Boating Better With Quality Fue ue By Don Onken (NAPSA)—Ihave spent manyyears ‘ of mylife racing boats professionally and enjoying boats recreationally. My love for being out on the water has been passed down through myfamily, andit is truly a wayoflife forall of us. As the owner ofthe American Ethanol Mystic Powerboats 51-foot Catamaran, I am always pushing to get every last ounce ofperformance outof the boat. There is Being wise abouthow youfuel your boat, says boating expert Don Onkwork that goes into building,preparing, en, shown here with Tony Battiato maintaining and driving a record-set- and John Cosker, can help you save ting boat that frequently surpasses 200 energy, money andtheenvironment. a significant amountofhighly technical mph out on the water in competition. Ironically, one often overlooked com- ponent of boat maintenance and performanceis actually oneof the simplest elements—thefuel. Understanding Ethanol We run our competition boat on a fuel blend that has a high concentration of ethanol, which is a renewable biofuel made from plants that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Ethanol has higheroctane than standard gasoline so it helps us gain horsepower and speed in the boat. It also burns cleaner and cooler, whichis a smarter choice for our engines. And, since ethanol displaces toxic chemicals in gasoline that have beenlinked to groundwater contamination, cancer and smog,it’s a choice we feel good aboutin protecting the waterwaysthat are such an importantpart of ourlives. Gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanolis commonly known as E10 or “regular unleaded” at the gas pump. However, E15 is currently not approved foruse in marine engines, which is why fuel pumpsareclearly labeled with the ethanolcontentofthefuel. Saving Money Ethanolcertainly has a place within the boating world. It's an inexpensive source of octane that also promotes cleaner, more environmentally friendly boating, something anybody should be able to get behind.Ethanol-free gasoline is frequently sold near marinasatsignificantly highercosts than E10, and boaters should be aware that E10 is a choice that could save them money at the pump and be perfectly suited for their boat. Every major marine manufacturer—Kawasaki, Mercury Marine, OMC,Pleasurecrafi, Tigershark, Tracker, Honda, Yamaha and others— approves 10 percent ethanol blendsin their marine engines. Getting the Most From Your Boat Boatingis a way oflife for many fam- Ninety-seven percent of the nation’s ilies other than my own. Whetheryou're racing competitively or just taking the anol, soit’s likely that mostboatersare at least familiar with the fuel. What some boaters may not know is that E10 is proper care and maintenance for your boatis alwaysofthe utmostimportance. Andpart of that equation is knowing (made with 15 percent ethanol)is being increasingly offered by leading retailers tion at the gas pump, and knowing the facts about which ethanolblends will less than E10. E15 is a great choice for Forother tips, see www.onkens.net gasoline supply contains 10percent eth- family outfor a day of fun on the water, safe and approvedforusein all marine whichfuel meets your price and perforengines, and has been warrantedfor use mance needs.Following the guidelines for nearly two decades. Meanwhile, E15 of your owner's manual, paying attenacross the U.S. because it allows them to offer higher-octane fuel at competitive prices—up to 10 cents per gallon anyone with a car model year 2001 and newerbecauseit is higher octane than E10 atless cost, whichisa clear benefit. work for you are all keys to keeping your boat running smoothly andreliably. Learn More and wwwamericanethanolracing.com. + Mr. Onken is the owner of Onken, Incorporated.
