We recently read with interest a story about a series of fines levied by the EPA against an industrial company that was caught dumping toxic waste into a major river on the East coast of the United States. At first we applauded the enforcement efforts and the penalties that were assessed, until we looked a little deeper into who was being punished and why.
As it turns out, the guilty party had a long and sordid history of this type of behavior. While they have been fined a few times before, there are also numerous allegations brought against them from local fishermen and other residents who have noticed a dramatic decline in the aquatic ecosystem surrounding the factory in question. From all accounts, it looks as though this corporation has been cited for roughly 1 in 20 violations that they were involved in.
Those times they were penalized, to the tune of roughly $100,000, the dollar amount of their fine looks pretty substantial to the average citizen. What most people don’t realize is that the $100,000 the company paid to get rid of their waste illegally was substantially cheaper than the $500,000 it would have cost them to dispose of it properly. Someone within this company decided that they would rather get a few days of bad publicity and pay an insignificant fine than to follow the law by doing the right thing.
How did we get here?
How is it that corporations, who enjoy all the benefits that individual citizens do in this country, have become so irresponsible? Granted there are plenty of good guys out there doing things right. Unfortunately, however, more and more polluters look at the cost of breaking the law as just another business expense, one to be managed and dealt with like any other.
Something is wrong with a system that has made it less expensive, both in dollars and in the public eye, to harm the planet. Unless policies change, as corporations get bigger and bigger there is no incentive for them to change their ways. As much as we would like to rely on the honor of those occupying board rooms, the current state of affairs makes it clear that too often honor takes a back seat to profitability.
Since the decision to pollute or not usually comes down to dollars, dollars are where any reforms have to begin.
1 - We encourage everyone to contact their legislators and demand changes be made to the enforcement provisions available to the EPA and other regulatory agencies. To start, the fine for any actions leading to pollution entering the ecosystem should be, at a minimum, twice the cost of doing things the right way. In other words, if it costs $500,000 to clean things up properly the penalty for doing it improperly should be $1,000,000.
2- Introduce shame as an enforcement penalty. Instead of sweeping things under the rug with fancy press releases, companies found guilty of willful violation of the law should be required to pay for a full page display in the largest local newspapers, both print and online editions, within 100 miles of where the violation occurred, and within 100 miles of corporate headquarters, explaining what happened and how the company played a part in event. The drafting of this release should be prepared and coordinated by local regulatory agencies and NOT by the offending party.
3 – In an effort to promote positive behavior, offenders that do change their ways should have an equal opportunity, after a specified period of at least 24 months to have their efforts recognized in public with as much fanfare as their violations received. The cost of publishing such a “Good Citizens List” should NOT be assessed to the one time offender, but rather should be a cost borne by recent offenders.
4 – In keeping with the idea of full disclosure, the names of all individuals found guilty of involvement should also be prominently published in the newspapers within 100 miles of where the offence was committed, and in the local paper, if different, where they live. The idea that your friends and neighbors might learn of your bad behavior is a strong incentive from committing it in the first place. Guilty individuals should be required to pay for all publishing costs either voluntarily or through garnishment.
5 – Introduce provisions to automatically mandate higher insurance premiums for offending parties. Parties found guilty of violations should be forced to pay premiums for at least one year that are at a minimum twice those required by law abiding customers.
6 – Like most aspects of corporate management, offending parties should be required to adopt internal policies that spell out how the company will manage to avoid pollution problems in the future. Citizens committees and regulatory agencies should be allowed to review these plans at least once a year and publish a “grade” or some such measure of performance on a public website.
While these ideas are clearly directed at high profile corporate polluters, there is no reason why similar measures should not be adopted against individuals as well. Until pollution enforcement really hurts the offender, there is no reason to expect society as a whole to change.
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One of the dirtiest places on almost any boat is the bilge. All sorts of nasty stuff manages to find its way down hill into your boat’s lowest interior point.
Water, fuel, oil, transmission fluid, engine coolant, and just about any other liquid you use onboard tends to get here eventually, despite the most meticulous boat owner’s efforts to keep them out.
Hose clamps rattle just a little bit loose, gaskets start to go, and adding a quart of oil while upside down under your cockpit stairs often results in a few drips or more escaping, despite your best laid plans.
Unfortunately, these toxins usually find their way over the side when traditional bilge pumps kick in, pumping both the water they are designed to remove overboard right along with the bad stuff. Until recently boat owners who wanted to prevent this from happening had few options to help them, especially on older vessels that tend to leak more than newer ones.
