Keep our outboards running sweetly

Chris W writes…

A short guide to fuel care for our dinghy engines

Our dinghies are only as ready as their outboards. A few simple habits around fuel make an enormous difference to reliability on the water — and save the frustration of a reluctant engine when you need it most.

Always Use E5 Fuel

When filling up for the outboards, please always use E5 petrol — the grade labelled with a green E5 nozzle at most forecourts. Avoid E10, which contains a higher proportion of ethanol.

Why does ethanol matter? Ethanol is hygroscopic — it actively attracts and holds moisture from the air. In a fuel system that sits unused between sailing sessions, this leads to water contamination, gumming in the carburettor, and corrosion of small components. Using E5 reduces the ethanol content and therefore the risk.

Add Fuel Stabiliser Every Time You Refill

Because fuel can sit in the can — and in the tank — for extended periods between uses, please add a fuel stabiliser additive every time the can is refilled.

Dosage: approximately one dessertspoonful per 5 litres is plenty. A rough measure is perfectly fine — no need for anything more exact than that.

This simple step makes a significant difference to keeping the fuel fresh, preventing degradation, and protecting the fuel system components over time.

Run the Carburettor Dry After Use

At the end of every session, please follow this one extra step before putting the engine away.

How to shut down correctly: turn the fuel tap to the off position while the engine is still running, then let it continue to run until it uses up the remaining fuel in the carburettor and stops naturally. This leaves the carburettor empty and dry, preventing stale fuel from gumming up the jets and causing starting problems next time out.