News & Views for Southern Sailors - Southwinds Magazine

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Sailing up and down the chain of islands so much and sooften, he got to looking for shorter and easier ways to navigatebetween each link in the chain, and he kept refiningdetailed navigation plans for every leg. He hassystematically taken the thorns out of the route theyused to call the “Thorny Path.” For example, heexploits the calming effects on wind and seawhich result from land cooling on each side of aninter-island passage. Applying his many methods,both sail and power can make safe, comfortableand pleasant progress even againstnormally impenetrable trade winds and seas.The book is an illustrated manual ofinstruction for specific passages and harbors down islandsas well as a cruising guide for the Greater Antilles islands ofHispaniola and Puerto Rico. Available atwww.ThornlessPath.com and other nautical outlets.St. Augustine Yacht BrokeragesMergeHalf Hitch Marine Yacht Sales, Dave Huff Yacht and SlipSales, and St. Augustine Yacht Sales merged their brokerageoperations effective March 1. Joining forces will provideenhanced services including two locations, more listingsand expertise, access to more dockage and storage,and an expanded staff. The combined companies willadopt the St. Augustine Yacht Sales name and its lighthouselogo. The three companies felt the name and logobest exemplify St. Augustine’s rich nautical heritage, plusDoug Crane, founder of St. Augustine Yacht Sales, comesfrom a family that has a long and rich history in the area’smarine community.With the merger, the combined companies’ assets andabilities will be able to assist clients with purchase or sale ofvessels from small craft up to the largest yachts. They willalso be able to purchase vessels of particular interest. DaveHuff Slip Sales will continue to operate from the ConchHouse Marina location, and Half Hitch Marine Services willcontinue to provide maintenance and repair services. Onlythe yacht brokerage segment of the businesses will merge.St. Augustine Yacht Sales will maintain headquartersat the St. Augustine Marine Center and will maintaina sales office at the current Dave Huff Yacht and SlipSales office at the Conch House Marina.For more information on the new company, go towww.yachtworld.com/sayachts.Sparman USA and SparcraftUSA Join ForcesSparcraft USA recently announced Sparman USA assales consultant in North America. Julian Crisp,owner of Sparman USA, has 26 years of experienceand knowledge of the sailing industry from both sidesof the Atlantic. He has worked in the UK, France and forover 12 years in the United States.The appointment of Sparman USA as sales consultantto Sparcraft and Facnor is part of an initiative from Sparcraftto increase sales and presence in the United States market.Sparcraft is one of the leading mast and rigging companieswhich have one of the best genoa furling systems in Facnorto complement their range of marine products.For more on Sparcraft, go to www.sparcraft.com. Go towww.sparmanusa.com.REVIEW YOUR BOATSOUTHWINDS is looking for sailors who like to writeto review their sailboat — whether it is new or old,large or small. It can include the following:■ Year, model, make, designer, boat name■ Specifications: LOA, LWL, beam, draft, sail plan(square footage), displacement■ Sailing performance■ Comfort above and below deck■ Cruiser and/or Racer■ Is it a good liveaboard?■ Modifications you have made or would like■ General boat impression■ Quality of constructionPhotos Essential (contact us for photo specs)We have found that our readers love reviews by thosewho own the boats — comments are more personal and realAll articles must be sent via email or on discFor more information and if interested,contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com or call (941) 795-8704(If you hate your boat, we aren’t interested — you must at least like it)20 May 2012 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com
Ethanol and Old OutboardBoat EnginesFrom BoatUS(Note from the editor: We are publishing this article since manysailors own outboards for their small sailboats and/or dinghies,including this editor. See my note at the end.)Ever since E10 gasoline (gas containing 10 percent ethanol)became widely available several years ago, the nation’slargest recreational boat owners’ group, BoatUS, hasreceived hundreds of calls and emails complaining aboutboat engine problems. The majority of complaints concernolder outboard motors, those made before about 1990.BoatUS’ Seaworthy magazine asked Mercury Marine’s EdAlyanak and Frank Kelley, who between them have over 60years of experience, to find out what’s made these decadesoldoutboards more susceptible to ethanol’s well-knownproblems and what owners can do.1. Vulnerable hoses: In the mid 1980s, new standards (SAEJ1527) for fuel hoses were developed for “gasohol,” whichwas known to deteriorate rubber and plastics. Since then,problems with hoses have largely gone away, but that doesn’tmean they are maintenance-free. Tech tip: Any hose olderthan 10 years should be replaced. Here’s another way to testrubber fuel hose condition: Wipe a clean rag along the hose.If you smell gas on the rag, replace the hose immediately.2. Carburetors: O-rings and rubber carburetor parts on olderengines