Beginning this week, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is distributing 100,000 E15 warning labels to NMMA member boat manufacturers across the country to place on their boats in hopes of alerting boaters to the potential dangers of fuel with a high volume of ethanol. The labels will help educate boaters that E15 should not be used in their boat.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved a plan submitted by the ethanol industry that allows E15 to enter the marketplace. According to the NMMA, there are serious and well-documented human safety, environmental, and technological concerns associated with ethanol blends over 10 percent in recreational boat fuel tanks and engines. Anything above E10 can pose serious problems, including performance issues like stalling, corrosion leading to oil or fuel leaks, increased emissions and damaged valves, rubber fuel lines and gaskets.

“We encourage manufacturers to take action to help educate boaters by placing these E15 warning labels on their boats to warn about the dangers posed by E15 and help prevent costly and dangerous long term engine damage,” Thom Dammrich, NMMA president, said in a statement.

Source: National Marine Manufacturers Association