Boating – June 2019

BOAT

DOCTOR

BOATINGMAG.COM

JUNE 2019

BOAT DOCTOR /// Q&A

BOATINGMAG.COM | JUNE 2019 | 39

PH

OT

OS

:^ ST

A-B

IL

A:

If the boat is equipped with remote fuel fi lters, in ad-

dition to those on the engines, I’d run the gas through

the engines before I topped off. If there is a problem

with the gas, you don’t want to add to your disposal

costs. The water-separating remote fi lters should catch

and clog if any real problems with the old fuel exist,

so have a supply of replacement elements on hand.

If your fi lters have drain bowls, so much the better.

You may have to run the boat, stop when a fi lter gets

clogged, and either drain it or replace the element,

then move on.

Of course, it may be just fi ne. Stabilized non- ethanol

fuel should be all right. (Italics used because we assume

the correct stabilizer was used in the correct amounts

and there are no other factors, like someone left a

fuel fi ll open and then it rained, etc. Diagnosis from

this far away always comes with caveats. I trust you

understand.)

(continued on page 40)

GAS

PROBLEMS

Q:

Dear Mick, my boat has two gas tanks, each with about

60 gallons of gas that is non-ethanol—in which stabi-

lizer was used—that we believe to be two years old. The

tanks hold 135 gallons each. Can the boat be topped off

to full with new gas and be OK, or should the old gas be

removed? If it is to be removed, can you please explain

how to do this? The boat is a Sea Ray 38-footer.

Carl Rubis

Via email

KEEP IT

FRESH

Stabilizer will not

make bad fuel

good. Add stabi-

lizer with every

fi ll up to help

ensure quality.

CAULK LIKE A PRO Want to lay down a bead of caulk like a pro? Cut the tip of the cartridge

to the desired width and push—don’t pull—along as you squeeze the trigger. Stop squeezing

before reaching corners or ends of a run. Professionals often don’t, but—like we do—you should

probably apply masking tape to each side of the bead. —Kevin Falvey