Sailing and the environment

[Sean]

Thanks Cathy

Thanks for getting off the list. If we had your $10 words on our forum on a daily basis--I would want off the list. Actually, there is no list.

 

[Ed]

Jose: I agree with you, but...

please define what you mean by "we should be willing to bite the bullet and embrace the highest standards" ?Each of us may have an idea of what "highest standards" means, but it may mean different things to different people. Some of us may think all 2-stroke engines should be banned in navigable waters, while others may not. Some may think diesel emissions should be cleaner, while others may want to leave things as they are. Some may say that using anti-fouling paint causes harm to the environment, while others say they don't. Some may think it's ok to urinate directly into the water, while others would want us to use the holding tank for all bodily waste.From the examples above, it is clear that we all have different ideas of how much should be done to clean-up the environment. We should all respect those with differing opinions, and (therefore) work toward taking care of the environment in ways that do not unduly adversely affect us, physically and economically.~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~

 

[newly anonymous]

for the record...

...I got quite a chuckle out of the "effete intellectual snob" bit. Not many retired scuba instructors who live aboard Hunter sailboats get accused of such things. ......... Spent the afternoon at the boat show picking up a replacement dingy for the Zodiac that was stolen last month. Was hoping to bump into Peggy but missed her in the crowd. I bought an Aquacraft inflatable, and a buddy asked me why I'd want a RIB with a hull made of aluminum rather than fiberglass. Told him that the new hull would be far more recyclable a hundred years from now. Talk about extreme!

 

[olaf stevenson]

whoa

I think John Farnsworth should hook-up with Cathy and when they have offspring they could name them dictionary and thesaurus.

 

[73mensailed]

John F.......double standard?

You bought an aluminum dink because it can be recycled in a hundred years, but you live on a fiberglass boat? In practicing what one tries to preach, shouldn't your boat be wood? No, kill to many trees. Steel, no acid rain from steel production and mining pollution. Composite, no that won't work either. What's the answer John?

 

[Ken]

Gas Boat

Just last weekend I waas at my Marina, and the "Gas boat" across from me filled up at the dock. He brought cans of gas down to the dock, pouring fuel into his boat right there. Need less to say about a gallon or more spilled. It really torked me, I told him about it and he hopped into his boat and took off. I almost reported him but didn't. The slick covered 80% of the dock area of around 80 slips by 40 slips, and traveled into other areas. Seals, water birds and other wild life were swimming around the slick. The odd thing was that there were many other boaters in the Marina and none of them reported the spill.  I do everything to avoid a spill, and in my maany years of boating have put out only about a gallon all total.

 

[Florida Daz]

San Fran scuba man?

I wonder what thats all about? The best thing for John and people that think like him would be to buy a Beneteau and move to France.

 

[Ed]

Ken: You should have reported it.

Although it was not your fault, you saw it happen, and did nothing about it. So in a way you're an indirect accomplice.It's likely that the fellow who did it left without the least bit of remorse. Guess what, he will do it again, and again, and keep on doing it until someone turns him in and causes him to pay a stiff fine and or some jail time.Hey, you have just as much right to make sure others obey the law as the Police, and since they can't be everywhere, it's really our duty to report unlawful activity whenever we see it happen. Besides, it's just as much your marina, bay, river, ocean as it is everyone elses. How would you like someone pouring gas on your living-room floor? It's pretty much the same thing.~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~

 

[Harry]

Ken, I'm curious

Why didn't you report him? I don't know about other states, but in Maryland that is a very serious offense with prety significant penalties.

 

[Rick Webb]

Ken, Next Time

Walk over with a lit cigar in your mouth and casualy toss it in the water. He will change his ways real quick.

 

[David]

Unfortunately

one who observes an EPA violation and does not report it is also subject to a large fine.

 

[John Nantz]

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!

See what it gets you, Ken??? Dammed if you do and dammed if you don't!We've got a salmon stream next door, Barker Creek, and we're members of a group trying to protect it. You'd think with all the environmental laws it wouldn't be difficult. Well....The county "improved" the area uphill by constructing a large building (30,000 sf) and clearing several acres and paving part of it for parking. They also did some work on the baseball fields adjacent to the new building. The work was spread out over a period from 8 to 12 years ago. Unfortunately, the soils have become saturated from the additional water runoff. The soils contain a fair amount of clay which is relatively impervious to water and it takes a long time for clay to become saturated.Last spring after some good rains there were a number of good-sized slides into Barker Creek. The Parks Commissioner (in charge of the property and the development) said there are always slides. Unfortunately, the County is also the policeman and the Parks Commissioner is also head of the county environmental department.The rivers in the Northwest used to team with salmon but they are mostly gone now - victims of dams, development, and bad land practice. People in power who had know idea of the havoc their stupid and uninformed decisions made on the environment. Barker Creek is but just one small example of the impact of development and "progress". Salmon in some streams around here are extinct now.Note that the fir trees are straight and grew that way for over 100 years - meaning that the ground never moved during that time.Hopefully the picture will attach and look okay.

