by Don Onken, Onken’ Incorporated (NAPSA)—As an avid boater, I always eagerly anticipate the transition from winter into spring and summer becauseit means myfamily andI can get back out on the water. Much goes into properly maintaininga boat, so the start ofboating seasonis a busy time for many Americans. Whetherit’s getting the boat cleaned uporchecking all the parts that might needreplacing, there's always a flurry ofactivity that goes along with pushing off from the dock for thefirst timeof the season. However, there’s one disappointing elementin the lead-up to boating season, andthat’s the predictable spread of misinformation regarding the fuel you putin yourboat's tank. Tam the ownerofthe American Ethanol Mystic Powerboats 51-foot catamaran, which holds the speed record for piston-poweredboats at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, the largest unsanctioned boatrace in the country. We use an extremely high-octane 85 percent ethanol blend in our engine to rou- tinely break 200-plus miles per hourin shootoutraces. If you're a recreational boater you won't needall that octane, plus you won't be able to find racing Don Onken’s American Ethanol Mystic Powerboat nol blendthat I put in my racing boat, buta little bit of ethanolstill has a big positive impact. Ethanol is renewable, biodegradable, andis higherin octane than older, petroleum-based additives linked to groundwater contamination, cancer and smog. Manyboaterslike me care about the environment more than the average person because we spend so muchtimeout in nature, so fueling up with E10is a choice wecan feel good about. Ethanolis a naturally inexpensive, high-octane,cleaner fuel, which makes it a great fuel additive for cars, trucks or boats. E15 (made with 15 percentetha- fuel at the pump. However, E10 (gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol), nol) is currently being sold in 31 states across the U.S. It allows drivers to get a higher-octanefuel for up to 10 cents per great option for you that can be foundat nearly anygasstation. E15 is not currently approved for use also known as“regular unleaded?is a gallonless than E10, andit’s approved for all cars model year 2001 and newer. Some would have you believe that in boats, which is why fuel pumps are ethanolfuel has no place in boating, clearly labeled and you'll obviously butthat’s false. And as somebody whos, spent muchofmylife around boats,it’s frustrating to see misinformation spread by the petroleum industry take hold. Thefact is, E10 is approved for use in all marine engines and has been warrantied for use by all the major boat manu- facturers for decades. Thatlist includes Kawasaki, Mercury Marine, OMC (Johnson/Evinrude), Pleasurecraft, Tigershark (ARTCO), TRACKER, Honda neverfindit at your local marina. Butit’s a great option for mostcars on the road today,andI putit in my truck whenever it’s available. Asyou prepare for boating season, T encourage you to know which fuels meet your specific price and perfor- mance needs. Follow the guidelines of your owner's manualandbe aware that E10 is a great way to keep your boat running smoothly while being friend- E10 is the nationalstandardfor gas- lier to the environmentandto your walJet. Having options at the fuel pumpis a be asfun as the high-octane, high-etha- tactics about ethanol in boating are designedto limit that choice. and Yamaha. oline—98 percent of the country’s gas contains10 percentethanol.It might not goodthing for consumers, andthescare
