THE GREEN BOATER BLOG
sustainable boating topics
The Green Boater meets up with Dr. Rick Breur, founder of Finsulate, a European company who has created a new and revolutionary antifouling coating for boats - inspired by nature: the lowly sea urchin! Traditional antifouling coatings are considered harmful to the marine environment since they contain biocides and toxins which ablate off the hull surface and enter the marine eco system.
Not long ago heads would turn when a sleek new Tesla drove past. Now they are commonplace. And most of the other ‘traditional’ manufacturers are offering electric powered models as well. So the tipping point* for electric powered automotive vehicles is rapidly approaching if not already here.
The recreational boating market appears to be poised to begin a similar journey. Simply google electric power boating terms and you will discover new entries every day, across all marine sectors, from startups to mainstream, and from manufacturers around the world.
In 2019 this writer visited the Seattle Boat Show to find eco-friendly products for boaters. One of the themes for this edition of the show was Electric Power. One of the vendors, Pure Watercraft, was showcasing their latest prototype - a 40 HP electric drive leg - bolted onto a 90 year old wooden sea sled. It was magnificent to see the old classic with a sparkling new low profile drive leg. Naturally this caught my eye - and the interest of a future partner - General Motors.
Pure WaterCraft Partners with GM
In 2022 GM acquired a 25% stake in the Seattle based company - Pure Watercraft. The 2019 prototype has since been refined into a commercial product and now offered for sale as a stand alone electric motor system or built into a number of turnkey electric propulsion boat packages.
www.purewatercraft.com
Catch my original 2019 interview on the trade show floor with Annie and Ed of Pure Watercraft here:
The Green Boater TV on Youtube - Pure Watercraft
Once these products hit the water, they will turn heads. Mark my words, like the Tesla example, in a few years they will be just another electric boat on the water!
~TGB
*Definition of tipping point : the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.
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
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.
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.
Refuse: Say no to allowing items aboard. Once on board you ‘own’ it.
Reduce: Purge the junk on board and focus on necessities.
Reuse: Prioritize and use reusable items = less onboard garbage!
Recycle: Practice the first 3R’s (refuse, reduce, and reuse) then recycle as 4th step.
Rot: Compost galley waste and find onshore locations which accept compost.
+1 Repair: Consider repairing/restoring before replacing. This sets boaters apart!
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.
