Long Term Storage Question

[Gil]

Due to the pandemic, we decided not to put our 2018 Godfrey SW186C in the water this season. It is shrink wrapped and stored at my dealer since last fall. Last September I topped off the 18 gallon fuel tank and added stabilizer as usual. The tank is full of NON-ETHANOL gasoline.
Any thoughts on what needs to be done now to prepare it for another storage season?

[Captain Tony]

Hey Gil:
Smart move but missed out on some summer fun...Social distancing on the water is still good for the mental health.

So as to your question: well, I like the NON-Ethanol gas however even that looses it's punch after about 90 - 120 days.
Still not to worry, your Mercury 20 hp will run OK on the OLD N/E gas; it was probably 90 plus octane ROM and my thoughts are:

In the coming spring, (yes there will be another coming) pull the boat out of storage, drain 1/2 the tank and put in
another 9 to 10 gallons of fresh NON-Ethanol gas and just enjoy it. It will be fine with the influx of new octane.

What do i do with the drained 9 gallons you ask ? After running the 18 gal. tank down to near empty, put 9 gallons
of old gas in it with another 9 gallons of FRESH NON-Ethanol 90+ octane and motor on.

You could also phase in a few gal. with fresh as you use up the 1/2 & 1/2 mixture. Oh, what sort of stabilizer
do you use ? It couldn't hurt to put in a few ounces as you burn up old gas.

Just a thought. Get back out on the water. Stay healthy.

[Gil]

If we could get on the boat and go out on the lake it would be fine. Our concerns are rest rooms, the parking lot and the trip back and forth. Good info. Thanks, Gil

[Moser]

Just what Tony said, only I would not leave the 9 gallons sitting anywhere. I would pour it in my tow vehicle and top that tank off with fresh too. Chances are it is just fine, if we parked a car with stabilzer in the tank for 1 year, we would crank it up, and if it ran right, take a ride.

We had a man bring a cruiser in with full tanks, that insisted it was "stale' and paid us to pump it out and dispose of it. We put 105 gallons of fuel in two 55 gallon barrels and burned it all summer long in our vehicles. It had sat for about 6 months. We still use your grandpaps test for gas a lot, if it smells like gas, it's ok, if it smells varnishy, it goe in the John Deere or on the burn pile.

[Gil]

Well Capt. Tony, I took your advice plus my many years of boat ownership and called my dealer with a plan. My boat was purchased and is stored and maintained at a great dealer here in SE PA. Highway Marine in Quakertown, PA. They will cut open the shrink wrap, install a zipper and inspect the interior replacing the "dry bag". They will then, once again, winterize the motor after running it on fresh fuel until it is dry. Lastly, they will drain my 18 gallon tank and we will re fuel next season. This is my best course of action to preserve my investment so I am pleased with the plan!

[FogHorn]

Gil, wear masks until out on the water. Motorboating is good for your boat, your body, and your mental health.
(Got a good buddy near Quakertown who is an EMS helicopter pilot... saw the town name and immediately felt better.)

[Captain Tony]

Good plan Gil:

Enjoy your investment and be safe - stay healthy.