 

[John Nantz]

Picture for my previous post

See attached (hopefully it's there)!

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending April 27, 2003:The following expresses my viewpoints on sailing and the environment: 42% We're very careful about the environment, but don't think sailboats are much of a factor. 28% Every little bit hurts. We are extremely careful . 18% We abide by the laws, but otherwise don't worry about it. 12% Dilution is the solution to pollution. We don't generate enough to be a factor. 1,034 owners responding

 

[Hokie at the Helm]

Sailing, the best option for friendly boating

Set the goal to be a good conservationist while sailing and choose your materials and habits carefully, and sailing can be the perfect, environmentally friendly boating option. Use environmentally friendly soaps, detergents, and other materials to minimize the impact. Generate as little waste as possible and handle that responsibly. Sail only when you have wind to minimize motor usage. Use a four stroke motor (I need to upgrade from the two stroke mine came with) to minimize pollution. Keep your battery recharged with a solar panel.Enjoy and savor the enviroment as you sail through it and become just another natural part of it.

 

[J Mashburn]

Leave no Trace

Boating should be no different than life itself; we should all "leave no trace". We all should enjoy our great planet as there is none like it anywhere we know. The world population can either take care of its great resources now or do without later. It's like the old saying "pay me know or pay me later". We cannot keep taking and abusing our natural resources without it costing us dearly in the future. (If we remind ourselves each day we get out of life only what we put in it, the world will be a better place for all of us and future generations.)Safe Sailing!JimHunter 146TIKI

 

[Jack]

Help keep it clean

I sail on San Diego Bay, very strict laws as in most of USA not hard to comply with more common sense then any thing else. I have observed over the years that almost to the person Americans care and protect what is around them if they were brought up to do so. We take are power boat to the Colorado River and day camp 90% of the people there are from the California, I.E.L.A. Area, not there nest but they sure work to keep it clean, we haul all our trash out with us In addition, even pick up any extra we find. I see many other power boaters doing the same. I believe there parents and common since taught them to act responsibly. Part of my business is video duplication a number of years ago I did some work for a race team the races in Mexico, out side of a town just below the border the off road cars could be seen racing through open land mile after mile of trash, the worst I have ever seen a site I hope to never see in the USA. Tells you something about the the way there government works. Jack

 

[Tim Keating]

Tropical Hardwoods

Your question as to whether sailing has an environmental impact missed it's largest one! The use of woods from endangered forests for boat- and ship-building has driven loggers to destroy vast areas of tropical forests.Our organization has shown that a piece of imported high-value tropical hardwoods has more negative impact on the planet's biological diversity than a same-size piece of plutonium or uranium.Sailors need to recognize this impact and lobby boat-builders to seek more sustainable materials for decking, trim and interiors.Companies should use woods that are local to the country in which they are building the boats. This is a much better option than the increased demand for tropical woods, the majority of which are illegally logged (and therefore beyond government control).Sincerely,Tim Keating, DirectorRainforest Relief

 

[MArk]

Save the rainforests, drill more oil wells

Tim,I'm glad we are in agreement. The amount of wild tropical hardwoods harvested needs to be reduced. Although a plan to farm these trees would support a sustainable supply for very limited use (read expensive), we should be using synthetic subsitutes wherever possible.As everyone knows, synthetic materials (plastics) are made from oil. We need to urge our representatives to increase drilling, not only on the east and west coast, but also in places where there are known reserves (and no rainforests) like Alaska.Another way to help the rainforests is to increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The rainforests are starved for carbon dioxide due to the recent (last 100 years) reduction in forest fires and volcanic activity. The rainforest condition can most easily and productively be improved by burning more fossil fuel.So crank-up that kicker and save a tree!Happy (fusion powered) sails *_/),MArk

 

[Tom S.]

This is all giving me a headache I'm going sailing

(nm)