Feeling a little green?

[filthy liberal scum]

NO it doesn't!

Overall i try to do my part. a lot of the green thing is what do you consider pollution? is hearing a noisy powerboat from 3 or more miles away pollution. i would say yes. the high price of fuel has definitely made sailing more enjoyable. more quiet, less bouncing around in what seems to be a huge Maytag.as to the rest , we are the most wasteful nation on earth. we are conned into getting our lawns fertilized a couple times a year weed killers a few more times. they don't need it. cut it long and it will be strong and no need for the killers as soil doesn't dry out and weeds need sun to germinate. how many try find other uses for all those plastic containers our foods come in. maybe I'm just cheap but the old mayo containers make great things to keep the odds and ends stuff on the boat. the ketchup bottles make great suger containers. they also make great containers for the nails ,screws etc in the garage or workshop. the huge wastefulness of fuel will probably only be curtailed by either by taxes or shortage. economics will only change the behavior. maybe we could put tech to work here. have a sliding fuel tax rate that is tied to the fuel economy of your vehicle. each year you would receive a bar code sticker with your tags and it would be affixed to your window and before you could fill up you would have to read the bar-code or the pump wouldn't work. cheating wouldn't be a problem as they could be like the PA inspection stickers that if removed they mark a great big void in the middle of it. the earth will probably survive but we really don't have a clue as to what the point of no return is. screw it up big enough and it might not be such a hospitible place for humankind.

 

[Eric on board Selah]

Our Rivers, Lakes and SEWERS

After completing our trtip 900+ miles down the Mississippi, up the Ohio and up the Tennessee on our Hunter 380, I have a horro story to tell. Thos of us who, like me, were lake sailors and not river rats (until now), have been totally unaware of how much raw sewage gets pumped straight into the rivers from MOST boats.We used to be like most sailors, dutifully bringing our boat in for pumpouts and shuddering at the thought of using our macerator if we ever got out beyond the three-mile ocean coastal limit.No, it is way worse than that, most pleasure craft do not, many have their toilets piped straight out. We marvelled at the lack of pumpout facilities, only to hear "most folks don't bother and just dump it. It's illegal, but we all do it."Would the TV investigators please stand up!

 

[NautiDuck]

Raise fuel costs

I am a Republican but I still support raising fuel taxes to put the price of gas around $5 per gallon and keep it there. Our thirst for fuel pollutes the planet and empowers dictators all around the globe. European countries subsidize their railroads. We massively subsidize the highway system. The only way to force Americans to save fuel (and to stop our automakers from industry suicide) is $5 per gallon gas. Put the tax money into alternative energy sources. Tap the incredible inventiveness and creativity and entreprenurial spirit of this country.I have a Yukon that gets 13 MPG and a Camry Hybrid that gets 40 MPG. In the Camry gas is cheap. In the Yukon it is expensive. You better believe that impacts how we use each vehicle.

 

[Jim]

RE: Raise fuel costs

That would be Ducky (get). Let all the money go to the oil companies! I have most of my money in OIL. Putting tax money into alternative energy sources is simple a waste. How can you call yourself a Republican, if your not for BIG OIL you don't know the meaning of the word!

 

[mkamermaid]

both sides of the story

We own a Cat 23, an Xstar and a beloved 13 ft Boston whaler. The bottom line... some things will thrill one boater versus another. Personally, I love to feel the shudder on the tiller of our Cat when we are in the groove. But I also get a real thrill seeing our kids wakeboarding or wakesurfing behind the Xstar, and I know that is what they enjoy the most. Am I "greener" on the Cat? Sure! While I am fortunate I can afford to pay for both of these pleasures, I can also tell you that we have 6 gas cans which we fill at the pump to avoid the inflated prices at most (but not all, John) marinas. We all pay more for entertainment every day. Boating is no different, and we decide what it is worth for us and what we can afford. However, to pretend that our boating has a real impact on the environment is kidding ourselves. What we should really look at is our day to day energy use: who takes public transportation to work? who turns off the A/C?, who recycles? who buys local groceries? who calls the Salvation Army instead of putting perfectly good items on the curb? Those are the real issues here, the ones that will have an impact. Leave the boaters alone.

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

Just Maybe...

While I got involved in sailing for the challenge, the feel of the tiller when I've got just the right trim, and the pure serenity of ghosting along as it nears sunset with only the fishermen already anchored and preparing for some night fishing for company that has us hooked, I also feel maybe 'smug' that I use very little fuel in the course of a season. Speaking to a friend of mine with a medium sized power boat who spends Hundreds of $$ at each marina station, I laugh to myself because my little boat("Wind is Free")had half a tank of fuel-max is 6 gal-at the start of june and after several junkets, still has(any guesses?)half a tank. Of course I don't range as far as my friend with his powerboat, but I don't use more than a gallon or two per year on the boat.

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending July 1, 2007:How much does environmental impact weigh on your sailing?52% I haven’t changed any of my habits29% I try to sail more, motor less15% My little motor can’t make much of a difference04% I am considering electric propulsion

 

[Doug L]

Green on the water but...

I feel a lot more "green" when I am sailing the boat than I do when I am driving the 225 miles from my home to where I keep the boat. Especially if I am towing the boat at that time, to the tune of about 10 mpg.

 

[Beija Flor]

Green on workdays ...

After 25 years of aviation - 20 years flying my Tri-Pacer that burns 8 gallons of specialized airplane gasoline per hour (while "10% ethanol" in the local car-gas stymies my auto-gas use certificate) - yes, sailing seems "greener" to me!Quite a few years ago, when cardiovascular problems seemed the most likely reason I'd have to give up flying the "Snowbird", I came to the conclusion that sailing would be the best "next best thing". Now, with avgas prices well above $4 per gallon ($32 per flight hour in my plane) and the notion of retiring to South America very high in my wish list, sailing looks MUCH better than aviation!That's why I bought my MacGregor 19, "Beija-Flor". That's why it has a 9.8 hp kicker instead of the biggest engine certified (40hp) - If I want to go FAST, my Tri-Pacer will go about 110 MPH on 8 gph!When I leave my slip (yes, I keep the Beija-Flor afloat) at idle/trolling speed, I'm feeling good about the little bit of gasoline I'm using. If it takes 10 minutes at 3 knots to get to the river-channel where I can lower the centerboard and raise my sails - I burned more fuel on one day's commute to work than I will burn in four or five days' voyages up and down the channel from my marina to the main channel of the Potomac River.QUESTION ON ELECTRIC PROPULSION:Would I need more/bigger/heavier lead-acid batteries, or would I have to use an "advanced" battery technology such as NiMH?Would I have to carry a big, heavy battery back home for recharging - or could I manage with a large solar cell? (How much would THAT cost?)If I bring it home for charging every day, how was my charging electricity generated - and was that more ecologically responsible than running a small internal-combustion engine for twenty minutes or so?