tend to get hard and brittle when exposed to ethanoland then break off in bits and pieces causing clogs, misfiresand shutdowns. Pre-1990 carburetors were also made fromalloys that didn’t stand up to ethanol, leading to corrosionthat can cause tiny fuel orifices to clog, resulting in hard startsand poor running. Old carbs are also “dumb” in that theywere designed to run on only one type of fuel. Ethanol, however,has more oxygen and affects the air/fuel ratio, causingengines to run leaner and hotter. Tech tip: The best solutionwith old outboards is to run straight gas—if you can find it.Some mechanics may also have the ability to “recalibrate” acarburetor to tolerate E10 (note: gas with ethanol greater than10 percent should never be used with any boat engine).3. Plastic fuel filter bowl: Some older engines may haveTHE 10-YEARBOTTOM PAINTFinally available in the U.S.for the first time.Better for the environmentCopper powder in epoxy resinNon-leaching and EPA approvedUp to 10 years anti-fouling protectionProven in 18 years of use around the worldProven in all climates and water conditionsLearn more at www.CoppercoatUSA.comor call (321) 514-9197plastic fuel filter bowls. Tech tip: If you still have one,replace immediately with a metal bowl.4. Fuel fill gasket: Keeping water out of the fuel tank is evenmore important with ethanol as it can eventually lead to theformation of two separate solutions in the gas tank (waterand fuel), also known as phase separation. The process ismore common on older boats, which are more likely to haveaccumulated water at the bottom of the tank. Once phaseseparation happens—the tipping point when water in thegas is either harmlessly ingested or transformed into a corrosivemixture no engine will run on—there’s no goingback. No fuel additive can restore E10 back to its normalstate. Tech tip: Age and exposure to ethanol can rot fill gasketsor O-rings. Replace them every few years.5. “Gunk” in the tank: It is still possible that some old outboardsand boat fuel systems have yet to sip a drop of E10.But once your boat drinks its first tankful, ethanol will“scour” or dissolve the gunk that’s been coating the tankwalls (and hoses) for years. Tech tip: You may want to thinkabout hiring a professional to have the tank drained completelyof any gas and water at the bottom before addingyour first load of E10. If not, keep a supply of filters onhand—they will clog quickly. Always use a fuel stabilizerand avoid using octane boosters that contain ethanol.For more information on ethanol and boat engines, goto http://www.BoatUS.com/seaworthy/ethanol.asp.My Experience With EthanolBy Steve Morrell, EditorBack in 1989—before ethanol—I let my 4000-watt Colemangenerator sit for two years. Then I tried to start it. It startedand purred in one pull of the cord. Today, if I let any of my severalsmall engines (90 hp two-cycle OB and several 4-cyleengines: 2 hp OB, lawn mower, weedeater and 5000-wattemergency generator) rest for more than about four weekswithout running, they will have problems starting, and I willhave to struggle getting them to run—and probably end uphaving to soak and clean the carburetors to get them going.These are all newer engines made since 2000. The 90 hptwo-cycle is the one that has cost the most time and money,because it is bigger and more complex and I am not knowledgeableenough to work on it. But I believe it is the smallengines, with their small carburetor ports and jets that magnifythe problem, regardless of when they were manufactured.Plus, an auto mechanic, who is also an experiencedand qualified outboard mechanic, told me the real problemis that these are all vented fuel tank systems, which causemore water problems, as opposed to a car, which is a nonvented,enclosed system. Plus cars are generally run frequently,not allowing the ethanol fuel to generate problems.I’ve always used fuel stabilizers with these currentengines I own, and I have also tried additives that claimthey solve the ethanol problems, but my experience saysthey don’t do it. I will continue to use stabilizers for otherreasons, regardless.After struggling with these engines for years, I one dayjust decided to never again use ethanol fuel in any of these.My problems disappeared, and they all run well now aftersitting. I have to go to a marina (always by car, since by smallpowerboat it’s 4-5 miles per gallon and even more money) toget no-ethanol fuel where I fill up several 5-gallon containers.It costs about $1/gallon more, but it’s well worth it in savings—inmaintenance costs, time and aggravation.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS May 2012 21
Page 3: TURNER MARINE YACHT SALESMobile, AL
Page 6 and 7: SOUTHWINDSNEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN
Page 8 and 9: SOUTHWINDSNews & Views For Southern
Page 10 and 11: FROM THE HELMSTEVE MORRELL, EDITORP
Page 12 and 13: LETTERSlocal officials could be rem
Page 14 and 15: Bubba Clears Up Youth Sailing Conun
Page 16 and 17: EVENTS & NEWS OF INTEREST TO SOUTHE
Page 18: May 14-18. Offshore Sailing School,
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Page 33 and 34: SMALL BOAT REVIEWThe HamptonBy Jabb
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Page 39 and 40: BOATOWNER’S BOAT REVIEWSeaPearl 2
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