March 2019 - Marine Waterline

Best Fuel Stabilizer For Boats To Protect Your Fuel System

When we put fuel in our boats something we don’t think about is the negative effects that the fuel has on our boat’s fuel system. Ethanol is a powerful solvent, powerful enough that it can dissolve fiberglass fuel tanks. It also reacts to fuel filters and carburetors, certainly, it does more harm than good in your boat’s fuel tank. This is why we decided to write about the best fuel stabilizer for boats.

A lot of us don’t have the luxury of using the boat fuel stations offered on major lakes and marinas, which are stocked with ethanol-free fuel. So, we fill our boats up at the same gas stations we use to fill our vehicles.

Fortunately, marine fuel stabilizer can combat the effects of ethanol and help make fuel more friendly to our boats. But, not all fuel stabilizers are created equal, some get the job done and some leave a lot to be desired. Below we’ve reviewed 6 of the best marine fuel stabilizers, to help you choose a product you can rely on.

Comparison To Get The Best Fuel Stabilizer For Boats

Fuel Stabilizer	Duration	Fuel Quantity Treated by 32 oz.	Check Price On Amazon
STA-BIL 360 Marine with Vapor Technology	. 2 years	Up to 320 Gallons	Check Price On Amazon
Sea Foam Marine Motor Treatment for gas and Diesel Engine	2 years	Up to 32 Gallons	Check Price On Amazon
Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment	2 years	Up to 512 Gallons	Check Price On Amazon
Sentry New Technology Fuel Treatment	2 years	Up to80 Gallons	Check Price On Amazon
Bell Performance – Mix-I-Go Concentrate	Unknown	Up to 320 Gallons	Check Price On Amazon
PRI Fuel Stabilizer	3 years	Up to 512 Gallons	Check Price On Amazon
MERCURY Quickstor Fuel Stabilizer	1 year	160 Gallons	Check Price On Amazon
Yamaha ACC-FSTAB-PL-32	1 year	Up to 96 Gallons	Check Price On Amazon

Features Of The Selected Fuel Stabilizers For Boats

Here we selected the eight possibly best fuel stabilizers for boats use:

STA-BIL 360 Marine with Vapor Technology
Sea Foam Marine Motor Treatment for gas and Diesel Engine
Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment
Sentry New Technology Fuel Treatment
Bell Performance – Mix-I-Go Concentrate
PRI-G Fuel Stabilizer
MERCURY Quickstor Fuel Stabilizer
Yamaha ACC-FSTAB-PL-32

STA-BIL 360 Marine with Vapor Technology

Sta-Bil is a popular brand, for good reason. Their 360 Marine version of fuel stabilizer features vapor technology.

The product creates its own vapor, designed to rise above the fuel level and offer its protection, combating the damaging effects of ethanol vapors where other fuel stabilizers can’t reach.

It also helps clean residue left behind and prevents your fuel system from becoming clogged, or corroded.

It is not recommended for storage use over 90 days, after this time frame, the effects of this stabilizer will be jeopardized.

Its ability to preserve the fuel structure and protect your engine will be ineffective. So, if you’re planning to overwinter your boat, this may not be the best choice.

STA-BIL has some more options to fulfill our needs. For example, STA-BIL fuel stabilizer for storage protects the fuel for up to 24 months in storage.

Pros:

Vapor Technology
Made in the USA
Rust Protection

Cons:

Not recommended for fuel storage

Sea Foam Marine Motor Treatment For Gas And Diesel Engine

This EPA registered product is used for all gasoline and diesel engines. The product is good for all types of motor oils, synthetic or conventional.

We can use Sea Foam motor treatment for fuel storing as it stabilizes the fuel for up to 2 years. It prevents the stored fuel from evaporation, vapors, and from the formation of varnish or gum.

It keeps the whole fuel system clean and well lubricated. Normally for general maintenance one ounce is enough for each gallon of fuel but, in the case of cleaning the system, we should use 2 ounces or more per gallon of fuel.

In my opinion, this Sea Foam product is the best fuel stabilizer for boats because of its versatility.

Pros

The versatile product cleans and lubricates the full fuel system with care
Suitable for all diesel and gasoline engines
Contains petroleum-based ingredients that are not harmful at all for engines or parts of the fuel system.

