$1,700 Bottle Of Sta-Bil Fuel Treatment

[Brent Crouch]

Has anyone else had any trouble with putting Sta-Bil in their gas? When I winterized my boat, I put the correct amount in the gas tank.

I listed the boat for sale, created a funny ad (below), and got plenty of response. I showed up early today and made sure the batteries were charged. A buddy and I took the boat out for a spin for over an hour. Not a single problem.

We burned the fuel down to 1/4 of a tank and just before my buyer arrived, the engine started bogging down. It would start and idle fine. Anything over 1/2 throttle and the engine would bog down and the boat would loose speed.

I had the exact same thing happen my first trip out last summer. The marine mechanic blamed it on the Sta-Bil I had used when I winterized it and fixed it with a new fuel filter and a new tank of fuel.

I didn't learn from my mistake last year, did it again, and this time my impatience prompted me to sell a boat that wasn't running right for $1,700 less than I was asking.

If I wasn't 2 hours away from the marina, I would have just had it fixed and came back up next weekend to sell it. The 4 hour round trip just made it not worth it and someone got a great deal!

Anyone else had trouble with Sta-Bil?

 

[wish2fish]

I have used it a lot in the past without a problem. This winter I used the Starbrite EZ-stor EZ-start. Hopefully it will work out just fine.

Maybe the ol girl was just getting back at you for letting her go!

 

[Nehalennia]

Well I think if you sold it for $3000, that was a screaming deal for the buyer.....with Hoes or without

 

[Skip]

You did an absolutely first rate job cleaning the bilge up. The compounding, polishing, and waxing of the gelcoat looks really first rate as well.
I'd have put some teak oil on the bow pulpit and interior wood surfaces, but that is just me.
I'd have held out for the full $4700. Some lucky guy stole this obviously beloved Sea Ray.

 

[Stray Cat]

I have used 2+4 and the Mercruiser's winter conditioner, never a problem with either of them....did you fill up with ethanol prior to layup?

 

[boatrboy]

5 years with my 270 da (always store it full) and 4 years with a 19ft bowrider - never had any problem with the regular stabil. (I hope I didn't just jinx it)

 

[timinfla2]

That was a F'n hilarious AD!

 

[sbw1]

Never had an issue with Stabil. Used it for years.

 

[Weave]

Star-tron for me....

 

[dpvandy01]

10 years 3 boats, 1 jet-ski, chain saw, weedeater, and a leaf blower plus all the gas powered stuff at my fire department... no trouble. 4 hours travel was worth $1700.00 to you? Damn, you be one of dem hi dollar hoes biotch!!!

 

[H2OME]

Nice boat, great price, poor mechanic advice. I will suggest that the "bog down" problem was most likely the result of a failure of the carburetor accelerator pump. Alcohol in fuel can wreak havoc on this part and the result is a lack of power when you accelerate. The alcohol also increases the amount of water in the fuel, which can have the same effect, which can normally be remedied by changing the water-separating fuel filter. I have used Sta-bil for years and had no problems.