Boat US safety Alert

Post by **dougl33** » Fri May 19, 2006 7:39 am

Apparently the coasties aren't going to be helping us out on this one. I just pulled this from the 31 site: After reviewing the information in your "possible safety defect report", I have determined that the problem you describe is beyond the Coast Guard's authority under the Federal Safe Boating Act to take any action in this matter. It is not within the ability of the Coast Guard to ensure that ethanol free fuel is available for boaters. Additionally, to hold a boat manufacturer responsible for possible unforeseen fuel additive changes that are beyond his control that may effect the construction of a fuel tank at a future date is unreasonable. The boating industry is aware of the ethanol issue and is doing all in its power to rectify the problem. The Coast Guard will continue to work cooperatively with the boating industry on resolving this issue but there are very powerful forces to overcome. Phil Cappel Chief, Recreational Boating Product Assurance Division (G-PCB-3) Office of Boating Safety, United States Coast Guard Phone: (202) 267-0988 Fax: (202) 267-4285 E-Mail: pcappel@comdt.uscg.mil www.uscgboating.org Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Brian Davin · Post by **Brian Davin** » Fri May 19, 2006 9:10 am

One tid-bit I'll throw in is that Eddie at Johnson's Boat works said he pulled a Bertram tank (maybe a 31, but I'm not sure) and he cut it open. He said the inner top portion was all blistered all the way around, but where the fuel level was seemed OK. I don't know all the details, how long ago this was, what size, etc. I'm sure he would provide any insights if someone wanted to talk with him. Brian '90 Bertram 33' FBC Never Say Never Guilford, CT (Homeport) Kinnelon, NJ (Home)

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Fri May 19, 2006 3:00 pm

Well good job once again Doug ! I guess it's one step forward, two steps back with this thing. It sort of sounds like we'll at least be able to wait until winter, but I'm definitely Racoring up. Going past 9:00 here....it's almost showtime ! Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Tue May 23, 2006 7:41 am

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060523/ap_ ... ton_energy Not that she isn't disliked enough already, but here is her bright idea, notice the importance of Iowa and how obvious it is that Ethanol is purely political. Bill 33 FBC Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

unique_name · Post by **unique_name** » Thu May 25, 2006 5:37 am

it embarrases me to admit she is supposed to represent me. i'm in for e85 as soon as they give ME a 50% tax credit on new engines and 100% tax credit for new fuel tanks which we will ALL need.

Capt. Ed · Post by **Capt. Ed** » Thu May 25, 2006 6:26 am

quote:A goal she said can be met with more ethanol-based fuel and a $50 billion research fund. - Hillary Ramrod Clinton The New York lawmaker, who is up for re-election this year and also is considering new ways to screw you out of your money. This New York carpetbagger is going to cost us all... even in here in the Great State of Florida! 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:54 pm