Cons

One ounce treats only one gallon of fuel.

Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment

Star Tron’s fuel treatment works by breaking down impurities and sludge in fuel and preventing separation that can cause poor fuel performance and varnish residue.

The grime is then safely burned away with the gas as you use your boat. Star Tron is a good choice for use when overwintering, or storing your boat for a prolonged period of time. It can help fuel keep its integrity and prevent ethanol damage for up to 2 years.

It is not a marine-specific fuel stabilizer, so it is lacking the higher grade water absorption ability of strictly marine types.

However, it is still a quality product and will help your boat’s fuel system work better, for longer.

Pros:

Stabilizes Fuel Up to 2 Years
Prevents Fuel Separation
Can Help Rejuvenate Old Fuel

Cons:

Not Specifically for Marine Use

Sentry New Technology Fuel Treatment

Sentry’s new gas plus formula is one of the best fuel stabilizers on the market. It is not marine-specific, but it does have the stronger water eliminating effects of brands marketed specifically for marine use.

It stabilizes, cleans, and prevents fuel lines from freezing up. It can be used in your tank before storage and during every fill-up. It can be used to restore quality to old fuel and it can boost mileage.

It comes at a steep price and is significantly more expensive than its competitors. We can’t deny the quality of this product, but the price is a little deterring.

Pros:

Inhibits Line Freezing
Cleans and Protects
Maximum Strength

Cons:

Expensive

Bell Performance – Mix-I-Go Concentrated

Bell Performance Mix-I-Go formula is concentrated 1 ounce treats up to 10 gallons of fuel, making this product convenient to use every time you fill-up. This product has been around for a long time and it has proven its reliability in being a good fuel stabilizer. It prevents ethanol breakdown and removes water from gas just as well as its fancy competitors.

It is not marine-specific, but it can be used in boat tanks. It is not recommended for fuel storage, but it can be used to help bring quality back to old fuel. Overall this product is a diamond in the rough, and a little goes a long way.

Pros:

Concentrated
Boosts Performance

Cons:

Can not be used to store fuel
Not marine Specific

PRI-G Fuel Stabilizer

PRI has almost all the bases covered with their Fuel Stabilizer. It cleans, prevents ethanol damage, and stops fuel breakdown for up to 3 years. It also contains no alcohol and improves fuel efficiency. Whether you’re storing your boat or using it for the weekend, PRI is a good choice. It is a quality product that will get the job done every time.

It is not marine-specific but offers the same benefits as products marketed for marine use. It won’t bring old fuel back to life though. We don’t recommend using this product in E-10 Fuel that has been sitting longer than a month or two, while it prevents separation, it won’t promote remixing.

Pros:

Stabilizes Fuel Up to 3 Years
High Concentration
Good Price

Cons:

Not Marine Specific
Can’t Bring Quality Back to Old Fuel

MERCURY Quickstor Fuel Stabilizer

This Mercury fuel stabilizer is a great one if you are thinking of long-time storage of your boat engine.

Adding this Quickstor stabilizer to the fuel we can remain calm for a period of time before starting another season. The 12-ounce bottle will treat up to 60 gallons against all grades of gas and ethanol blends until one year.

Pros

It stops the normal and ethanol-blended fuel so that the fuel can not break down and oxidize.
Keeps the fuel system corrosion free
Defends gum and varnish from appearing in the fuel
Keep the fuel lines, tanks, carburetors, and injectors clean
Lubricates the injectors and carburetors

Cons

The bottle is a small one.

Yamaha ACC-FSTAB-PL-32

This product stabilizes and conditions your boat’s fuel system, preventing rust, corrosion, and ethanol damage. It is alcohol-free to prevent the buildup of gunk and varnish and it stops fuel separation prolonging the life of your fuel. It is decently priced and is good at what it does.

However, it won’t clean the gunk that has already accumulated in your fuel system, and it doesn’t have the water fighting capabilities of some of the other products on our list. It is not recommended for fuel storage and works better as a per fill-up additive.

