To siphon or not...

[Twins Guy]

I am looking at purchasing my first boat-happens to be from one of the neighbors at the in-laws lake place. Its a 94 crestliner with a 17g built in gas tank. Its paired with a similar vintage evinrude 40hp oil-injected outboard. The boat is in very nice shape and I think generally has been well maintained. The current owners have had it winterized, shrink wrapped and stored outdoors every winter-but there's not a spot of rust on the trailer and in season it has been stored in a garage and only used for day trips. Two years ago the dad took sole ownership of the boat from his son-but has used it once since. The gas tank was filled last year and "treated" (upon fill up and potentially again by the marina who winterized it). It remains nearly full this year and hasn't been on the water. Fuel doesn't smell like varnish, but what do I know. I want to take the boat for a test drive-which they're more than happy to facilitate. But am I doing the motor a disservice by running it on that fuel supply? Even for just a test drive? In short the question is do I siphon off 16 gallons of fuel (and if so what do I do with it? car?) Or after taking ownership do I plan on just burning through this full tank asap? Or shouldn't I sweat it?

I think I understand the risks associated with not siphoning/replacing the fuel. But from a practical standpoint I am hoping the experts will say just burn through it.

I truly wish the boat had a portable/removable 6g tank:(

Thanks so much for your thoughts!

Rich

[Eric Wettschreck]

Don't sweat it. If you buy the boat just use up the remaining fuel in the tank and no worries.

[boatfixer]

Don't sweat it. If you buy the boat just use up the remaining fuel in the tank and no worries.

+1

[JeffB]

+2

[Ufatz]

+3

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

+4!!!

[CAMAN]

+5, and also add a can of seafoam before heading to the lake so it gets sloshed around. That will help prevent anything from building up in the motor.

[Twins Guy]

thanks gang!

[Down Deep]

One more thing you can do is add fresh fuel as you burn through it. AmsOil also has a great fuel additive. I think they have one specifically for old fuel.