry 5.7percent ethanol to replace another additive that wascontaminating ground water. The lawsuit was filed by aboat owner, who had $35,000 in damage to his boat from aleaking tank and had no idea that the fuel would be dangerousto fiberglass tanks. The lawsuit stated that the gasolineproducers sold fuel without warning the public about thedangers of the gasoline to fiberglass tanks.22 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com