In the spring, East Coast marinas selling Gulf fuels will offer boaters ethanol-free gasoline under the trade name Gulf MARINE. Instead of 10% ethanol, its clean air additive (“oxygenate”) will be isobutanol, at an EPA-approved concentration of 12.5%.
UPDATED December 28, 2015
Boaters who have followed BOATING’s coverage of isobutanol will recall that this advanced biofuel comes from the same feedstocks (plant material) as ethanol, but that it has greater energy density (30% higher BTU value) and, most important for our boat engines, it does not absorb moisture or undergo phase separation. It also does not corrode or otherwise damage fuel tanks, fuel lines, and engine components.
Tests run on waterways and in laboratories over the past five years with the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the American Boat & Yacht Council, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Coast Guard, Bombardier Recreational Products, and several other marine engine manufacturers have shown that isobutanol in blends up to 16.1% (B16, now EPA-approved for off-road fuels) are safe for our engines. In fact, at the 2015 Miami Boat Show, BRP offered test rides aboard a 25′ Crevalle bay boat powered by a 300 hp Evinrude G2 running B16.
GULF MARINE FUEL SPECS
R+M/2 93
RVP 7.8
Oxygen Vol% 3.5
Specific Gravity 0.78
Color Yellow
This past summer, one marina on a lake in Missouri sold Gulf MARINE, and a land-based Express Lube station in Fredericksburg, Texas has had customers drive as far as seventy miles to buy the fuel for lawn tractors, chain saws, and other outdoor power equipment. A go-kart track in Kemah, Texas (a Houston suburb) ran Gulf MARINE exclusively and successfully. Meanwhile, the two companies producing isobutanol, Gevo (www.gevo.com) and Butamax (a joint venture of BP and DuPont, www.butamax.com) have reached an agreement in which each will pursue development of markets for isobutanol, Gevo in jet fuel and Butamax in land fuels. At present, Gevo produces the isobutanol for Gulf MARINE.
The bottom line is that East Coast boaters will have an opportunity to try this new biofuel in 2016. It will cost more, possibly $1.50-2.00 per gallon, since it is still a specialty fuel. With greater energy density and no more worries about water absorption, though, it will be well worth exploring, and greater market share should close the price gap with ethanol in time. For more information on Gulf MARINE, visit www.gulfracingfuels.com.
GULF MARINAS ON THE US EAST COAST
CONNECTICUT CEDAR ISLAND MARINA HENDEL’S OIL COMPANY INC 34 RIVERSIDE DR. CLINTON, CT 06413 (860) 669-8681 www.cedarislandmarina.com
THAMESPORT MARINA 271 PEQUOT AVE NEW LONDON, CT 06320 (860) 437-7022 www.thamesportmarina.com/
MARYLAND ANNAPOLIS YACHT BASIN 2 COMPROMISE STREET ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401 (410) 263-3544 www.yachtbasin.com/
NEW JERSEY LARSEN’S MARINA 14 OLD SEA ISLE BOULEVARD SEA ISLE CITY, NJ 08243 (609) 263-1554 www.larsensmarina.com/
LIGHTHOUSE MARINA 19 W. 6TH STREET & BAY BARNEGAT LIGHT, NJ 08006 (609) 494-2305 http://lighthousemarinanj.com/
NEW YORK BAY PARK FISHING STA INC 480A REINA RD OCEANSIDE, NY 11572 (516) 766-3110 www.bayparkfishing.com
CUTCHOGUE HARBOR MARINA 3350 WEST CREEK AVENUE CUTCHOGUE, NY 11935 (631) 734-6993 www.newsuffolkshipyard.com
GONE FISHING MARINA 467 E. LAKE DR. MONTAUK, NY 11954 (631) 668-3232 www.gonefishingmarina78.com
HUDSON POINT FISHING ANCHORAGE WAY FREEPORT, NY 11520 (516) 867-9608
ISLAND VIEW MARINA 61 PRICE STREET PATCHOGUE, NY 11772 (631) 447-1234 www.islandviewmarinali.com
MILL CREEK MARINA 3253 NOYAC RD SAG HARBOR, NY 11963 (631) 704-2320
MORICHES BOAT & MOTOR ATLANTIC AVE E. MORICHES, NY 11940 (631) 878-0023 http://morichesboatandmotor.com/
SAG HARBOR COVE YACHT CLUB 50 WEST WATER STREET SAG HARBOR, NY 11963 (631) 725-1605 http://sagharborcoveyachtclub.com/
SENIX MARINA 50 SENIX AVENUE CENTER MORICHES, NY 11934 (516) 874-2092 www.senixmarina.com
SONNY’S FISHING STA INC 3640 OCEAN AVE SEAFORD, NY 11783 (516) 785-8058
UIHLEIN MARINA & BOAT RENTAL 444 W LAKE DRIVE MONTAUK, NY 11954 (631) 668-3799 www.uihleinsmarina.com/
W. C. ESP, INC. 2141 MONTAUK HWY. BRIDGEHAMPTON, NY 11932 (631) 537-0193 www.wcesp.com
