The ethanol era has arrived and it’s already influencing the entire marine industry, reshaping the way gas engines are maintained, serviced, and operated.

Who wouldn’t accept with open arms a renewable product that is produced right here in the United States, reduces our dependency on foreign oil, and reduces pollution? You’ve probably already heard of biodiesel, a fuel made from, among other things, soybeans and used deep-fryer oils. Similarly, ethanol or ethyl alcohol is made from various agricultural products such as sugar cane and corn (it’s what moonshiners used to make in rural stills in the early part of the last century). Here in the U.S., where huge quantities of corn are grown, this seems like a natural fit. When mixed with gasoline, usually at a 10-percent ratio, it’s referred to as either…