AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh A few years ago, I made a costly mistake that many boaters are now at greater risk of repeating.
I pulled up to a gas pump and filled my boat, assuming that the fuel being sold was safe to use. I was wrong. The fuel I put in my boat contained ethanol, perhaps even 15 percent ethanol, also known as E15. This blend, although approved for many cars and trucks, is not for boats. Marine engines are designed to run on fuel containing no more than 10 percent ethanol. Using higher ethanol blends can damage fuel systems, create performance problems, increase safety risks and even void warranties.
Clearer labeling at the pump could have saved me that expense and time lost on the water. But my experience is not just a cautionary tale for boaters; it is a warning for policymakers to inform their constituents of potential risks to their boats as E15 becomes more widely available.
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a temporary waiver allowing summertime sales of E15, citing fuel supply and consumer cost concerns. This means more high-ethanol fuel at pumps during peak boating season, when millions of Americans are fueling trailered boats at roadside stations.
The current Renewable Fuel Standard mandate requires a minimum amount of renewable fuel to be added to the nation’s gasoline supply, restricting ethanol-free fuel choices and thereby reducing consumer choice when purchasing fuel for their boats. Expanding E15 availability without preserving access to compatible fuels risks further limiting access to E10 and ethanol-free gasoline. The EPA’s proposal would further reduce consumer choice by allowing the Renewable Fuel Standard requirements to apply nationwide. As a result, Americans would have fewer options to purchase the fuel best suited for their boats.
Not only do E15 fuels limit consumer choice, but its higher ethanol content causes it to evaporate faster than E10 fuel, creating harmful evaporative emissions, particularly in hot weather, which increases risks for boaters.
Before access expands further, the EPA and Congress should implement stronger safeguards to protect boaters and other consumers. At a minimum, that means clear, highly visible pump labels with standardized language that says plainly: “E15 is not for boats.” It also means stronger consumer education and policies that preserve access to ethanol-free fuel and E10, so that boaters have safe, compatible options. Right now, the warnings at the pump remain too easy to miss and too unclear to be effective. For a boater filling up at a roadside station, a small label may be the only line of defense between a safe day on the water and a costly repair.
A 2020 survey commissioned by the National Marine Manufacturers Association found that only 18.25 percent of consumers thought the current E15 label was “very effective” at warning that the fuel can be hazardous to certain engines. When more than four out of five consumers are not strongly convinced that the warning works, the system is failing.
Boaters should not have to decode fuel marketing terms or hunt for fine print to protect their engines. The EPA has an opportunity to pursue renewable fuel goals without limiting consumer choice. Expanding E15 fuels should not mean reducing access to fuels that millions of Americans depend on to operate their boats every summer.
Given EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s history representing New York’s ‘s 3rd state Senate District and 1st Congressional District — home to vibrant and dedicated boating communities — I urge him and his agency to implement stronger safeguards and require clear warning labels at gas pumps nationwide, so boaters can make informed decisions about the fuel they are purchasing.
David Kennedy is Government Affairs Manager at BoatU.S., the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters. He represents more than 740,000 dues-paying members nationwide.
Add as preferred source on Google Tags Lee ZeldinCopyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Comments: Link copiedMore Opinions - Energy and Environment News
See All
Opinions - Energy and Environment Billionaires, misleading campaigns are at the heart of the climate-industrial complex by Craig Rucker, opinion contributor 23 hours ago Opinions - Energy and Environment / 23 hours ago 
