Stout raft occasionally uses fuel (4)
I believe the answer is:
turf
'fuel' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'stout raft occasionally' is the wordplay.
'occasionally' means one should take alternating letters (letters taken at regular intervals or occasions).
'stout'+'raft'='stoutraft'
The alternate letters of 'stoutraft' are 'TURF'.
'uses' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for turf that I've seen before include "Grass covering" , "Piece of lawn" , "Personal territory; sod" , "Horseracing as an industry" , "Grass; (one's) territory" .)