On Wed, 04 Apr 2007 11:41:56 -0400, Peter Hendra
wrote:

Wayne,
Thanks for this very practical advice.

Would you be able to suggest a stabiliser? I have never heard of this
concept but then there are a lot of things I don't know about.

The brand I am most familiar with is called "Stabil". It is readily
available in the US from West Marine:

http://tinyurl.com/ynma3p

I add it to the tank of my small boat when I'm going to be away for
awhile, and also add it to my emergency supplies of generator gas.

With outboard motors, generators, etc. it is good storage strategy to
turn off the fuel with the motor running until they run out of gas.
That prevents deposits from forming in the carburetor regardless of
whether the fuel is stabilized.