2009 Baltimore Boat Show's Green Boating Zone
Wednesday, January 21 through Sunday, January 25, 2009.
Green Boating tips from the National Marine Manufacturers Association
1. Choose Green Products: Use the cleanest maintenance products that do the job. Look for the EPA-certified "Design for the Environment" DfE label, which assures you that the product has minimal environmental impact and is safer for the person using it.
Benefit: Safer products. Reduce water pollution.
2. Use The Right Prop: Use a prop with the right pitch so your engine reaches its designed wide-open-throttle RPM. An adjustable-pitch ProPulse propeller allows you to dial in the optimum pitch angle in single degrees. Modular props, like the Quicksilver Flo-Torq II series, let you swap props while keeping the same hub. Product: ProPulse propeller (A West Marine Exclusive).
Benefit: Reduce fuel consumption, improve performance.
3. Don't Push Water: Install and use trim tabs or hydrofoils such as those offered by Bennett, Nauticus and StingRay. Most planing powerboats can improve hole-shot acceleration or reduce fuel consumption with properly adjusted trim tabs and hydrofoils. Keeping on a plane at lower engine RPMs can extend your range and reduce your time on passages.
Benefit: Improve boat performance & save gas.
4. Keep The Bilge Clean: Avoid the accidental discharge of oily water by using a sorbent in each bilge area. Consider a bioremediation product like BIO-SOK to convert hydrocarbons into safe compounds
Benefit: Safer products. Reduce water pollution
5. Retire That 2-Stroke Outboard: While it may be possible to get a few more years out of your old-technology outboard, but you'll be much happier with the reduced noise, fumes, fuel consumption, and pollution of a modern injected four-stroke outboard such as those by Mercury. For an even quieter ride, try Torqeedo's electric outboard.
Benefit: Save gas and reduce water pollution.
6. Recycle your Lead-Acid Batteries: 12V batteries are among the most recycled products in the world. Get up to a $10.00 credit* on a new battery, when you return your core to any West Marine store.
Benefit: Save money and conserve resources. *Amount varies by state.
7. Prevent Fuel Spills: Use or install a device to prevent overboard discharges from your tank vent. The Davis No Spill and the Racor Lifeguard Separator are two methods. The Fuel Whistle by Green Marine makes a whistling sound that stops when your tank is full, to prevent spills.
Benefit: Save gas and reduce water pollution
8. Use an autopilot: Modern autopilots such as those by Raymarine can steer better than most helmspersons and they don't have a limited attention span.
Benefit: Reduce fuel consumption
9. Recycle Your Monofilament Fishing Line at West Marine stores or shore side recycling locations. If your harbor doesn't have a recycling location, see the website fishinglinerecycling.org.
10. Eat Responsibly Harvested Seafood: Protect fish stocks by using the Seafood MiniGuide (PDF) & chose sustainable seafood at a restaurant or grocery store. Ensure that the fish stocks are plentiful for your children and for generations to come.
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