I have never used any kind of fuel stabilizer (not saying good or bad, just haven't), and my small engines have always started. I don't have a boat motor, but my lawn mower gas can sits for quite a while, and the fuel in the mower has never gave me any kind of problem. My last mower was 7 years old and never has been "winterized", always started up for me in the spring, my weed trimmer is still going after 7 years, and that fuel is stored longer. The trimmer fuel is mixed and I have been told that the oil mix acts as a stabilizer. I don't know though.