Current state of Seaplane fuel

I'm curious what the current state of sea plane fuel is. When I started
flying sea planes cross countries were planned to docs where boat fuel
was available and most all seaplanes had mogas STCs. Since avgas is so
rare on the water and seaplanes have such short legs what are people
doing today with regard to cross countries in straight floats?

-Robert

Things are pretty much the same as always. Barely enough places that
have fuel to make it cross country and pilots carry extra emergency
fuel in cans in the plane, just in case. You also have to call ahead
because not all these places are open that often. If you can use
"marine gas", that is a plus, but those boat docks are not exactly easy
to get into for a Seaplane.

Robert M. Gary wrote:
I'm curious what the current state of sea plane fuel is. When I started
flying sea planes cross countries were planned to docs where boat fuel
was available and most all seaplanes had mogas STCs. Since avgas is so
rare on the water and seaplanes have such short legs what are people
doing today with regard to cross countries in straight floats?

-Robert

Doug wrote:
Things are pretty much the same as always. Barely enough places that
have fuel to make it cross country and pilots carry extra emergency
fuel in cans in the plane, just in case. You also have to call ahead
because not all these places are open that often. If you can use
"marine gas", that is a plus, but those boat docks are not exactly easy
to get into for a Seaplane.

But "marine gas" would contain Ethanol like car gas, right? Would't it
be prohibited in aircraft?

Some seaplane landing areas are near a land airport, you can
often call the FBO and they'll send a truck to where you've
beached or tied up.


"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
ups.com...
| I'm curious what the current state of sea plane fuel is.
When I started
| flying sea planes cross countries were planned to docs
where boat fuel
| was available and most all seaplanes had mogas STCs. Since
avgas is so
| rare on the water and seaplanes have such short legs what
are people
| doing today with regard to cross countries in straight
floats?
|
| -Robert
|

But "marine gas" would contain Ethanol like car gas, right? Would't it
be prohibited in aircraft?

Marine gas in Minnesota for example was once excluded from the ethanol
requirement. The dealers probably know. It is a pretty hot topic
everywhere it seems. Use the water test to verify.

On 25 Aug 2006 13:35:48 -0700, "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

I'm curious what the current state of sea plane fuel is. When I started
flying sea planes cross countries were planned to docs where boat fuel
was available and most all seaplanes had mogas STCs. Since avgas is so
rare on the water and seaplanes have such short legs what are people
doing today with regard to cross countries in straight floats?

I do not have any personal experience with floatplane flying, but
there was a great article a few months ago (I think in EAA's Sport
Aviation) about flying straight floats to Oshkosh.

It opened my eyes to how much difficulty floatplane pilots have
securing fuel on cross-countries.

http://www.seaplanes.org/
They print a directory
http://www.seaplanes.org/services/wld.htm


"Nathan Young" wrote in message
...
| On 25 Aug 2006 13:35:48 -0700, "Robert M. Gary"

| wrote:
|
| I'm curious what the current state of sea plane fuel is.
When I started
| flying sea planes cross countries were planned to docs
where boat fuel
| was available and most all seaplanes had mogas STCs.
Since avgas is so
| rare on the water and seaplanes have such short legs what
are people
| doing today with regard to cross countries in straight
floats?
|
| I do not have any personal experience with floatplane
flying, but
| there was a great article a few months ago (I think in
EAA's Sport
| Aviation) about flying straight floats to Oshkosh.
|
| It opened my eyes to how much difficulty floatplane pilots
have
| securing fuel on cross-countries.

On 25 Aug 2006 13:35:48 -0700, "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

I'm curious what the current state of sea plane fuel is. When I started
flying sea planes cross countries were planned to docs where boat fuel
was available and most all seaplanes had mogas STCs. Since avgas is so
rare on the water and seaplanes have such short legs what are people
doing today with regard to cross countries in straight floats?

-Robert


I have amphibs so that makes it a lot easier but in ontario it's not
too hard to find avgas on the water. Also most marinas sell premium
now for all the jet skis.

Drew Dalgleish wrote:
On 25 Aug 2006 13:35:48 -0700, "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

I have amphibs so that makes it a lot easier but in ontario it's not
too hard to find avgas on the water. Also most marinas sell premium
now for all the jet skis.

In most of the U.S. "permium" fuel is illegal in aircraft because the
U.S. adds alcohol to the fuel to make the corn growers happy.

-Robert

On 28 Aug 2006 15:25:02 -0700, "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:


Drew Dalgleish wrote:
On 25 Aug 2006 13:35:48 -0700, "Robert M. Gary"
wrote:

I have amphibs so that makes it a lot easier but in ontario it's not
too hard to find avgas on the water. Also most marinas sell premium
now for all the jet skis.

In most of the U.S. "permium" fuel is illegal in aircraft because the
U.S. adds alcohol to the fuel to make the corn growers happy.

-Robert

I don't doubt that's true but just how many FAA inspectors are out
sitting on docks waiting for planes to fuel up? I think I understand
the problems with alcohol enough that I would just use what's
available.