In June we have World Environment Day on the 5th and World Oceans Day on the 8th, so it seems particularly apt to be thinking of 9 Rs for Sustainability when boating.
Eclectic’s D400 wind generator is one of the most rugged and productive wind generators for its rotor size. The noise and vibration usually associated with small wind turbines has been designed out of the D400 by making the turbine run relatively slowly for a given electrical output. Its 5 air blades are shorter than those of 3-bladed models, making the unit easier to balance and reducing noisy tip oscillation.
For information about rigid and flexible solar panels and solar controllers:
Torqueedo’s hi-tech electric outboard motors provide good propulsion and are environmentally friendly, efficient and quiet. No exhaust!
Ultralight 400 W 403 Outboard for kayaks, canoes and very light boats is quick and easy to mount, operate and transport. It is solar-rechargeable – including during the voyage.
Travel 1000 W 1003 Outboard drives tenders, dinghies and daysailers up to 1.5 tons effortlessly for up to 10 hours. Its integrated GPS receiver constantly calculates the remaining range and charge status, and the lithium battery can be recharged on shore or on board.
Tributyltin or TBT is a biocide that came into being in the 1970s because of its efficient anti fouling properties. However, there was a price to pay, as environmental studies showed that TBT was harmful to some marine organisms and shellfish.
The IMO (International Maritime Organization) called for the application of organotin compounds which act as biocides in anti-fouling systems to be phased out globally and due to increasingly stringent manufacturing restrictions, boaters can now select antifouling options with much less effect on the marine environment.
Replacement Bulbs – If you like your existing fixtures, replacement bulbs are an effective solution. Before shopping make an inventory of the existing bulbs in each fixture aboard – type of bulb (festoon, wedge, screw-in, bayonet, or two-pin) and its wattage.
Features to look for are constant current circuitry (CCC), voltage regulation, reverse-polarity protection, heat dissipation and binned (matching) LEDs. These bulbs may seem expensive but retrofitting your boat with LEDs can help save on costly upgrades in batteries, generators, and solar panels.
Replacement Fixtures -If not wedded to your existing fixtures, many options come into play – modernizing the look of your boat, remote switching, dimming and recessed features.
A well-engineered LED fixture offers advantages over replacement LED bulbs, including more intensity, better electrical protection, and colour consistency. An LED fixture can have a sizable heat sink, meaning it can handle the output of more diodes than a typical replacement bulb. With a recessed fixture, that heat sink pushes excess heat into the hull or deck of the boat, preventing it from heating the interior. There’s also room to include reverse-polarity protection and voltage spike protection and to reduce the amount of RF (radio frequency) interference.
Blue Ocean Doublebraid and Blue Ocean Dockline are made from 100% recycled waste plastic bottles. In addition, Bio-Based Dyneema has identical technical characteristics and performance to conventional Dyneema but uses waste from the pulp and timber industry as its primary raw-material. All products containing SK78, SK99 and DM20 are now manufactured with Bio-Based Dyneema.
Ecoworks Marine is a trusted brand endorsed by operators of superyachts and small boats, marinas, and boat yards. Their cleaning range is powerful and eco-friendly, with formulations to clean yacht interiors, exteriors, and engine rooms. Using clever blends of bacteria and enzymes along with other replenishable resources, Ecoworks tackles dirt the natural way.
Non-toxic and bio-degradable, Tea Tree Power® uses pure natural Tea Tree oil to give it exceptional antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. It attacks and degrades airborne spores and penetrates porous boat surfaces to eliminate the odour source and tackle mould and mildew in damp environments.
Corkcicle offers an entire line of stylish, re-usable, BPA-free, triple-insulated stainless-steel drinkware, including tumblers, mugs, straws, canteens and more – perfectly suited to life on the water.
Repurpose and Regift -Whether you are a competitive racer or enjoy boating recreationally, you will use lots of different types of gear while boating, including life jackets, wetsuits, foul weather gear, gloves, rope, and canvas. When it has been outgrown or reached its end life, there are many ways to reuse, repurpose and recycle boating gear to reduce waste that may otherwise end up in the landfill or our oceans.
Sailors for the Sea Green Boating Guide has ideas regarding this and all aspects of sustainable boating.
