Looking for some opinions on boat storage. First boat with an aluminum tank (I have heard they are prone to condensation). Boat will be inside but non climate controlled from October through March in Wisconsin.
Not sure if I should
1) store tank full with treated, non ethanol fuel
2) store tank as close to empty as I can get it (likely 3-5 gallons out of 30)
I have heard both before from some good sources (reputable, certified marine mechanics)
When my season ends, whatever amount of fuel I have left gets treated and stored that way. I'm storing from about Oct/Nov to March here in NJ and our fuel has up to 10% ethanol.
I think either choice 1 or 2 is just fine for you, especially since you're using non-ethanol fuel.
Last edited by paul40269; 09-25-2023 at 08:29 AM.
I don't like to leave mine full, that way I can put some fresh gas in. But I always put seafoam in it too.
99 Ranger 217 Cherokee w/115hp Evinrude
^
Last edited by basfish; 09-25-2023 at 08:44 AM.
When my season ends, whatever amount of fuel I have left gets treated and stored that way. I'm storing from about Oct/Nov to March.
Always Think Like A Fish.....No Matter How Weird it Is!!
Full, treated...... its my reserve in case I need to run the generator....we get bad storms in winter and lose power
Likewise. Have always done it that way with no problems [40+ years], but non-ethanol fuel “keeps” better. As others have said, I like to have no more than 1/2 tank over the winter, so there’s room for a significant amount of fresh fuel come spring.Originally Posted by basfish
I too just leave whatever fuel I have in the boat and treat it. Never had an issue and my boat sits in hibernation from mid October to mid april
1995 Ranger 481v
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I just run sea foam year round. And put sta BIL in for winter.
I don't have an aluminum gas tank on mine, but I used to fill mine up before storage but don't anymore. I only leave a little less than a 1/4 tank in it over winter now.
Reason being, my engine is a carbureted 2 stroke Merc XR6 and does not do well with cold starts or idling. Even treated old gas I can tell that it starts and runs harder until I get fresh gas. Thus, I only keep a short 1/4 tank in it treated over winter. My first trip in the spring I fill it to 3/4 to full treated with seafoam and it tends to start and idle much better that first couple trips of the year.
Used to leave it full, now do it as close to empty as possible, all stabilized non ethanol. There were a few years where due to circumstances, I had to put it away with both sides of half tank. Results, exactly the same, pump bulb in the Spring turn the key and fired right up. I believe condensation was more of an issue with metal tanks of yesteryear, but using fresh gas each new season would probably be the best case scenario.
I've asked a few different mechanics around here, and all told me to run it down as low as you can and treat it, (actually if you can treat it before the last outing it's even better as it gets circulated through the motor). Then in the spring, add about 10 gal of fresh stuff and run that through before completely filling up. Haven't had any issues since I've been doing it this way.
Chevy/Ford on this board it seems, but most will swear by treatment. I have been against the grain my whole life and I go full tank and no treatment. I’ve read in enough places that I believe that if you fill brim full there is not enough oxygen/atmosphere to allow the fuel to “go bad” or condensate. I do use non ethanol. I’ve stored boats, cars, snowmobiles, snowblowers, lawnmowers etc this way for a lot of years. That doesn’t make me me right, it’s just what I do as it works for me. I just don’t believe snake oils are necessary.
Last edited by 99R93S; 09-25-2023 at 12:12 PM.
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2011 Toyota Tundra Crewmax 4x4.
No matter which way you choose, make sure you run the motor for a little while after treating the fuel, to get the treated fuel in all the lines and motor.
Always been told. Full tank for less condensation.
This ^^^^^
Very standard practice for coastal boat owners.
Was told to fill the tank for winter storage, I'm running an Optimax and use "Don's Cocktail" with stabilizer all season long (May to Oct) and even after using up the old fuel and begin using fresh fuel, don't any see any difference.
I put stabilizer and Don's cocktail every time I add fuel and always fill to the top in case I stop fishing earlier in the season for any reason. 54 gallons in the boat in case I need it for my generator.
2006 Triton TR-21 XD, Mercury 225 Pro XS, S/N 1B287870
This is what I do. Full tanks of non-ethanol fuel treated with either HEAT or Seafoam. The one or two times that for some reason or another I was not able to get to non-ethanol pumps before storing I still treated partial tanks with above and had no problems. There is a good chance in this region that the boat will be stored for 6-7 months and, there WILL be cooling and warming cycles which will create condensation in any partially full gas tank. My last trip of the season I fill and treat the tanks and then take the boat out and blow the cobwebs out of it for a few minutes before it gets winterized.
Mine stays in a heated garage but I always like it to be as close to empty as possible with treated fuel
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