Should You Fill Your Tank For Winter?
Feb 03
Posted in: Tips with 3 comments
To fill or not to fill the tank for winter storage…that is the question? We are often asked by our customers if it is best to leave fuel tanks empty during the fall and winter. We found a great article on the BoatUS Magazine website that states, “The recommendation to leave a tank mostly empty is bad advice; it could significantly increase the amount of water that gets into the tank. When enough water enters through the vent, the ethanol will separate (“phase separate”) from the gasoline. Leaving a tank mostly empty does three things to increase the chances of phase separation:
It increases the volume of open space in the tank (its “lung capacity”) so it can “breathe in” damaging moist air. An almost-empty tank leaves more space on tank walls for condensation to form. Leaving less gasoline in the tank means there will be less ethanol to absorb the condensation.”
Click here to read the entire article and learn more about how ethanol is affecting your boat engine.
Comments
xuliqan
May 06 2012 at 01:46am
Hello Janice and Alan,Just moved to Stuart, FL from Norfolk, VA. Found your blog on St Lucie Sailing Clubwebsite. I can answer most quotniess regarding the Chesapeake Bay from Annapolissouthward. Good spot to go for a week? Gwynns Island, at the confluence of the Piankatank and Rappahannock Rivers. Very reasonable prices for daily and weekly rates. Central location for exploring the area, like Urbana and Carter Creek (fine dining at The Tides ), Tangier Island, etc. Also York River Yacht Haven for a variety of reasons. They also have a top notch restaurant River’s Inn. Good anchorage, very clean facilities, full service yard, plus other reasons. Really good anchorage on the Eastern Shore at Kiptopeake State Park, locally known as The Concrete Ships. Good marinas? You need to qualify what constitutes a good marina for you. Good huricane hole? Inside the locks at Great Bridge,on the Albemarle (Eastern) Branch of the ICW in Chesapeake, VA. Slightly better is the Atlantic Yacht Basin (marina) just East of the locks. First come, first serve. Heat and insects worse than Florida? VA has house flies that have a very painful bite, even 30 miles off shore and No See-ums. Vicious little critters. At anchor, 5 knots of wind will keep bugs away. Going outside or ICW? Depends. Going outside is no big deal. With friends, I’ve done the circumnavigation of the DelMarVa peninsula 7 times in 14 years now, going the opposite direction each time to mix it up a little. Weather usually is the prime determinator. Just some highlights, I’ve done the ICW from Norfolk to Ft. Lauderdale. Bermuda twice, Martha’s Vineyard once, Stanford Conn once, NYC 4 times, Tortola, BVI once in 12 days, Georgetown, Exumas/Bahama, St. Marteen (FR) in 9 days, and most recently/this spring St. Thomas to Aruba to Panama. I prefer going outside because there are fewer unlighted obstacles to avoid when sailing at night. Watches are more relaxed. If sailing isn’t fun, you should find something else to do, that is fun. For more particulars, whys and wherefores it is probably best to e-mail me. All the best,Richard SteeleS/V Petto Rosso
Eryka
May 06 2012 at 03:59am
Hello Janice and Alan,Just moved to Stuart, FL from Norfolk, VA. Found your blog on St Lucie Sailing Clubwebsite. I can answer most quitesons regarding the Chesapeake Bay from Annapolissouthward. Good spot to go for a week? Gwynns Island, at the confluence of the Piankatank and Rappahannock Rivers. Very reasonable prices for daily and weekly rates. Central location for exploring the area, like Urbana and Carter Creek (fine dining at The Tides ), Tangier Island, etc. Also York River Yacht Haven for a variety of reasons. They also have a top notch restaurant River’s Inn. Good anchorage, very clean facilities, full service yard, plus other reasons. Really good anchorage on the Eastern Shore at Kiptopeake State Park, locally known as The Concrete Ships. Good marinas? You need to qualify what constitutes a good marina for you. Good huricane hole? Inside the locks at Great Bridge,on the Albemarle (Eastern) Branch of the ICW in Chesapeake, VA. Slightly better is the Atlantic Yacht Basin (marina) just East of the locks. First come, first serve. Heat and insects worse than Florida? VA has house flies that have a very painful bite, even 30 miles off shore and No See-ums. Vicious little critters. At anchor, 5 knots of wind will keep bugs away. Going outside or ICW? Depends. Going outside is no big deal. With friends, I’ve done the circumnavigation of the DelMarVa peninsula 7 times in 14 years now, going the opposite direction each time to mix it up a little. Weather usually is the prime determinator. Just some highlights, I’ve done the ICW from Norfolk to Ft. Lauderdale. Bermuda twice, Martha’s Vineyard once, Stanford Conn once, NYC 4 times, Tortola, BVI once in 12 days, Georgetown, Exumas/Bahama, St. Marteen (FR) in 9 days, and most recently/this spring St. Thomas to Aruba to Panama. I prefer going outside because there are fewer unlighted obstacles to avoid when sailing at night. Watches are more relaxed. If sailing isn’t fun, you should find something else to do, that is fun. For more particulars, whys and wherefores it is probably best to e-mail me. All the best,Richard SteeleS/V Petto Rosso
Nikki
May 15 2012 at 04:45pm
Hello Janice and Alan,Just moved to Stuart, FL from Norfolk, VA. Found your blog on St Lucie Sailing Clubwebsite. I can answer most qentsious regarding the Chesapeake Bay from Annapolissouthward. Good spot to go for a week? Gwynns Island, at the confluence of the Piankatank and Rappahannock Rivers. Very reasonable prices for daily and weekly rates. Central location for exploring the area, like Urbana and Carter Creek (fine dining at The Tides ), Tangier Island, etc. Also York River Yacht Haven for a variety of reasons. They also have a top notch restaurant River’s Inn. Good anchorage, very clean facilities, full service yard, plus other reasons. Really good anchorage on the Eastern Shore at Kiptopeake State Park, locally known as The Concrete Ships. Good marinas? You need to qualify what constitutes a good marina for you. Good huricane hole? Inside the locks at Great Bridge,on the Albemarle (Eastern) Branch of the ICW in Chesapeake, VA. Slightly better is the Atlantic Yacht Basin (marina) just East of the locks. First come, first serve. Heat and insects worse than Florida? VA has house flies that have a very painful bite, even 30 miles off shore and No See-ums. Vicious little critters. At anchor, 5 knots of wind will keep bugs away. Going outside or ICW? Depends. Going outside is no big deal. With friends, I’ve done the circumnavigation of the DelMarVa peninsula 7 times in 14 years now, going the opposite direction each time to mix it up a little. Weather usually is the prime determinator. Just some highlights, I’ve done the ICW from Norfolk to Ft. Lauderdale. Bermuda twice, Martha’s Vineyard once, Stanford Conn once, NYC 4 times, Tortola, BVI once in 12 days, Georgetown, Exumas/Bahama, St. Marteen (FR) in 9 days, and most recently/this spring St. Thomas to Aruba to Panama. I prefer going outside because there are fewer unlighted obstacles to avoid when sailing at night. Watches are more relaxed. If sailing isn’t fun, you should find something else to do, that is fun. For more particulars, whys and wherefores it is probably best to e-mail me. All the best,Richard SteeleS/V Petto Rosso
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