Pay now or later?

[Beaches]

With the season coming to a close in the Delaware Bay area, my question to you is as follows? The last time I filled the boat back in August it ran me close to $500.00 with gas prices averaging around $4.05 a gallon. Currently prices have dropped to $1.89 a gallon here in lower Delaware. If I top off the tank and stablilize for the winter, while prices are low, might I expect any problems come spring with regards to fuel sitting over the 5 month period? Are there any possible problems with regards to ethanol or any ........ I would rather not incurr a possible engine problem and take my chances on gas prices come spring. Looking to the experts for advice.

 

[Megabyte]

I'm no expert... and it appears that even my dealer has changed their minds on this issue over the past couple of years.

Two years ago I ran my tank almost empty before taking it to the dealer for winter storage. That year they recommended filling the tank before laying her up for the winter.

Last year the recommendation was to leave it empty, or nearly so.
I'm thinking to myself... WTF! :evil:

This year I'll be storing in my local boatyard instead of at the dealer, so the decision is mine... so here is what I decided.

I too filled up about the same time you did and paid $4.04/gal on-the-water.
Two weeks ago I filled up at the same place, on-the-water, for $2.65/gal

My decision is economic. The way gas prices seem to rise with every world event that occurs, so long as prices are down (we just went down to $1.99 at my local Wawa), I'm going to fill and treat for winter storage this year. If prices are still low in the spring, so be it. However if prices are back up in the spring, my decision will look pretty good. A $200 difference in the cost of a fill-up is not a trivial thing!

FWIW - My fuel treatment consisted of Sta-Bil, Star*Tron, and Ringfree, which is what I normally treat with at every fill-up, so I'm confident that I'm covered, insofar as 'freshness' is concerned. 8)

YMMV... :wink:

 

[jeffnick]

I second Megabyte's fuel approach.

 

[DaleH]

Yup, I saw gas @ $2.19, so I'll treat and throw at least 20 gallons in and might do that a few times again, specially if it goes lower. Personally I like to leave room to throw fresh gas on top in the Spring, of 91 or 93 octane ... to refresh the rest of the tank.

Just make sure it's well treated though ...

 

[Beaches]

This was the advice I was hoping for. I have never had problems in the past with fuel :lol: , but that was not a Yamaha. Every time I launch the Parker, I am more impressed.

 

[mildew2]

I fill my Parker 2520 at the end of each season ( less room for condensation to form) I treat it with startron at the initial dosage recomendation of 1oz. per 8 gals.of gas. This is all I do and I have never had a problem. The Yammi. starts,idles,and runs out fine. In fact I just put new gas in today. The last fill up was Dec. 07. I also change the 10 micron filter out each spring. Gas here in Delaware right now is 1.93 gal.
I hope it is even cheaper next spring,but you never know.

 

[MaxOut]

Fill Fill Fill......Treat. I always keep my tank full to help prevent condensation in the tank. I am not sure what theory a marina would have by telling you to empty your tank unless you have a really long lay up. I put my boat away at the end of January and back out in May. 3 months and the fuel will be fine. I usually top it off with high test the last time and by the time I use it it’s degraded to mid grade.

The best advice I would give is fill up the last time with high test. Higher octane fuel last longer and is still cheaper now than mid grade will be by spring. I always run mid grade through the season.

To be honest I filled up with high test after my last trip to VA beach last season and did not treat the gas. Three months later she started and ran like a top. No Problems. These newer 4 stroke engines are just like auto engines and they can compensate for variations in octane and ethanol.

 

[John_Madison CT]

Guys: Here is what I do and it's worked every year.

I leave whatever gas is in my tank. Some years it's 1/3 tank, sometimes, 1/4, others 1/2 tank, etc etc....

I add PRI-G stabilizer and check my Racor at the first run of the spring. I've never had a water problem.

Bear in mind thought that my boat isn't used for only 4 months. I run into late Nov/early Dec and drop her back in within the first couple days of April.


John

 

[WCS]

I have what is probably a stupid question -- does the stabilizer mix with the fuel better if the tank is not quite full?

wayne

 

[HM5]

I figure how many gals. I am going to put in the tank, then calculate and add the stabilizer and ring free before fueling. That way the fuel coming into the tank sloshes as it comes in, and helps to mix the additives.

 

[Megabyte]

does the stabilizer mix with the fuel better if the tank is not quite full?

It does, but there is always some air space in the tank so a ride on the trailer or in the water should mix even a full tank.
It mixes better if the additives are put in before fueling, but it does work the other way around too if you're not sure how much fuel you will be taking aboard.

 

[TopShot25]

You guys are killing me. Gas out here in LA is about 2.50 right now and I can’t even remember when it was less then 2.00 a gallon. What kills me is the refineries are right here. I could hit a driver twice and bounce a golf ball off a tank.

Well I’m glad at least someone gets fuel at a decent price these days. I don’t have to put my boat up for the winter so if for some reason I don’t get out for a while I just top it off with premium. Out here it’s 91. Nothing but Chevron and I've had no problems, Knock, knock.

 

[Porkchunker]

My answer is to fish from March at the CCNPP through Jan at the CBBT. No need to worry about fuel.

Dave

aka