Pros:

Prevents Rust
Alcohol-Free
Prevents Breakdown and Separation

Cons:

Doesn’t Clean
Not for Storage

How To Choose The Best Boat Fuel Stabilizer

The best marine fuel stabilizer is not just the one that is a quality product, but the one that also meets your specific needs, at a fair price. Before deciding on a product for your boat fuel system ask yourself these questions:

Do I need a Marine Fuel Stabilizer?
How often do I use my boat?
Do I store my boat for prolonged periods of time?

Do You Need A Marine Fuel Stabilizer?

If you purchase fuel for your boat from gas stations, the answer is yes. Unless you’re purchasing fuel from an on-water refuel station, the fuel will contain ethanol.

Marinas aren’t required to have ethanol additives in their fuel because ethanol is extremely damaging to the fuel systems of boats. We should keep fuel stabilizers for boats in the boat winterization checklist.

How Often Do You Use Your Boat?

If you use your boat frequently and refuel the tank a lot you’ll want a fuel stabilizer that is fairly inexpensive, as you’ll use more of it.

As well as one that enhances running performance, so you can get the most from your fuel and do the least damage to your boat motor.

Do I Store My Boat For Prolonged Periods Of Time?

If you use your boat only a few months out of the year, you’ll want a product that can be used to maintain the integrity of fuel over time.

By choosing a fuel stabilizer with this feature you’ll avoid the hassle of having to drain your tank each time you plan to let your boat sit for more than a few weeks.

Fuel with added ethanol starts to break down in a very short time, after 90 days it will burn poorly and your boat won’t run well.

Select The Fuel Stabilizer Or Additive That Meets Your Particular Needs

If you want to enhance your engine performance and try to do that with a fuel stabilizer for storage, that may not work as your expectation. There are some versatile products also for our use, but, some are specially made for a particular function.

The period of time that a fuel stabilizer works properly can be an important point to check when we need a stabilizer. We must keep in mind our particular requirements before choosing an adequate fuel stabilizer.

Calculate The Quantity Of Boat Fuel Stabilizer You Will Need

Try to calculate the quantity of stabilizer you will need for your particular use and this is how we can select the right size of the container of different stabilizers. Remember, some stabilizers don’t work after a certain period of time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fuel Stabilizer And Why Do I Need It?

A fuel stabilizer is a fuel additive designed to maintain the integrity of fuel. Fuel is a volatile substance and it begins evaporating as soon as it enters your tank.

In ethanol-based fuel, separation is included in this breakdown. In some engines like those found in cars this breakdown causes minimal effects, but in boats, it can cause damage fairly quickly.

As the fuel breaks down, evaporates, and separates the ethanol leaves behind a varnish-like residue that can clog fuel lines and creates a vapor that can cause rust and corrosion.

This molecule meltdown can even cause irreversible damage to fiberglass tanks, fuel lines, fuel filters, and the motor itself.

Can A Fuel Stabilizer Make Bad Fuel Good Again?

Some fuel stabilizers can improve the integrity of untreated fuel nearing its 90-day mark. However, no fuel stabilizer can return aging fuel to its original quality. In addition, adding a fuel stabilizer to old fuel won’t help it at all.

How Can I Be Sure That A Fuel Stabilizer Is Not Just normal Oil?

To be sure that you’re always getting a quality product, that does what it says it will do, be leery of huge claims.

If a product claims something that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For example, while some items boost fuel efficiency, don’t trust a brand that claims it will allow you to get 30% more fuel efficiency per gallon.

Some products are concentrated and require less product per gallon of gas for effective treatment. But, don’t trust a product that claims to treat a full tank of gas with one drop.

If you avoid the outrageous claims, you’ll get a better product, from a more reputable brand.

Can I mix Different Fuel Stabilizers For Boats?

If you have the rest of the fuel stabilizer in your tank and want to add some more stabilizer, we recommend not to mix the fuel stabilizers if they are different.

For example, Yamaha fuel stabilizer should not be mixed with another fuel stabilizer from Mercury. They can be different in functions also.

Conclusion

A fuel stabilizer for boats is not just for saving our consumption of fuel but it keeps our fuel systems and engines clean and in perfect condition, It increases the lifetime of our engine.