Good news I guess? Cars are having problems with this junk also. J&M Staff Writer Without admitting any responsibility for the recent rash of disabled vehicles that followed a shipment of ethanol-blended gasoline to its waterfront tank farm, Harbor Fuel Oil Corp. is offering to pay for the replacement of fuel filters and the flushing of fuel systems if drivers can prove they filled up at one of the three Harbor Fuel-supplied gas stations. Harbor Fuel president John Stackpole continued to maintain yesterday there was nothing wrong with the gas provided by Harbor Fuel but said the company would provide compensation for repairs, on the condition that proper documentation was submitted by affected consumers. "We feel very strongly that there is not a problem with our gas," said Stackpole. "We feel very bad for our customers so we are trying to do what we can." Over the past three weeks, fuel-related problems have been reported with eight Nantucket post office delivery vans and at least 42 other vehicles, all of whose owners said they bought gas at one of the three Harbor Fuel-supplied stations. Mechanics have reported problems ranging from excess water in the fuel to the ethanol-blended gas apparently acting as a solvent and debilitating fuel filters and fuel pumps. A new shipment of gasoline arrived last week, Stackpole said, but the first shipment of ethanol-blended gas was never removed from the Harbor Fuel tank farm because there was nothing wrong with it. Stackpole said anyone who has experienced problems after filling up at one of the three stations Harbor Fuel supplies should bring a receipt indicating where the gas was purchased and for how much, and a receipt from their mechanic to Todd Boling at Harbor Fuel to receive compensation. If a customer paid in cash and did not get a receipt, Stackpole said they would not be reimbursed. "If they don’t have a receipt, I’m sorry, even when you pay cash you should still get a receipt." The letter given to customers with disabled vehicles reads in part that, "in a gesture of good faith and while denying any obligation or responsibility, we are willing to reimburse you for the cost of flushing the fuel system, replacing your fuel filter, if you can show, to our reasonable satisfaction, that the filter needed to be replaced as a result of your purchasing gasoline at one of the stations we supply." No mention is made in the letter of paying to replace disabled fuel pumps, a problem that seems to be plaguing most of the disabled vehicles. The owner of a car with a broken fuel pump said this week an employee at Harbor Fuel told him the pump would need to be sent to a third party for analysis before any decision was made to pay for it. Another driver of a disabled vehicle said an employee of Harbor Fuel told her not every car’s fuel pump was broken so they were being dealt with on a "case by case basis" and "not to worry." However, she did say the employee never said the pump would be paid for. The letter is accompanied by a waiver the vehicle-owner must sign in order to receive compensation that states, "For consideration paid, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned (vehicle owner’s name here), hereby remises, releases, and discharges Harbor Fuel oil Corp. and Mid Island Fuels from further debts, demands, suits and liabilities stemming from this incident." A call placed to ExxonMobile, who provides Harbor Fuel with its gas, was not returned. However, last week a spokesperson for ExxonMobile said the company was investigating the matter. An island mechanic who did not wish to be named said he thought the problem stemmed from Harbor Fuel never properly cleaning out its tanks before the shipment of ethanol-blended gas arrived. "It acts just like dry gas and sucked up all the water from the bottom of the tank," he said. About a dozen drivers whose cars recently experienced fuel-related problems have contacted The Inquirer and Mirror. All told similar stories of filling up at one of the three gas stations which receive fuel from Harbor Fuel. None of the drivers mentioned filling up at On-Island Gas, which gets its fuel from J.P. Noonan of Bridgewater, Mass. On-Island Gas also has the ethanol-blended fuel. The makes and model years of the vehicles whose owners contacted The Inquirer and Mirror range from a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta and a number of Land Rovers from the 1990s, as well as domestic vehicles manufactured by General Motors. All of the drivers complaints are of the same ilk: that they filled up at one of the three stations and then either had trouble starting their vehicles until they wouldn’t start or that they wouldn’t start shortly after filling their tanks. Repair bills for the vehicle ranged from a low of $400 to a high of $1400. Thirteen people contacted The Inquirer and Mirror last week, in addition to the eight postal vehicles whose fuel pumps were replaced last week and the estimated 30 vehicles several island mechanics said they repaired last week. A number of of mechanics did not return phone calls or declined to say whether they ahd repaired vehicles with similar problems. Bill 33 FBC Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:17 pm

From what I understand it costs about 3 grand to clean out a gas station's tank to accept the ethanol gas. I guess it's inevitable that some stations are going to try and cut corners by not cleaning out their tanks before the first shipment of the new stuff. It sounds like this is what happened . I worry that some marinas are going to (not) do the same thing.In fact , now that I think about it, this could be why some of the boats in New York had problems also. I guess we may never know the whole truth but it shows you that it pays to pay attention and ask questions.

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:24 pm

That's why I am holding onto this full tank of the old stuff, for as long as possible. Shorter trips, slower speeds, until they cycle through a few tank fulls at the marina. I will email the owner again and ask if he cleaned his tanks or not. Bill 33 FBC Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 10:36 am

I'm with ya Bill, tank is full right now with old stuff but won't last much longer than July 4th if I get in as much boat time as I want to. Not sure I'll sleep once the ethanol goes in ! Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 4:33 pm

Ultimately, I believe the fuel dock will be the one that screws us all. Oh well, like I said before, the country club is looking better all the time! Bill 33 FBC Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:19 am

Well if they're pumping ethanol now, why should we be concerned by the time we have to fill again ? I'd bet they fill up at least twice before I'm back there....you don't think that's enough ? Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:55 am

Who knows?? Bill 33 FBC Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:24 pm

I saw some stranger on the channel 5 news, maybe he knows ? Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 3:22 pm

I bet that guy Timkin knows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF