SARASOTA COUNTY - You may have noticed signs at your local gas station saying ethanol is being used in the fuel.  That new mixture is causing nightmares for some boaters here on the Suncoast.

Bill Palmer of North Port has an old boating problem.  "When you go to put it in the water and put it in gear it will just die."  Fix after fix and a little homework later, Bill found out it's actually a new problem.  Boat owners and service specialists across the country are finding out that many boating components are not compatible with the newer higher mixtures of 10% ethanol in gas called E10.

"A lot of concern from all avenues."  In Nokomis Gulf Harbor Marina technicians and service specialist like Steve Cocchi say they're seeing more an more similar problems.  They blame the new fuel.  "It's clogging up fuel pumps, carburetors if it's a carbureted engine.  Fuel injectors in the newer motors."

The theory is that the alcohol is eating away the inner lining of hoses to the engine, clogging it up and leaving boaters stranded.  Also, because ethanol attracts moisture, it's putting too much water in gas tanks causing what's called phase separation.  If you own an older boat with a fiberglass gas tank it's even worse news.  "The ethanol will soften the liner in the inside of the tank turning it into a mushy type substance."

One thing you can do is find gas that doesn't contain ethanol.  

"There is just a lot of talk right now and concerns because there is not a lot of hard information to direct boat owners at this point," says Cocchi.  The repairs could cost hundreds of dollars and there is that being stranded part.  For now your best bet may be a check up.  "Make sure they are having their service intervals done.  Fuel filters are going to maybe need to be changed more frequently."

Now that he knows Bill says he'll get the work done and try to set sail once again.  "I'm sure there are a lot of people out there right now that think their boat is a piece of junk and not using it.  Not realizing it's the ethanol causing the problem."

Boating experts say you may also want to put in only enough gas for the trip.  This will help keep the ethanol from sucking in more water while it sits.