While it would be nice to believe that every boater is conscientiously keeping an eye on their bilge, cleaning it every chance they get and preventing every toxic drip from happening in the first place, the reality is a different matter, of course.
Most boaters do use bilge socks and other absorbent devices to try and grab some of these toxins, and most of them work just fine, for a while.
Eventually, though, even the highest quality pad becomes saturated and loses its effectiveness. Routine monitoring of when you put a fresh sock down below, and keeping track of how long it is supposed to work, is a practice every responsible boat owner should apply.
But of course, we all get busy, and anyone who hasn’t vacuumed the coils on their refrigerator exactly on schedule is probably guilty of letting a bilge sock set a while longer than it should.
Recently, however, a revolutionary, though quite simple idea, has made pumping your bilge a much cleaner option.
Almost all bilge pumps operate the same, activating on a schedule or being triggered by a float switch when the bilge water level reaches a certain level.
Once they turn on, your pump simply pushes whatever is in your bilge through a drain hose to a vent or thru-hull valve over the side.
Instead of using this traditional design, it is now easy to install a simple filter system between your pump and the outside water. Much like a fuel or oil filter is designed to remove impurities; bilge pump filters do the same, separating hydrocarbons from bilge water then sending just the water out through the drain.
These systems are simple to install in any out of the way area that works, require few if any moving parts, and only require occasional maintenance when the filter element gets full.
In addition to being the right thing to do, these pumps pay for themselves many times over when you consider the consequences of getting caught pumping oily bilge water.
Fines for dumping contaminants of any kind often run in the thousands of dollars these days in crowded harbors. Enforcement is on the rise, as it should be, to prevent this unnecessary damage from being done to waterways across the land.
So do the Earth a favor and consider installing a simple device to clean up your bilge water.
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Overshadowed by all the screams and shouts over health care and stimulus plans, in June of this year the president set in motion the creation of a comprehensive ocean management plan to help define the challenges our Ocean environment faces, and hopefully develop sound, long range policies to turn things around.
Like most things political, the devil will most certainly be in the details, but it can only be a step in the right direction that this issue has reached the oval office and found a friendly ear.
Despite how vital our coastal and offshore areas are to the health of our planet, it has been maddening that Ocean policy has been a mish mash of piecemeal policy lacking any central theme, until now.
For the first time in history, the president of the United States has made the health of our Ocean a national priority.
When it comes to Ocean policy, the average American is usually unaware that the town they live in has a more coherent plan for growth and development than Uncle Sam has yet to adopt for the sea around us.
Hopefully, this sad reality will change with what Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the president's Council on Environmental Quality told the nation will include “a more balanced, productive, and sustainable approach to using. managing and conserving ocean resources."
Along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and a few dozen other agencies, a plan is in the works to finally identify the problems we face and develop solutions.
The primary objectives of the Ocean Policy Task Force will be to address
1. Ecosystem-based management as a foundational principle for comprehensive management of the Ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes.
2. Coastal and marine spatial planning to resolve emerging conflicts to ensure that shipping lanes and wind, wave, and oil and gas energy development do not harm fisheries and water quality.
3. Improved coordination of policy development among federal state, tribal, local, and regional managers of Ocean, coasts, and the Great Lakes.
4. Policies that focus on resiliency and adaptation to climate change and ocean acidification.
5. Policies needed to deal with changing arctic conditions.
Conflicting reports on the task forces pending findings and recommendations are, of course, inevitable, along with all the other challenges any political review board faces, but at least a dialog has begun.
You can't solve a problem until you know what it is and at long last Mother Ocean is getting the attention she deserves.
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In a country where coffee cups now come with disclaimers about the damage their contents can do, this seems incredible
For many folks learning about it for the first time, there is a better word for this lack of oversight - appalling.
Like so many perplexing problems that seem to defy common sense, the reason for this state of affairs is as American as apple pie.
It’s all about money.
Since the chemical revolution following World War II, the corporations that have whipped up so many of the toxic cleaning products we take for granted have made billions peddling compounds that certainly will make your kitchen counters shine, but what else do they do?
At the risk of repeating previous blog posts, the chemicals in your laundry soap or dishwashing detergent can, and have, caused all sorts of damage to people and the Planet since their introduction.
As any honorable chemist will tell you, the stuff that lifts months of grime off your oven’s interior is capable of doing similar damage to your insides should it find its way into your bloodstream.
While most cleaning products obviously warn us not to consume them directly, they almost all fall short of telling us what is actually in the bottle we keep under our kitchen sink.