A fuel stabilizer is also for protecting the fuel system and the engine from damage. It can be a small product but the importance is simply bigger than we often imagine. Maintaining the engine and the fuel system clean we can have better combustion of the engine. This can reduce fire hazards on board and will help us to think about searching a better place for fire extinguishers on the boat.

How Does A Fish Finder Work? How To Use A Fish Finder?

The world is absorbed into constant technology innovations and advancements in almost all fields. Talk of farming, education, employment, and business, just to mention a few. Regardless of the field that one can venture in, it has experienced tremendous technological growth from ancestral procedures of doing things. Fishing has not been left behind in the world of technology and innovation. In this article, we will focus on what the fish finder does, how does a fish finder work, how it’s used, and how to take readings from it, among other things. Enjoy your reading.

What Is A Fish Finder

It’s a device used by fishermen to discover the position of fish in the water or simply a device used by fishermen to find fish. In summary, they assist in the following.

Identifying other objects underneath
Ascertaining the approximate number of fish
Recognizing the location of fish masses
Finding the depth of water
Detecting the type of fish beneath
Measuring the water temperature
Measuring the speed with which your boat is traveling on
Learning how fish respond to your bait

How Does A Fish Finder Work Using Transducers?

The device sends sonar signals to water using transducers, which upon hitting the object (fish), take the estimated features of the object. An echo-sound is then returned to the device which is then converted into an image of what is happening underneath. Finally, the image is displayed on a screen for elucidation.

Let’s watch a video about how does a fish finder work using sonar waves. In this case, we have taken the example of a Humminbird fish finder as the principle of working is the same.

For improved aftermath, most fish finders use more than one frequency. The frequency used is proportional to the clarity and details received. Most of them have built-in GPS that aid in locating the geographical location.

Reading and interpreting the readings can be very tricky, but you don’t have to worry, by the end of this article, you will get all the information needed for accurate judgment. What does this reading really entail?

Reading A Fish Finder Screen

Understanding or interpreting the images on the screen can be an uphill task, especially for beginners. In this article, we are just about to educate you on this.

By interpreting your screen, you can recognize where to target. The fish finders have a Fish-ID technology which has an aptitude to locate fish and other objects icons on the screen. All you need is to just read and comprehend the depth of each icon displayed. It won’t be any magic when you cast your net to a region of a high fish population only to come out with rocks and plants, some fish finders come with a few shortcomings. However, with time and experience, you will be accustomed to doing these things.

Fish arches can be your better selection though it also comes with a fair share of challenges. An arch fish finder represents fish as arches that are clearer than fish IDs. The bigger the arches the bigger the fish, though not in all cases. Although it’s somewhat cumbersome to isolate trees and rocks from arches, you will learn the skill with time.

You can agree with me that reading the screen is not as complex as it is portrayed sometimes, let’s now take time to know the available varieties of such devices.

Types Of Fish Finders

The market provides several types and brands of fish finders, their use depends on the objectives and nature of fishing.

Fishing in shallow water needs a higher frequency, over 200 kHz while deepwater needs a lower frequency. Fishing on salt waters will also need a lower frequency.

Fish finders with chartplotter, real-time mapping, better transducer, quality screen are most desired by the fishermen. A perfect example of that is the Lowrance Elite-7 Ti2 fish finding device.

For areas you are not familiar with, use a depth fish finder. Finally, if you will be fishing on ice water, you will need a wider cone angle so that you can see both deep in water and the environment around you. In modern ice fishing techniques, this type of fish finder is often used for better results. It should be added to your ice fishing gear list.

Some of them are portable yet others are fixed, especially for large boats.

Depending on your choice of a fish finder, the following modifications and overall options are available during your application of these devices in fishing.

Using A Fish Finder

We would like to share with you the best practices for handling your devices.

1. Thorough comprehension of the display

Reading your manual. Your device will surely come with a guide, read through it, and refer to it again when necessary.
Study the basic information about the speed of your boat, temperature, and the depth it can measure. This information is usually found on a screen of your fish finder.
Since the screen will display the latest information towards the right, read your screen from your right to the left.
It’s important to note that the topmost image on your screen is your boat, therefore, it’s good to take the reading from to top to the bottom

2. Locate the fish on the screen

Look out for smaller patches for smaller fish and large patches/dots for the big fish
Identify the nature of the terrain beneath. The tick line at the bottom of your screen describes the bottom. The presence of a line means that you’re floating on soft (sand or mud) ground while the absence of a line could mean that you’re on the hard or rocky ground.
Combine your fish finder with a chart plotter which helps mark areas of interest to be revisited later.

