Avoidance of algae is easy...Curing may not be
Algae does not live in the fuel. It lives in water in the fuel tank and feeds on the fuel at the fuel-water interface. The prevention is to keep the fuel tank free of water - especially during the lay-up season when the tank breaths with changes in temperature. The "inhaled" humidity condenses on the cold top and sides of the tank and drips to the bottom. Storing the boat with a topped off fuel tank is the usual answer to algae prevention. The problem with algae is that once you head out into a boistrous sea, the water below the fuel line intake containing the algae gets mixed up with the fuel. The water would eventually stop the engine, but the algae glogs the filters first. Even with a bad case, the fuel is fine. Remember, the fuel floats on top of any water. After letting the boat sit calmly at dock, get rid of most of the problem by syphoning or pumping out the water below the fuel - using the access hatch and a length of copper tubing just longer than the tank is deep.Slowly sweep the bottom of the tank without stirring things up. When the fuel runs clear into the jerry jug, you've got out most of the algae. Hopefully, there won't be more than a gallon or two of contaminated fuel to get rid of. Follow up with biocide treatment and a drying agent. Then get a bunch of fuel filters change your primary fuel filter frequently until it is clear of gunk. Remember, the fuel filter will usually look fine until the tank gets agitated, then it will start picking the stuff up and even clog with the now-dead algae. Once you've got it clean, keep it dry... Good luck-- Ernie April (WindCatcher, C-42)
