On Fri, 02 Feb 2007 06:28:01 -0500, "Reginald P. Smithers III"
wrote:

There are some alternative fuel boats that have been around for a long
time, they are called sailboats.

My preference for a few reasons, but just won't work for me now.

Also, they are been some much publicized converted diesels that run on
bio-diesel that have made long ocean trips to encourage the use of
bio-diesel fuel.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14227765/
http://www.earthrace.net/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005...tion_soy_b.php
http://www.mirabilis.ca/archives/000580.html
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...odiesel18.html

Thanks. Interesting stuff. BTW, aside from the advantage of
traversing skinny water for fishing, what attracts me to skiffs is
their phenomenal fuel mileage compared to other powered boats.
For any long-distance boating, I prefer sail.

--Vic

On Feb 1, 10:01 pm, Vic Smith wrote:

BTW, since you're deeply in the boating game, has there
been much written about "alternative" fuels for boats?
Seems there should be a market there for wealthy greenies.

Interesting you should mention that.

I was reading a really interesting article recently about "green"
fuels like ethanol blends and bio-diesel. Apparently what is
happening is that the various grain like corn are driving the
costs for food up so that things like food subsidies to third
world countries, emergency aid and even feed grain prices
will drive the cost of food through the roof which could lead
to over production, over harvesting, etc.

One case the article cited was the tortilla in Mexico. Even
though the corn used in the tortilla is white (as opposed to
yellow), it is a commodity and it's base price has been
affected such that the tortilla has become more expensive
to make and purchase. The tortilla is the major protein
source for Mexican poor and instead of buying/making three
or four per day they are down to one and often times not even
one substituting other, more starchy and less healthy food.

Kinda puts the whole "bio fuel" debate into a new and much
more interesting light.

wrote in message
ps.com...
On Feb 1, 10:01 pm, Vic Smith wrote:

BTW, since you're deeply in the boating game, has there
been much written about "alternative" fuels for boats?
Seems there should be a market there for wealthy greenies.

Interesting you should mention that.

I was reading a really interesting article recently about "green"
fuels like ethanol blends and bio-diesel. Apparently what is
happening is that the various grain like corn are driving the
costs for food up so that things like food subsidies to third
world countries, emergency aid and even feed grain prices
will drive the cost of food through the roof which could lead
to over production, over harvesting, etc.

One case the article cited was the tortilla in Mexico. Even
though the corn used in the tortilla is white (as opposed to
yellow), it is a commodity and it's base price has been
affected such that the tortilla has become more expensive
to make and purchase. The tortilla is the major protein
source for Mexican poor and instead of buying/making three
or four per day they are down to one and often times not even
one substituting other, more starchy and less healthy food.

Kinda puts the whole "bio fuel" debate into a new and much
more interesting light.

Geez, and I love popped corn.

On Fri, 2 Feb 2007 09:08:16 -0500, "D.Duck" wrote:
Geez, and I love popped corn.


From a link Reggie posted:
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsourc...&date=20030312
"It cleans out diesel tanks like a hefty dose of paint thinner, is
made of renewable products such as soybean oil and gives off an odor
more than a little reminiscent of French fries. "

There was another reference to popcorn in a different link Reggie
included, but I can find it now. It said the exhaust *didn't* smell
like popcorn.
There was a comedian named Dave who appeared on the Joey Bishop
show years ago as a used car salesman. Detailed his tricks, one of
which was pouring used Crisco into the crankcase to suppress main
bearing thumping. After about 5 minutes laying out his deceptions,
Bishop asked, "So, Dave, what precautions do you recommend the used
car buyer take when making a purchase?".
Dave replied, "Well, probably the easiest thing to do is start it and
run it untils it's warmed up a bit. Pull the dipstick and give it a
sniff. If it smell like fried chicken, just walk on by."

--Vic

On 2 Feb 2007 05:46:37 -0800, wrote:

On Feb 1, 10:01 pm, Vic Smith wrote:

BTW, since you're deeply in the boating game, has there
been much written about "alternative" fuels for boats?
Seems there should be a market there for wealthy greenies.

Interesting you should mention that.

I was reading a really interesting article recently about "green"
fuels like ethanol blends and bio-diesel. Apparently what is
happening is that the various grain like corn are driving the
costs for food up so that things like food subsidies to third
world countries, emergency aid and even feed grain prices
will drive the cost of food through the roof which could lead
to over production, over harvesting, etc.

One case the article cited was the tortilla in Mexico. Even
though the corn used in the tortilla is white (as opposed to
yellow), it is a commodity and it's base price has been
affected such that the tortilla has become more expensive
to make and purchase. The tortilla is the major protein
source for Mexican poor and instead of buying/making three
or four per day they are down to one and often times not even
one substituting other, more starchy and less healthy food.

Kinda puts the whole "bio fuel" debate into a new and much
more interesting light.

Yeah, it's not the panacea often portrayed. Maybe the protein
can be saved as a by-product of the bio fuel production process
and General Foods can manufacture diesel burgers or some such
to replace the tortilla.
My take is we need more nuke development and better stored electric
technology to take the pressure off fossil and bio fuels for where
they are most practical. It'll get worked out one way or another.

--Vic