Top 5 Green Boating Guides

The Green Boater Challenge: Implement one new idea OR change out one product on your boat this year towards becoming A GREEN BOATER and do your part to help protect our oceans from pollution.

My top 5 green boating guides in 2021 with links for free downloads.

1. Green Boating Guide - Sailors For The Sea
   ”Keep our waters blue by boating green!”
   https://www.sailorsforthesea.org

2. Guide to Green Boating - Clean Marine BC
   ”Caring for Our Coastal Waters”
   https://georgiastrait.org

3. Eco-Friendly Boating - Eartheasy
   ”How to care for your boat using non-toxic methods that won't harm wildlife.”
   https://learn.eartheasy.com

4. Best Practices on the Water - Canadian Wildlife Federation
   ”Show that you care for Canada’s rivers, lakes and oceans by taking action.”
   https://www.discoverboating.ca

5. Commercial Green Boating Guide - OceanSmart
   ”Sustainable Boating Practices”
   https://www.bucksuzuki.org

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Boaters are the First Line of Opportunity

When I began my journey to discover how to be a green boater, one of my mantras proclaimed boaters to be the ‘First Line of Defense’ to help protect the ocean. Now some 14 months later, I have come to realize that this is better stated as the ‘First Line of Opportunity’.

Huh?

Swapping out one word moves us from an act of war to an act of caring. Or better yet, away from anxiety, doom and despair towards peace, hope and freedom. This shift allows a perspective that empowers each of us to give back to our ocean out of respect, appreciation and love.

Perspective
Social media is rife with the horrible imagery of the state of our oceans. Overfishing, massive plastic islands and dying coral reefs to name a few. A single boater attempting to win this assault on our oceans by ‘defending’ seems daunting and overwhelming.

I am not asking we ignore the hard realities of pollution, climate change and unbridled consumerism. But in order to inspire a community, we need to realize the impact that each of us can have when we choose to truly begin to care for our oceans and our planet. Only then can the simple acts of one boater be multiplied exponentially to become a significant community of size who have seized the opportunity to impact the health of our oceans and marine life.

We have an opportunity to choose acts of caring and loving as we give back to the ocean in appreciation.

Boaters do represent the First Line of Opportunity. For a cleaner, healthier ocean.

~TGB

Propane 5 HP Outboard from Mercury has 30% lower emissions than Gasoline Engine

PROPANE POWERS NEW ECO-FRIENDLY 5 HP OUTBOARD FROM MERCURY.

I met up with Andy White of Mercury Marine at the 2019 Vancouver Boat Show to see their new 5 hp Propane Outboard Motor.

Okay! So propane outboards are not a radical new invention, but given the less than successful propane engines from a few years back - this does present a reliable option to gasoline from one of the largest manufacturers in the marine industry.

My first impression is that it actually looks like a ‘normal’ 4 stroke gas engine. Not the clunky screw in BBQ cylinder you buy at CanTire. Apart from the fuel connector, this unit has all the proven Merc components under the hood. Great news for repairs, spare parts and, well look and feel.

This one cylinder Four Stroke weighs just 59.5 pounds (27.2 kilograms) making it light and easy to carry or transport. It runs on the same propane used in your backyard BBQ.

It comes with a propane auto shut-off valve on the engine and in the fuel hose connector, a standard 6-foot (1.8-meter) fuel hose and a standard US POL connector on the tank side. A 20-pound (5-gallon) tank of conventional propane provides approximately 10 hours of boating at full throttle.

Propane power is a first for Mercury making this a very Eco-friendly engine that is easy-to-use, reliable and an intuitive outboard motor.

The standard 15” Shaft model retails for $1645.00 US., while the Sail-drive model - with a 25” Shaft - retails at $1740.00 US.

The 5 hp Propane Four Stroke sports an easy-to-reach shift lever on the engine and has six tilt positions with a shallow-water drive to set the outboard where you need it.

The Sail Power model also features a 12 Volt, 4 Amp / 50-Watt alternator charging system with a cable that allows sailors to charge a battery to run electronics or lights. It also has a reverse-thrust exhaust relief and high-thrust propeller to improve slow-speed handling and control.

Watch Full Interview with Andy at The Green Boater TV here.

Inspiration: A Zero Waste Boat?

I discovered Bea Johnson and her best selling book, Zero Waste Home, when foraging through online stores for products to include in a Green Boater Products Kit. How little I knew about the zero waste lifestyle. But equipped with google, TED talks, IG, Twitter and email - I tore up the internet learning all that I could from Zero Waste Lifestyle practitioners. Adding to the list of names topped by Bea Johnson were Heather White (Intentionalism), Kathryn Kellog (Going Zero Waste), Shia Zu (Wasteland Rebel), Megean Weld (Zero Waste Nerd), Jonathan Levy (Zero Waste Guy), Anne-Marie Bonneau (Zero Waste Chef), Celia Ristow (Go Litterless), Manuela Baron (Girl Gone Green), Kathleen Roland (Zero Waste Wanderess) and Lauren Singer (Trash is for Tossers). BUT. What about those who can speak to a Zero Waste Boat lifestyle?

That list of names simply does not exist. Yet. One thing I know about boaters. They are passionate about their craft AND they love the ocean. I have always maintained that boaters are the first line of defense when it comes to the war against ocean pollution.

So why not dig deeper into Zero Waste practiced ashore and re-purpose that knowledge onto the water and into the hearts and minds of boaters. Starting with me. An experienced boater. But a TOTAL newbie at zero waste living. Call me zero-waste-boater-patient-number-one.

This blog is dedicated to my journey of discovery and learning as I aim to move from a ‘normal’ consumer of all things boating towards a dedicated Zero Waste Boater.

So….help.

Do you have any Zero Waste tips, ideas or practical advice for this aged student - that could be applied directly to the boating lifestyle?

I do not know what I do not know. Yet. And with my 50 Foot trawler tied off in winter moorage - this is a perfect season to step back, assess what I am currently doing aboard, and see what low hanging fruit can be tackled towards a Zero Waste Boat lifestyle.

Bruno
The Green Boater
@thegreenboater