Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/688632
July 2016 | Boating Industry | 15 www.BoatingIndustry.com MARKET INTELLIGENCE ETHANOL, SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONCERNS We also asked respondents to share their thoughts about ethanol and other service department challenges. Here is some of what they had to say: "Alcohol does not belong in fuel in the first place and adding it to boat fuel is a major mistake." "The overall collateral damage caused by ethanol has been staggering." "Ethanol-free fuel should be more available to the general public." "Ethanol fuel is the No. 1 issue we deal with. Going to E15 is just going to make it worse." "We switched to selling premium non-ethanol about three years ago and have increased our business 230 percent. Only wish I'd have done it earlier." "Ethanol has caused us to lose customers and hurts other repairs and installs due to too much money being spent on fuel systems." "Huge shortage of experienced techs … leads to more repair issues." "Ethanol mandate is the worst action to occur in response to a no-longer-active problem." "We have seen extensive damage to fuel system hoses and tanks … and I think we may have to revise the quality of hoses in the fuel system." "Ethanol will devastate older boat resale values and increase all costs associated with an older boat transaction." Very difficult 60% Somewhat difficult 29% Neither easy or difficult 6% Somewhat easy 4% Very easy 1% How Difficult HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO FIND QUALIFIED SERVICE TECHNICIANS? Source: Boating Industry survey, April/May 2016