2 questions! Carpet and fuel!

[Virginboater72]

Good morning guys, hope you all are well. I have 2 questions: I am almost done changing hulls over from the one with the bad floor to the newer one. The old hull had carpet, and a rotted floor. The new one has carpet and no rotted floor and I want to keep it that way! Do the cons of carpet outweigh the pros? Second question: I have a 1987 Mercury 60HP outboard, and I have been told that older motors do run well with the newer ethanol additive found in gas. Fact or fiction? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks guys.

 

[64osby]

Re: 2 questions! Carpet and fuel!

No comment on the carpet, seems to be a personal choice.

On the fuel, yes it will run fine on today's gas. Just make sure your fuel lines have been replaced or replace them. The ethanol will breakdown the old lines and create issues.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: 2 questions! Carpet and fuel!

Carpet in a boat holds moisture and will accelerate rotting of your new floor.The gas can be a problem.I would suggest installing a water separating fuel filter and using a stabilizer.Try to buy only enough gas that you can use on your outing.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 2 questions! Carpet and fuel!

If you keep your boat covered and dry when not in use the carpet won't be much of a problem. If you leave your boat exposed to the elements and let rain soak your carpet it will cause problems.

 

[Teamster]

Re: 2 questions! Carpet and fuel!

If you take the proper precautions carpet is just fine,..

Open the hatches to let things air out and leave them open when you cover it, And make sure there is a way to vent the cover for air flow,...

Personally I avoid gas with ethanol,...In everything,........

Some of the gas stations around here sell non-ethanol "recreational" gas,...

I also mix in some "Sea-Foam" with the gas when I fill up the boat,...

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 2 questions! Carpet and fuel!

If the deck is properly waterproofed, carpet or any other kind of floor covering will have no effect on it. Carpet cannot rot a properly waterproofed floor. Other opinions are incorrect.

That motor will run fine on regular unleaded gaoline with or without ethanol. As with all fuel, keep the water content down, keep the fuel fresh and you will be fine.

 

[Virginboater72]

Re: 2 questions! Carpet and fuel!

Thanks guys, I guess I'm torn on the carpet. I don't know what the guy before did, so I don't know if the floor was waterproofed properly. I can only hope. After the carpet removal in my last boat, I don't know if I want to keep this carpet. Once I pulled up the floor on the last boat, there wasn't ONE piece of plywood left that didn't flake away like burned paper. It was completely gone. As far as the ethanol, I was told that it would gum up the carbs on the older motors. There is a separator on this boat, I wasn't going to use it, but now I might! Thanks again.

 

[Virginboater72]

Re: 2 questions! Carpet and fuel!

I have one more question, it could be classified as dumb, but what is the hose that comes off the fuel separator? It looks like a high pressure line with a quick disconnect?