tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5399150767029697926.post8807732669807871257..comments2024-03-18T07:50:55.198-04:00Comments on Sail Delmarva: Is Methanol Going To Be The Next Ethanol?Drew Fryehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06013965677534522281noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5399150767029697926.post-131924824684954392012-04-02T18:05:50.364-04:002012-04-02T18:05:50.364-04:00Methanol and FRP? That's why I started this di...Methanol and FRP? That's why I started this dialog; copies went to several sailing mags. Whether or not the FRP is vulnerable or not depends on the resin; I built a ethanol-rated tank for my last boat and it managed e10 for 10 years before I sold it.<br /><br />Butanol? It really stinks, for starters (butanol is named for rancid butter). But really, it's about cost. Methanol, from natural gas, is cheap enough. The other possibilities are too expensive to consider.Drew Fryehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06013965677534522281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5399150767029697926.post-74880023240546260632012-03-30T11:38:37.304-04:002012-03-30T11:38:37.304-04:00Please no methanol. It will eat right through my ...Please no methanol. It will eat right through my hull-integrated gas tank. I've read that butanol is far better than either methanol or ethanol. How about butanol anyone?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5399150767029697926.post-23084274625319465682012-03-29T15:26:44.023-04:002012-03-29T15:26:44.023-04:00Surely if SASOL can do this so cheaply, it will be...Surely if SASOL can do this so cheaply, it will be done. I have some doubts about their numbers and the talk in my circles reflects much higher capital and operating costs. For starters, the feedstock cost at $2.50/mm BTU for gas is --fact--more like $20/bbl, or 4 times what they claim. Additionally, the US has too much conventional gasoline refining capacity, and I expect several large facility closures this season. Gas is dirt cheap now and will be a for a few years, but 5-10 years down the road is anyone's guess (I'm guessing it will stay reasonable but rise significantly). Thus, it might be difficult to make the investment. But I do think it's going to happen. There are a few very large projects in engineering and equipment acquisition, but not well publicized yet.<br /><br />And then there are the political realities. We know they are only weakly bound by the facts.<br /><br />But all that aside, I'm just curious as to how my outboards will react. Will small outboards and lawn mowers become flex-fuel? It seems awfully impractical to add computers and oxygen sensors. I'm certain of this much: tell the American public they must switch to electric chainsaws and things will get a little ugly.Drew Fryehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06013965677534522281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5399150767029697926.post-72781587159963602062012-03-29T12:55:17.013-04:002012-03-29T12:55:17.013-04:00Great info, and yes it's time to look into the...Great info, and yes it's time to look into the challenges and look towards the future!Mid-Life Cruising!http://www.mid-lifecruising.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5399150767029697926.post-39828676280086605452012-03-29T12:10:07.528-04:002012-03-29T12:10:07.528-04:00If we have that much methane, why not turn it into...If we have that much methane, why not turn it into gasoline? SASOL has a <a href="http://www.chemlink.com.au/gtl.htm" rel="nofollow">commercial process</a> doing this in South Africa, producing gasoline at about $10/barrel. That's $10/bbl of <i>gasoline</i>, not crude.<br /><br />bob<br />s/v Eolian<br />SeattleRobert Salnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17236481906016930762noreply@blogger.com