Biodiesel

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1

Posted by Thomas Wales (twales@…>)

Greetings,
As the owner of an '84 Hoyt 32 with the 3GM Yanmar, I am interested
in using biodiesel. Up here in Maine, there is a publication called
“Working Waterfront” which is published by the Island Institute in
Rockland, ME. The July issue had an article promoting the virtues of
biodiesel as less polluting and cleaner burning. They did caution
that biodiesel has a “cleaning effect” on tanks and hoses and may
clog filters during the initial usage period. I have sent an email
inquiry to Mack Boring, the east coast distributor for Yanmar asking
their opinion, which I will share with the group. Is anyone using
biodiesel now and if so, how has your experience been? Any other
opinions would be welcome.
Thanks,
TW
F32 #20
Anoush Koon, Pemaquid, ME

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2

Posted by fred (fredmolden@…>)


I just read an article in an old Practical Sailor, may be 2003
vintage regarding biodiesel. Unfortunately I have thrown it out. In
general the energy in the bio diesel was less than that of petro diesel but
close enough. They had to add a thinner for cold weather, this may be
part of the formulation now however. Burned cleaner, minimum smell to
exhaust but cost almost the same as petro diesel. In general I thought
the biodiesel was a better fuel and had no real limiting drawback.



From: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Thomas Wales
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 10:14 AM
To: FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [FreedomOwnersGroup] Biodiesel

\




Greetings,
As the owner of an '84 Hoyt 32 with the 3GM Yanmar, I am interested
in using biodiesel. Up here in Maine, there is a publication called
“Working Waterfront” which is published by the Island Institute in
Rockland, ME. The July issue had an article promoting the virtues of
biodiesel as less polluting and cleaner burning. They did caution
that biodiesel has a “cleaning effect” on tanks and hoses and may
clog filters during the initial usage period. I have sent an email
inquiry to Mack Boring, the east coast distributor for Yanmar asking
their opinion, which I will share with the group. Is anyone using
biodiesel now and if so, how has your experience been? Any other
opinions would be welcome.
Thanks,
TW
F32 #20
Anoush Koon, Pemaquid, ME

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3

Posted by katorpus (jrb@…>)

Unless you have the capability of using a “day tank” holding small
quantities of biodiesel, it’s probably not a good idea to use it in a
sailboat, and even then, you’ll want to buy it “regularly” in small
quantities.

Although the “authoritive bodies” have yet to agree on a method of
measuring the stability of biodiesel, it seems to be the concurrence
of opinion that it is LESS stable than pure petroleum based diesel
fuel.

Biodiesel is produced from many different types of source products,
and the stability apparently varies greatly among
them…the “strength” of the biodiesel being another factor (B20 is
20% biodiesel, and B100 is 100%)

Sailboats use up their fuel a whole lot slower than engine-driven
boats and automobiles. If you aren’t planning a trip which will
require you to refill your tank within a month or so, I suggest you
not do this.

Biodiesel has issues with both thermal stability and oxidation…the
latter being the equivalent of your home cooking oil going rancid.
The longer it sits in a tank, the more of an issue this will become.

Google up “biodiesel” and “stability” for a number of articles on
this topic before deciding to fill your tanks with this premium
priced product…

Not knocking the idea of “green” here…just putting in my two cents
worth…if I had a ready source, I’d be burning it in my pickup
truck, but not in the boat…



— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, Thomas Wales <twales@…>
wrote:

Greetings,
As the owner of an '84 Hoyt 32 with the 3GM Yanmar, I am
interested
in using biodiesel. Up here in Maine, there is a publication
called
“Working Waterfront” which is published by the Island Institute in
Rockland, ME. The July issue had an article promoting the virtues
of
biodiesel as less polluting and cleaner burning. They did caution
that biodiesel has a “cleaning effect” on tanks and hoses and may
clog filters during the initial usage period. I have sent an email
inquiry to Mack Boring, the east coast distributor for Yanmar
asking
their opinion, which I will share with the group. Is anyone using
biodiesel now and if so, how has your experience been? Any other
opinions would be welcome.
Thanks,
TW
F32 #20
Anoush Koon, Pemaquid, ME

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4

Posted by seychellois_lib (mcunningham@…>)

Anoush,

Good question. I took a look at the article you referenced and then
went to the cytoculture website mentioned. There is a handbook at the
site which provides additional detail regarding findings and cautions
for rec boat use. Here’s the link.

http://www.cytoculture.com/Biodiesel%20Handbook.htm

I looked at using bio a while ago (very high level) and someone on the
board stated " no problem, just fuel up with 100% bio and your on your
way". I then went to a Yanmar diesel site and Yanmar stated no bio
deisel in our engines - period. I pretty much stopped thinking about
it at that point. I googled around this morning and found the
following article

http://www.btequipment.com.au/biodiesel.html

where Yanmar is reportedly stating a 5% blend is acceptable for their
industrial stuff.

It would really be nice to get some authoritative advice here. Ideally
we could get rid of petrodiesel altogether. Man that would be nice
next time you have a small diesel leak from a fuel line seal or
filter. No more stink in the boat, easier to clean, better for the
environment, and smells like popcorn when it burns.

Having said that, not sure I want to smell popcorn popping for 12
hours steaming to weather anymore than I want to smell diesel burning.
But I digress.

5

Posted by Thomas Wales (twales@…>)

Thanks for the link to cytoculture. That is an excellent resource
and provided interesting information. I think I may buy a gallon and
add it to the tank and see what happens. I have not heard back from
Mack Boring yet, so will contact them again and forward their reply.
TW



At 09:14 AM 8/5/2007, you wrote:

Anoush,

Good question. I took a look at the article you referenced and then
went to the cytoculture website mentioned. There is a handbook at the
site which provides additional detail regarding findings and cautions
for rec boat use. Here’s the link.

<http://www.cytoculture.com/Biodiesel%20Handbook.htm>http://www.cytoculture.com
/Biodiesel%20Handbook.htm

I looked at using bio a while ago (very high level) and someone on the
board stated " no problem, just fuel up with 100% bio and your on your
way". I then went to a Yanmar diesel site and Yanmar stated no bio
deisel in our engines - period. I pretty much stopped thinking about
it at that point. I googled around this morning and found the
following article

<http://www.btequipment.com.au/biodiesel.html>http://www.btequipment.com.au/bio
diesel.html

where Yanmar is reportedly stating a 5% blend is acceptable for their
industrial stuff.

It would really be nice to get some authoritative advice here. Ideally
we could get rid of petrodiesel altogether. Man that would be nice
next time you have a small diesel leak from a fuel line seal or
filter. No more stink in the boat, easier to clean, better for the
environment, and smells like popcorn when it burns.

Having said that, not sure I want to smell popcorn popping for 12
hours steaming to weather anymore than I want to smell diesel burning.
But I digress.

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