Some things in life seem eternal – like the west wind, the cycles of the tide, and the explosive nature of a decent gallon of petrol. The news, however, is that while we can still rely on the breeze and the reversing stream, a tankful of modern petrol that’s been sitting in the outboard all winter may well prove little more combustible than a pint of beer.
If your dinghy motor won’t start when you try it this Spring, dump last season’s unleaded into the nearest safe disposal unit and refill it with lively new fuel. Buy it from a busy roadside filling station because the stuff’s like real ale. The more they sell, the better it gets. One pull, and you’ll be away.
