1 Million Boaters to Implement 1 Action to reduce Pollution

The Green Boater is launching a simple initiative to help boaters reduce their impact on the environment.

We call it the ‘1 Million Boaters x 1 Action’ programme

We, as recreational boaters love boating! Why else would be be so willing to incur the expense, time and effort? I have also found that, for the most part, boaters are ahead of the curve when it comes to protecting our rivers, lakes and oceans. For example, boaters concern themselves with conserving drinking water, finding ways to minimize garbage on board and optimize packing ‘stuff’ into their limited storage spaces. These are actions many land locked home owners have yet to fully embrace.

However. We also know our boating community and marine industry can do better to help reduce pollution.

There are roughly 20 million registered recreational boats in North America and approximately double that number in the rest of the world. If only 5% of the recreational boaters in USA and Canada added one new habit to help reduce pollution it would represent 1 Million Boaters with 1 new Action each for 1 Million Actions to help keep our boating waters clean.

ONE MILLION ACTIONS FOR OUR LAKES AND OCEANS!

What could that look like?

Well one day into the launch of the 1 Million Boaters x 1 Action program we have received very positive responses in support. Many actions have already been taken. And some are innovative. Like this one received today from Wayne in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory Canada.

Wayne writes

It's amazing the stuff you can find floating around in the Salish sea and washed up on the shores, lost, discarded or abandoned. Here's a picture of one of 3-200L drums I found and re-purposed as rain water barrels to irrigate my gardens at our cabin.

Wayne repurposed a large plastic barrel found floating in the ocean. Now saving drinking water and collecting rainwater for at his summer cabin. 1 Million Boaters x 1 Action to Help our Oceans.

I love boating and want to ensure my children and grandkids have the opportunity to go boating in clean lakes and oceans. So adding one small change in behaviour or using an product on my boat which does not pollute is a small ask to allow clean waterways for future generations.

Why not commit to a new action aboard your boat for 2022? Telling someone gives you a better chance to follow through. So tell us. Tell others. Simple to do here https://www.thegreenboater.com/1-million-actions

-TGB

Replace That Smelly Expensive Marine Head - Go Composting!

The Green Boater TV connects with full time liveaboard boaters, Esther and Michael, who tossed out their traditional marine head and installed a Composting Toilet from ‘Air Head’.

So much great information that we created a 3 part series.

Part 1: How to Choose a Composting Toilet

Part 2: How to Install a Composting Toilet

Part 3: How to operate a Composting Toilet

You will be pleasantly surprised on how inexpensive it was to purchase AND even more surprised on cheap this is to operate. AND with virtually no parts maintenance!

Summary
A composting marine toilet:

• inexpensive to purchase

• inexpensive to operate

• zero parts maintenance

• inexpensive to maintain (clean)

• does not smell

• is better for the environment

• is suited for small crew

Click to watch this series on The Green Boater TV here.

The Green Boater's 5 R's for Zero Waste Living PLUS 1

1. Refuse: Say no to allowing items aboard. Once on board you ‘own’ it.

2. Reduce: Purge the junk on board and focus on necessities.

3. Reuse: Prioritize and use reusable items = less onboard garbage! 

4. Recycle: Practice the first 3R’s (refuse, reduce, and reuse) then recycle as 4th step.

5. Rot: Compost galley waste and find onshore locations which accept compost.

+1 Repair: Consider repairing/restoring before replacing. This sets boaters apart!

The Practical Guide to Green Boating

New eBook now available for free download!

We have just released our new 36 Page Guide with tips on how to reduce the negative impact on the health of our oceans while enjoying your passion for boating.

Includes a checklist of the top 10 Green Boating Tips!

FREE download - The Practical Guide to GREEN BOATING

We believe recreational boaters are the first line of defense when it comes to protecting the health of our oceans.

Boaters can choose more eco-friendly products, improve engine maintenance and embrace new boating practices in order to help sustain the health of our oceans.

This guide seeks to inform you, the boater, on how to engage in a journey towards the practice of Green Boating.

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