Boating Green

Thanks for visiting the Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show! See you Next Year! February 5 - 9, 2014

/lib/img/gallery/img087241651.jpgGreen Boating Tips

 
Looking for ways to be more eco-friendly when you're out on the water? Following are tips and information that will help you minimize your impact on the environment while maximizing the efficiency and performance of your boat.
 

     1.
Choose Green Products: 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 propellerallows you to dial in the optimum pitch angle in single degrees. Modular props, let you swap props while keeping the same hub. Benefit: Reduce fuel consumption, improve performance.
3.
Don’t Push Water: Install and use trim tabs or hydrofoils. 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 designed to convert hydrocarbons into safe compounds
Benefit: Safer products. Reduce water pollution
5.
Recycle your Lead-Acid Batteries: 12V batteries are among the most recycled products in the world.
Benefit: Save money and conserve resources. *Amount varies by state.
6.
Prevent Fuel Spills: Use or install a device to prevent overboard discharges from your tank vent. Benefit: Save gas and reduce water pollution
7.
Use an autopilot: Modern autopilots can steer better than most helmspersons—and they don’t have a limited attention span. Benefit: Reduce fuel consumption
      8.
Recycle Your Monofilament Fishing Line. If your harbor doesn’t have a recycling location, see the website fishinglinerecycling.org.
9.
Eat Responsibly Harvested Seafood: Choose sustainable seafood at a restaurants or grocery stores to ensure that the fish stocks are plentiful for your children and for generations to come.

 

 

Tips For Reducing Fuel Usage

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  • Slower speeds on the water will reduce fuel usage.
  • Proper use of trim tabs reduce drag, especially while accelerating up to planing speeds.
  • Minimize the amount of time that you idle at the dock
  • Minimize the use of onboard generators.
  • Use dock-side electrical power in lieu of generators.
  • Have a float plan so you know exactly where you’re going.
  • Make sure the hull is clean.
  • Don’t under-power your boat. It’s important you have enough motor to handle the load.
  • Check your propeller. If your boat is slow "out of the hole" or lacks top-end speed, you might have the wrong propeller.
  • A well-tuned engine uses less fuel.
  • Use the grade of gasoline specified by the engine manufacturer.
  • Visit DiscoverBoating.com for more helpful tips on reducing fuel usage.

 

Boating Accessories Go Green

 

Environmentally-Friendly Cleaning Products

Many marine cleaning products developed today demonstrate a commitment to clean water. Companies have developed non-toxic based biodegradable boat soaps, which have a minimal impact on the aquatic environment. We've also seen the introduction of color safe, oxygen release gels and cleansers that remove spots off of boats without using bleach or other hazardous materials.

 
Environmentally-Friendly Marine Aftermarket Accessories

Innovative companies in our industry have developed ways to extend the life of batteries in harsh marine environments. Some products are designed to reduce premature battery failure caused by periods of inactivity. These systems utilize the power of the battery and return it as a surge or pulse. These products can also revive many older batteries back to their original state.

Improvements in Marine Sanitation

Since the passage of the Clean Vessel Act in 1992 marine sanitation has seen remarkable improvements. Marine sanitation manufacturers are providing consumers with new products to protect the marine environment from boat sewage. Manufacturers have developed and marketed innovative technologies that treat, store and contain waste more effectively.