With the boating season soon to begin, be it for fishing or cruising, BoatUS, the organization for recreational boaters, are telling motorboat owners to be cautious on filling their boat gas tanks with E15 biofuel (fuel containing up to 15 percent corn-based ethanol).

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is the 2005 federal law that requires the blending of biofuels such as corn-ethanol into our gasoline. When it was written, it assumed that America's use of gasoline would continue to rise and mandated escalating amounts of biofuels to be blended with our fuel. Since 2005, however, gasoline usage, says BoatUS, has actually declined steadily, which today forces more ethanol into gasoline.

To abide by this RFS mandate, in 2010 the EPA permitted E15 into the marketplace. Even though E15 is prohibited from being used in marine engines, snowmobiles, motorcycles, small engines like lawnmowers, weed trimmers and leaf blowers, as well as any vehicle made before 2001, this fuel can now be found at over 100 filling stations in 16 states at the very same pumps as E10 and ethanol-free gasoline (which is rare to find).

Over 60 percent of BoatUS owners' half million members as well as millions of recreational boaters, fill their boat's fuel tanks at roadside gas stations where the higher blend ethanol fuels are often the cheapest fuel at the pump. This creates, say the folks at BoatUS, a huge potential for misfueling and puts boaters at risk.

For years BoatUS has been battling in Washington to make sure recreational boat owners can buy gasoline that works with their recreational boat engines. Senators Diane Feinstein and local Pat Toomey, have now introduced S.577, the "Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2015" in the US Senate.

The bill, which has both Democratic and Republican support, will effectively remove the government mandate for higher blends of corn-based ethanol fuels (more than 10 percent) and allow for investment in more comparable biofuels. BoatUS believes it is a critical step to solving the ethanol issue and urges America's boat owners to contact their Senator now to become a co-sponsor and supporter of S.577. Boaters can easily do this at: http://goo.gl/S4bWMu.

CABELA'S HOSTS LADIES DAY OUT SEMINARS

Cabela's Hamburg, announced plans to celebrate the company's biannual Ladies' Day Out firearms event, Sat., April 18.

The event will bring together NRA instructors, local experts, sales and five seminar/workshops.

According to Harold Luther, Cabela's Retail Manager, the Outdoor Foundation's 2014 Outdoor Participation Report shows that of the 142.6 million U.S. participants in outdoor activities, 46 percent (approximately 65.6 million) are female.

"This ladies event will offer educational workshops and insight on outdoor products and activities and encourages women and families to embrace and enhance their passion for the outdoors," said Luther.

The first 100 women to attend one of the free seminars on April 18, will receive a free gift and will also qualify for a discount on in-store purchases. All seminars are free of charge and are as follows:

* 9:00 a.m. – Intro to Hunting presented by the National Wild Turkey Federation Blue Mountain Chapter

* 10:00 a.m. – A Women's Guide to Shooting and Self Defense presented by Lehigh Valley Firearms Training Center

* 11:00 a.m. – A Women's Guide to Choosing a Firearm presented by The Well-Armed Woman local chapters of Berks-Lehigh and the Lehigh Valley

* 12:00 p.m. – Intro to the Shooting Sports presented by STSK Firearms Training Center.

* Registration is not required.

For more information check www.Cabelas.com/hamburg.