Bio diesel

[photo finish]

This should be an interresting topic. My friend and I as we were discussing gas prices started talking about the possibility of a boat engine running on bio diesel.If you do not know what bio diesel is it is simply used vegetable oil like what is left over from those fat free mcdonalds french fries.the refining process is very simple and can actually be done at home with strainers and very few additives,it has been used in europe for years and some cars claim to run flawlessly on it such as the vw jetta tdi and some older mercedes as well.The cost to produce is pennies and the only draw back is your car smells like french fries.Now , you guys may laugh but why could not a boat diesel run off of this . i started rethinking this idea when i saw on cnn.com there was a video clip about a guy who stops buy a local resaurant to refuel. the clip might still be on the cnn.com website if so check it out. Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

[Sean B]

There is a long thread of messages about that on the B31 site, maybe 1 week old. I think I would go for it if was semi-convenient, but collecting 250 gallons of fryer oil, then filter it, then take to the boat just doesn't sound like something I would actually get accomplished Sean Burlingham "Island Time" 1987 Bertram 33 SF Melbourne, FL SBurlingham@cfl.rr.com

[Admin]

My friend here at work bought a truck and converted the engine (Ford or Dodge, not sure which). He has a few restaurants that he picks up the oil from and then filters it through this elaborate system he built in his garage. He added a 50 gallon tank in the bed in addition to the regular tank, and he has incredible range for practically nothing over the $1800 he has invested (excluding the original cost of the truck). David Sumich 33 Megabites Huntington Harbour, CA Forum Administrator

[franklyprice]

I think that anything to lessen our dependance on foreign oil would be a good thing. What it really comes down to is, how much of any alternative fuel you can put in the hands of the consumer and at what cost. It doesn't seem like a few people filtering out frying oil are going to save the planet or more than a few barrels of oil, so good for David's friend and others who want to run their cars or pickups on the stuff but I guess I'm with Sean, I would be happy enough right now to be running diesel engines on diesel fuel. Besides, what about the practical issues involved, like where do you fill your boat? Most marinas won't let you fill up at your slip, so you'd be loading drums of fuel onto the boat for a day of cruising and a stop to fill up the tank. Then carry the drums back to the dock and deal with that mess. Sounds like a good time on the water for the whole family.... Frank Price

[photo finish]

i use mobile fill trucks as often as i can.i am not saying it would be practical for an individual to supply his own 300 gallons of oil.I was thinking more on the lines of starting a business that would fuel many boats with a mobile fuel truck.maybe even a co-op thing.however the whole point is mute if a cummings or yanmar would not run on the stuff. Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

[BECCA ROSE]

It's time to break out the fryerlator, looks like gas is going WAAAAAY up. Thanks Hurricane Katrina[B)]. Can someone wake up George Bush please? Bill Dunlop "Rebecca Rose" 1988 FBC Ipswich, Massachusetts