According to a press release from the Boat Owners of the United States organization, which has more than 500,000 members and is a leading advocate for recreational boating, the Environmental Protection Agency is asking for comments on a proposal to increase the amount of ethanol that must be blended into the nation’s gasoline supply for 2015 and 2016. If adopted, the proposed levels will require the use of a record amount of ethanol, forcing higher-level fuel blends including E15, which is prohibited from use in marine engines, into more gas stations. Currently, E15 (15 percent ethanol) can be found in 24 states at the same pumps as E10 (10 percent ethanol).

According to BoatUS, more E15 at the pump increases the risk of powerboat owners fueling filling their boats’ tanks with the 15-percent-ethanol fuel, which is harmful to marine engines. Photo courtesy/copyright Jay Nichols/Naples Image.

Millions of recreational boaters fill their boat’s fuel tanks at roadside gas stations where the higher-blend ethanol fuels are often the lease expensive fuel at the pump. The only warning a potential buyer may have is one warning label among many on a given pump. According to the release, that creates “huge potential for misfueling that puts boaters at risk of using fuel that will damage their engines.”

BoatUS is urging all recreational boaters to send a message to the EPA on this proposal by clicking here. The deadline for comment is July 27.

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