I just read an article in the new Boat US magazine,,
It was about Ethanol not lasting over 60 to 90 days,, and saying to empty the fuel tanks over winter.

I have read articles going both ways, what do most people do?

I have typicaly filled it up,, and used Stabil.
I have an 85 Gal. plastic tank in the floor.

With the Ethanol leave it as empty as possible. Use a product called Startron from Starbrite. Also run all the gas out of your engine and put in a new empty filter on your water separator... you do have one don't you! If your engine has a built in filter or water separator empty it.

Yes, if you have a carbed motor at least drain the gas out of the bowls. If not you will have that pink/orange sediment in there in the spring.

I have Merc Optimax So Injection,

I know the winter process, Is to fill the filter on the motor with gas/oil mix and start it quick,, to fill it with lots of oil. I tend to pull the plugs and spray into it anyway.


just means I will have to use up the gas and not fill her up.

Hmm, how do I run the engine dry and fog it properly? 95 Johnson Oceanrunner 175.

Easy solution,
Fish year round and you won't have to winterize

I have been told to leave it empty, but I like Raider Rons ideah:cheers:

This winter you want to leave as little of the E10 gas as you can in the tank. Add Stabil and wait for Spring.

Hmm, how do I run the engine dry and fog it properly? 95 Johnson Oceanrunner 175.

Make a 6 gallon tank mixture of 1 16 oz bottle of Startron, 4 cups of Outboard Oil and 2 cups of Marvil mystry Oil. Connect that to your engine and run until it is warmed up and smoking from the oil, Disconect and run until empty. Replace any fuel filters and leave dry. Drain your carbs if you can get at them. Pull your plugs and spray a shot of fogging oil in each cyl. Bump engine to coat cylinders. Remove battery. Shrinkwrap and go into depression until the Stripers reach Montauk next spring. PS a trip to Oregon Inlet in January may help the depression...

Why are we talking about this... the Tuna clock is ticking!

I have heard both sides about storing this year. If you leave it near empty aren't you setting yourself up for a-lot of condensation in the tank?

Great advice MTC, sounds like youa re in the business. Not to sound like a total idiot, but what's the easiest way to connect a temporary tank to my engine? My setup is standard 2 stroke and pulls oil and gas from separate tanks, with each hard tube conected.

I have heard both sides about storing this year. If you leave it near empty aren't you setting yourself up for a-lot of condensation in the tank?

i've heard that too.
my marina will not give you winter dry storage, if the tanks are not full. full tanks don't explode. less fire hazard.

plus i'd rather have 100 gallons of low octane i can boost up than a dry system

Rip Runner

Your on my thought track,, empty 85 gal tank is lots of condensation.

I store my boat in a temporary shelter. I get moisture in there even.

guess we just have to go with the fish all winter, but for what? ice?

Get a 6 gallon fuel tank and connect the hose to one side of the ball or sometimes there is a fitting on the bulkhead that you can disconnect the boats fuel hose from. I have a 2 ended barb fitting on the hose for the 6 gallon tank I use.

On the fuel tank full/empty... I leave a quarter of a tank treated with Startron. It say's it will keep the fuel good for a year. As for the condensation , a good Racor will stop the water from getting to the engine. I have used this method in CT with good sucess. They have had E10 for almost 2 years now.