3. Adjust the screen display

When you notice an area of interest, zoom in for maximum clarity
Adjust color resolution until the images are very clear
Increase your fish finder speed so that you will be receiving updated images
In case you are not conversant with reading the screen, use fish symbols that you are used to

4. Pick the transducer

Adjust your device’s sensitivity when it inaccurately detects fish locations, this can be done manually.

Depending on the fish finder you’re using, adjust the range, usually at least thrice the depth
Increase the sensitivity of your fish finder until two reading lines appear on the screen.

We must mention that not all the procedures as highlighted apply to all fish finders, you will be required to make an appropriate selection of technique, based on the several above mentioned aspects.

After reading the article this far, you are now in a position to purchase yours, but how will you go about it? Keep reading.

Factors To Consider Before Buying A Fish Finder

At this point, I think we all know how does a fish finder work using sonar technology. Before selecting the right fish finder for our purpose we should know something more about the devices.

1. Choose between the fixed or portable

The choice is yours but consider the below factors.

A portable has the following advantages.

They’re versatile i.e. they allow all types of fishing, both canoe or lake fishing
They’re good for fishermen who rent boats and can be useful as a kayak fish finder.
They’re light and easy to transport and move around with

A fixed one has the following advantages.

They’re high-tech hence perform best
Can accommodate large screen for clear images
Good for people who own boats

2. Consider the screen size

A large screen gives more space to display pictures as obtained from below leading to improved clarity. However, do not sacrifice vital specifications for a screen.

The other important aspect to consider is the number of pixels, the higher the number, the more the clarity. Also, remember to ensure that your screen is waterproof.

3. Glare protection during sunny days

During bright sun in the sea, it gets to point that you cannot read your screen. Since it’s hard to get shade in the sea, buy screens whose brightness and contrast can be lowered. You can as well consider buying glare-resistant screens.

4. Power

Devices with more power (wattage) are more powerful to give higher speed and accuracy.

5. Screen Backlight

If you will be fishing late in the night or early morning, buy fish finders whose screens have some backlight.

6. GPS

Unlike pier or shoreline fishing, boat or kayak fishing require GPS integrated fish finder.

7. Price

Don’t consider price only in making your purchase, but consider all factors as listed above. Even if the cost is high, it’s worth the investment.

8. Frequency

The preferred frequency will be determined by the nature of fishing to be done.

Using Bluetooth, iOS, iPhone, & Android In Fishing

Fishing is getting interesting and convenient. There are fish finders that are compatible and can be used with mobile phones and tablets.

These Bluetooth fish finders usually float on water near the fisherman. They emit ultrasound waves downwards to the waters which interact with fish and the objects beneath.

The data generated is then sent to a mobile device or tablet via Bluetooth for reading and interpretation. Once you identify where the school of fish is, you can cast your rod.

There are recommended applications that help read the signals from your fish finder, which you must install on your mobile device. Below are three main aspects to look for in the app.

It should be updated regularly with a change in technology
It should be reliable whenever needed
Finally, it should have several features to be able to do everything you need.

If you are a technology enthusiast, this is the way to go, just ensure that you buy a gadget (Smartphone) that is compatible with fish finders, and then make use of technology.

Final Comments

I am only left to imagine the nature of fishing for 50 years to come, perhaps it will undergo extraordinary technological mutation. Today I know how does a fish finder work but, within a few years, it can be totally different.

Evidently, the ease with which fish is caught has transformed the fishing industry. In this article, all the current information about it has been articulated, we believe that you are transformed too. Based on the features and processes described above, you can select the best brand and type of your device from the varieties offered in the market. For further details, you can read reviews for different brands.

Certainly, you have noticed that technology is not static and wouldn’t wish to be left behind, keep visiting our site for updates as and when we receive them. We are delighted that you’re enlightened.