Fuel Cost Just How Much Money Are You Locals Spending?

[ozarkgunner]

Baits run either $10 per trip in the summer as they are jigs and soft plastics upto 80 bucks in the spring and winter of I am throwing the plus one.

[fishinwrench]

I don't know how much longer it's gonna take for folks to get over the whole 87 octane/E10-15 - outboard scare propaganda.....but whenever you do I just want to be on record (for the last 2+years) of telling you that it's BS.

Yes yes I've seen the split open primer bulbs sitting on marina counters all over the country,.... but here's the deal ; Go buy some 87% fuel that you wouldn't dare burn in your outboard because of what you've read, been told, or been shown by others in the industry, then go buy the cheapest primer bulb on the market (like a Tempo from Wal-mart) or even one that's been in your garage trash can for three months and go soak that rascal in that "poison fuel" and see if you can make it look like that one you saw displayed wherever you get your boat worked on, using nothing but that fuel.

After you fail to see that rubber turn to mushy goo try again, but this time add some Stabil, Seafoam, Carbon guard, 24C, or one of those other "recommended" additives that you hear everyone praise so highly, and see if you have better success melting rubber.

[Quillback]

Quill any particular reason you are using non-e or a high octane? I have been told specifically by Merc that my last 3 250ProXs motors have the computer tuned to burn and uee 87 octane blend with ethanol.

With the way the motors are tuned and the computers set there is no either fuel enhancement or longevity issue with the 87 oct. As a matter a fact they have a bulletin I believe about the higher octane.

This is for Mercury engines 2009 and newer. Just wondering.

I'm more concerned with storage and alcohol separating from ethanol fuel than anything else. But I'll have to see if I can find these bulletins you mention, sure could save a buck or two running 87 with ethanol.

[Bill Babler]

I'm more concerned with storage and alcohol separating from ethanol fuel than anything else. But I'll have to see if I can find these bulletins you mention, sure could save a buck or two running 87 with ethanol.

Quill as much as you use your boat, I don't believe storage or separation is an issue. I have ran 87 since O7 probably about 1500 hrs. without any type of fuel related problems. I do use a mercury additive of one oz. per tank and my fuel system has been without fail. That is going on 7 yrs. now. Knock on wood.

[skeeter]

I'm more concerned with storage and alcohol separating from ethanol fuel than anything else.

Exactly ! Plus the well known affinity that Ethanol has for accumulating water right out of the air.

Those lucky enough to be using their rigs frequently keep the gas and Ethanol pretty well mixed, but boats left sitting will, at some point, suffer separation with the heavier specific-gravity Ethanol falling to the bottom of your fuel tank and you all know where your fuel pick-up is located !

From what I've been hearing from neighboring States, there is no-Ethanol, 87 octane fuel available for a slight price premium but, for some reason, not in MO. Seems to me if it can be sold in other States just to our West, why do we have to pony-up for 91 octance or higher to avoid the blasted Ethanol ?

[Champ188]

One thing about the new 2-strokes is they don't suck the gas and oil like they used to. I doubt if any of us could afford to fish the way we do now if we were running the old carbureted 150's that a lot of us used to have. I saw a HUGE improvement in fuel consumption when I bought my 2004 Champion with a 200 Merc Opti, and our fuel bill dropped even more last December when we bought the 2013 Ranger with a 225 Pro-XS. Just sayin, these new motors sure don't burn the juice like the old ones did.

[ozarkgunner]

Fuel was the reason I didn't get a bigger rig. It makes a lot of sense for guys to run a 18-19 foot boat with a 150. It fits in the garage, sips the gas running and towing and still does 60 plus mph.

[dblades]

I'd say my average trip to Stockton or most anywhere on Table Rock is $45-50 bucks for truck and boat gas. So I can't go over twice a month and usually only once.

[mjk86]

Coming from just south of St. Louis pulling the boat and back is about 150$ on the high end, plus fillin up the boat (10gal tank, 40hp mariner) is about 40$, even with trolling as much as I do, a full tank will last at least 3 days. Touching on the ethanol blends....yes ethanol will have a significant percentage of dissolved water...however, that concentration will not change much over time in a sealed gas tank due to the very high vapor pressure of octanes/other hydrocarbons. The atmosphere inside of the tank itself will have very little water vapor...as there is no room for it. Ive run ethanol blends in my motor as long as ive had it (2006) and no problems here. Separation could certainly happen, however its a pretty slow process...in other words RUN YOUR OUTBOARDS!! Have to agree with "fishinwrench" here, straight hydrocarbons (octane, heptane, xylene) are much harder on rubber than ethanol. Ethanol is a pretty poor solvent for rubber and plasics..similar to water, so an ethanol blend would be no worse (prbably better) than the high octane stuff. Engine additives such as Sea Foam, are mostly blends of ethers/ketones/and esters which are poweful solvents which will ABSOLUTELY destroy any rubber, plastic, or paint....that said, the concentration of these additives in your fuel are very low and would most likely have no effect for quite some time.

[Josh Holt]

I got it easy i can can go with gas in the truck all week on 40$ and 20$ in the boat but i cant run as far as the big boats but i will know what its like again cause im buying another bass boat in the spring since i had to sell my old one to pay for bills when i had my accident last year.