Isobutanol better than ethanol for marine engines




Boaters and others looking for an alternative to ethanol blend gasoline now have another option – gasoline blended with isobutanol.

The National Marine Manufacturers Assocation announced it has given its approval to isobutanol as a suitable and safe alternative biofuel to ethanol.

Like ethanol, isobutanol is an alcohol additive produced through distillation of organic material, with corn being the most common source. But isobutanol lacks the negative properties of ethanol.

Jess Hewitt of Gulf Racing Fuels says the fuel doesn’t have the problems with moisture and phase separation. It also packs a bigger energy punch, 85 percent of the same amount of gasoline while ethanol yields 65 percent.

Gulf rolled out the new fuel in 93 octane and 100 octane in 5 gallon and 55 gallon containers, and has been available at a handful of Houston, Dallas and Austin Gulf stations, for several months.

Within the year, some Gulf stations could have pumps dedicated for the isobutanol/gasoline blend. Don’t look for low prices. The isobutanol/gasoline mix will sell between $4.50 - $5.00 per gallon.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

 




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Fishing Report from TPWD (Apr. 24)

GOOD. Water Stained; 60 degrees; 0.20 feet above pool. Bass have slowed, but post spawners are setting up on points in 5-7 feet of water with Carolina rigged creature baits. Topwaters and frogs are good early morning around grass. Shaky heads are good around boat houses. Report by Marc Mitchell, Lake Fork Guide Service. Report by Guide Alex Guthrie, Fly Fish Fork Guide Service. Changing weather means changing bite. First phase spawners are now in a post spawn pattern and aggressive. Frog pattern top waters are excellent in the grass and brush. Casting into the pockets and letting the frog sit for a few seconds is a good idea. Crappies are shallow, catching them on edge of banks, small fish patterns like wooly buggers are a good bet. Bream are beginning to make themselves known in the shallows, wooly buggers and small poppers should bring a strike.Crappie are good in 2-13 feet on timber and around grass lines. Some fish are moving back out into the 12-18 feet areas and a little deeper. Black crappie are on a few bridges, but fish are not loaded up yet. Black crappie are also grouping under docks on sunny afternoons. Cast 1/16th ounce hand tied jigs continue to be good in white and gray, white and chartreuse and light blue and gray colors. Minnows will still work very well and especially on shallow fish around grass. Soft plastics will also work well as the fish have been very aggressive. We should see the aggressive bite until the warmer months get here and the fish get a little finicky. Catfishing continues to be good around timber where birds are roosting in 10-18 feet. Also getting reports of some shallow catfish around grass lines and sea walls. Those fish are most likely chasing shad spawns. Catfish are cruising around shallow wood in 6-12 feet, with lots of fry showing up. Use your favorite prepared catfish bait to load the boat once you locate the fish. Report by Jacky Wiggins, Jacky Wiggins Guide Service.

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