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In September 2005 I learned about production of Biodoesel derived from natural oils. From research I was able to design and fabricate the necessary equipment to collect waste vegetable oil from restaurants and process it to convert into biodiesel.
An alternative to
Dinosaur diesel
Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel that is physically similar to petroleum diesel, produced from domestic, renewable organic resources such as canola, sunflowers, soy, peanuts, palm, fish oils, etc. Biodiesel may be used as a substitute for petroleum diesel fuel requiring little to no engine modifications and may be blended with petroleum diesel fuel in any concentration. Pure biodiesel burns with about 80% fewer toxic emissions, reduces particulate emissions by 50%, has no sulfur emissions, is CO2 neutral, burns cleaner thus reducing coking and carbon build up in the engine, and has better lubricity characteristics for engine components. Biodiesel can have slightly less energy potential than petroleum diesel, generating up to 5% less power, but this was unnoticeable in The Good Ol' Boys marine diesel.
The Tyee Tour
I calculated we would require approximately 17 drums (3,500 liters) of fuel to run the boat from Vancouver to the Alaska border and back including our various side trips and fishing activities. I got busy and produced the fuel and arranged pallets of numerous drums to be shipped into the field using a coastal freight barging company to establish caches at six strategic locations along the route. Calling on a number of friends and contacts that I have made over the years of traveling the coast, I arranged for the fuel drums to be shipped in advance to their fishing lodge or residence where it was received and stored until my arrival. We would then transfer the biodiesel into the Good Ol’ Boys using the on-board fuel transfer pump or simply siphon it. Other than some of the fuel not arriving on time at one location, necessitating some blending of petroleum diesel, the entire scheme worked remarkably well likely making the Good Ol’ Boys the first boat to have cruised the British Columbia coast using biodiesel.
Trucking courtesy of Kerrisdale Lumber Company
