There is lots of talk about being "environment friendly" when it comes to boating. How do you rate yourself? If you have products you believe in and or tips for making it easier to be an environment friendly boater tell us about them. If you simply don't care or think the whole issue is overblown - tells us why. And, don't forget to rate yourself in this week's quick quiz.
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Bryan C.
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Ed Schenck
Nothing goes overboard, but..
I feel guilty that I am harming the environment with bottompaint, way too many chemicals. And I hate running the diesel but my skills won't let me sail a 37-footer in a river only 50 yards wide.
I feel guilty that I am harming the environment with bottompaint, way too many chemicals. And I hate running the diesel but my skills won't let me sail a 37-footer in a river only 50 yards wide.
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Mike DiMario
Old horses!
We try to be extremely environmentally responsible in every possible way. We have found that long time boaters, however, do not feel that their flushing waste overboard is consequential. There seems to be some great resistance, having never used their storage tanks, to contaminate them. Most boaters afraid of the sewer odors leeching through the hoses, etc. Also there is exists rationalization and justification that some greater source of contamination goes froward on a much larger scale by municipalities. The rumor is that municipalities are permited to dump raw sewage into the waters when "emergency conditions" exist. I think it will take time to change the old thinking. Everyone's personal caretaking and responsible handling of waste matter will affect change. In the meantime we see shifting of blame and apathy much too often. Although it is very unpopular, we discourage neigbors from dumping. It would seem crude to dump waste in the water in which you live! Wouldn't it? A good example of what NORMAL can be! Is the answer better detection for authorities? Do we take issue directly with violators? Do we have an obligation to turn violators over to authorities? Our friends and neighbors? I should say not. If there was a better chance of them getting cited, they may comply. MIke D.
We try to be extremely environmentally responsible in every possible way. We have found that long time boaters, however, do not feel that their flushing waste overboard is consequential. There seems to be some great resistance, having never used their storage tanks, to contaminate them. Most boaters afraid of the sewer odors leeching through the hoses, etc. Also there is exists rationalization and justification that some greater source of contamination goes froward on a much larger scale by municipalities. The rumor is that municipalities are permited to dump raw sewage into the waters when "emergency conditions" exist. I think it will take time to change the old thinking. Everyone's personal caretaking and responsible handling of waste matter will affect change. In the meantime we see shifting of blame and apathy much too often. Although it is very unpopular, we discourage neigbors from dumping. It would seem crude to dump waste in the water in which you live! Wouldn't it? A good example of what NORMAL can be! Is the answer better detection for authorities? Do we take issue directly with violators? Do we have an obligation to turn violators over to authorities? Our friends and neighbors? I should say not. If there was a better chance of them getting cited, they may comply. MIke D.
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Ron Mehringer
4 Stroke
I feel a lot less better now that my H26 has a Honda 4-stroke engine. Other than a little smoke when I start her, she seems to run clean. My last boat, an O'Day 19 had a Mariner 2-stroke. Blue smoke seemed to be the norm. That always bothered me. On the occasions where I use cleaning products on the deck and such, I choose biodegradable. We only have a porta potti, so there is never any dumping of raw sewage overboard (a practice I find very offensive in bays or inland lakes). When you consider how many people use our waterways today, it becomes apparent that we each need to do our part.
I feel a lot less better now that my H26 has a Honda 4-stroke engine. Other than a little smoke when I start her, she seems to run clean. My last boat, an O'Day 19 had a Mariner 2-stroke. Blue smoke seemed to be the norm. That always bothered me. On the occasions where I use cleaning products on the deck and such, I choose biodegradable. We only have a porta potti, so there is never any dumping of raw sewage overboard (a practice I find very offensive in bays or inland lakes). When you consider how many people use our waterways today, it becomes apparent that we each need to do our part.
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Ryan Fussle
We all need to do our part
We are doing our share to avoid poluting our lake. So far this season my four cycle Honda outboard has used a total of seven gallons of gas. 95% of the time we use non poluting wind power! Absolutely no trash overboard.
We are doing our share to avoid poluting our lake. So far this season my four cycle Honda outboard has used a total of seven gallons of gas. 95% of the time we use non poluting wind power! Absolutely no trash overboard.
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Don H.
Nothing goes overboard except for...
All trash stays onboard and is disposed of properly at the marina dumpsters. Even when sailing more than 25 miles offshore, no trash goes overboard. Minor transgressions do occur, such as spitting watermelon seeds overboard. I have also made some unintentional contributions to the junk collection at the bottom of the bay when fittings have failed and gone overboard. The holding tank is used according to the law. It is either pumped out at the pump out station, or emptied when sailing more than three miles offshore. When I change the oil in the diesel, the used oil is put into the oil recycling tank at the marina.
All trash stays onboard and is disposed of properly at the marina dumpsters. Even when sailing more than 25 miles offshore, no trash goes overboard. Minor transgressions do occur, such as spitting watermelon seeds overboard. I have also made some unintentional contributions to the junk collection at the bottom of the bay when fittings have failed and gone overboard. The holding tank is used according to the law. It is either pumped out at the pump out station, or emptied when sailing more than three miles offshore. When I change the oil in the diesel, the used oil is put into the oil recycling tank at the marina.
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Jack Laird
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HOW Editorial
Final Results
Final results of the quick quiz ending 8/7/2000: Are you an environment friendly boater? Mostly (minor digressions) = 58% Yes, extremely = 33% Somewhat = 4% Don't care = 1%
Final results of the quick quiz ending 8/7/2000: Are you an environment friendly boater? Mostly (minor digressions) = 58% Yes, extremely = 33% Somewhat = 4% Don't care = 1%
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Pat Donovan
Response to Old Horses
Thanks for writing your opinion. I agree about answering to your own conscience. However, I think not using your holding/storage tanks for fear of contaminating them is akin to not using your new 150% genoa, as it may fill with air. That's what the tanks are desined to store until pumpout. The municipal systems rumor is no rumor, it is fact. In times of power failure or catastrophic precipitation event, the waste water does not magically stop flowing into the plant and if it exceeds the holding capacity of the plant it has to go somewhere. But that is the exception, not the rule. As for our individual boats and their content of flotsam/jetsam, do we hold and pump,or dump and run; we are a nation of people who must do the right thing when no one is watching. If we only comply with law when we think we can be caught, then the country is in a whole lot more trouble than a few thousand sewage dumpers can cause. Count me in with those that use their tank, do the right thing, and will help a fellow boater do the same. there is an old axiom: "a fool is a guy who pees in a swimming pool and thinks he is the only one that did"
Thanks for writing your opinion. I agree about answering to your own conscience. However, I think not using your holding/storage tanks for fear of contaminating them is akin to not using your new 150% genoa, as it may fill with air. That's what the tanks are desined to store until pumpout. The municipal systems rumor is no rumor, it is fact. In times of power failure or catastrophic precipitation event, the waste water does not magically stop flowing into the plant and if it exceeds the holding capacity of the plant it has to go somewhere. But that is the exception, not the rule. As for our individual boats and their content of flotsam/jetsam, do we hold and pump,or dump and run; we are a nation of people who must do the right thing when no one is watching. If we only comply with law when we think we can be caught, then the country is in a whole lot more trouble than a few thousand sewage dumpers can cause. Count me in with those that use their tank, do the right thing, and will help a fellow boater do the same. there is an old axiom: "a fool is a guy who pees in a swimming pool and thinks he is the only one that did"
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