Somewhere along the way, the titan’s of cleaning products decided that they would lobby their buddies in Congress to grant them an exemption from having to put their products ingredients on the containers they sold.
The reason for this lack of disclosure is one of corporate America’s lamest excuses ever – trade secrets.
These guys actually got millions of people to believe that if they told us what was in their products, their competitors would rush out and copy the formula, damaging their business and thus denying the world of hormone mimicking shampoos and conditioners.
At first glance, this reasoning might make sense, to a third grader.
At second glance the holes in this deceptive reasoning are big enough to pilot a cargo ship through.
Patent and trademark laws exist in this country to protect innovative ideas and brands from being copied. All the detergent executives need to do to protect their precious poisons is to hire a good lawyer, and believe me, they already have.
The other ridiculous aspect of this “protection” claim is that every chemical company on the planet employs teams of engineers who have the diagnostic tools at their disposal to easily determine what is in their competitor’s laundry soap.
Just knowing the ingredients, of course, doesn’t guarantee you can copy your rival’s product. You still have to know how and when to combine the ingredients to get the results you want.
However, if Coca-Cola can list their ingredients on each can of soda with fearing imminent doom, why can’t the chemical companies?
Maybe they are afraid that consumers might not want to expose their families to all the nasty stuff that goes into making their whites whiter or whatever it is they claim?
Luckily, the tide appears to be shifting in this decades old policy of deception.
Several high profile companies, including the SC Johnson company, Clorox, and others have recently taken some baby steps towards full disclosure by listing some of their product’s contents online.
Whether this is a preemptive step taken on the advice of their lawyers – “We told the world what was in this stuff, see our website” – or a genuine move in the right direction, it needs to go further, PUT IT ON THE BOTTLE!
At greenboatstuff we only carry cleaning products that tell us, and our customers, what they contain. They work great, and you know what they are. How easy is that?
We know organic soap and some of the other stuff we carry isn’t for everybody, but for folks who want to keep using chemical cleansers, we encourage you to demand more from your detergent or shampoo maker.
Tell them, in no uncertain terms to get with the program and PUT IT ON THE BOTTLE.
]]>Disposable plastic has become such an accepted part of modern living that most people don't give it a second thought.
For those people who are trying to decide why they should care about tossing a plastic water bottle aside, consider this - the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" is a collection of floating plastic debris about the size of Texas and growing.
One idea to solve this problem would be to redirect Hawaiian bound cruise ship traffic through the Patch for a month or so and see what kind of outcry would result.
Wishful thinking I know, but awareness is the first step in resolving environmental issues.
]]>New stories are emerging every day about concerned citizens who have had enough of the way things used to be and are demanding changes.
Awareness is rising, inspired by everyday people doing extraordinary things to point out the serious environmental challenges our Planet faces.
We were recently introduced to a dedicated young woman who is literally going the extra mile to help address one of the growing problems of our time - access to safe drinking water.
This December, Katie Spotz is embarking on the adventure of a lifetime - a solo row across the Atlantic Ocean.
The 2,500 mile journey will begin in Senegal, West Africa and finish in French Guiana, South America.
After 70-100 days at sea, Katie will become the youngest person and the first American ever to row an ocean solo from mainland to mainland.
Katie has partnered with the Blue Planet Run Foundation, whose mission is to help the billion people around the world in need of life's basic necessities.
We applaud everyone who does their part to help make things better out there, but Katie's story goes so far above and beyond what most people do that we felt compelled to bring it to everyone's attention.
Spending a Saturday afternoon cleaning up a local beach is a great way to contribute, but rowing across an Ocean is in a class all by itself.
We encourage everyone to take a look at Katie's website, www.rowforwater.com and consider making a donation to support her journey.
At greenboatstuff we are honored to know that some of our products will be accompanying Katie on her voyage, hopefully making her adventure a little more comfortable.
While we believe any support of an environmental cause is a good thing, there is something special about knowing that, in an indirect way, you are actually in the same boat with someone as inspiring as Katie Spotz.
]]>Studies abound with some pretty scary details about the harm that can be caused by too much sun. As a result, an entire industry has sprung up in recent decades promoting products that are supposed to protect us when we venture outdoors.
Many of the common sense ideas do a great job keep us safe. Grab a wide brimmed hat, wear long sleeves or a cover-up, limit your time outside, grab some shade when you can, etc...
For those folks who prefer a tank top and shorts, or, one of mankind's' greatest inventions - the bikini - the market has a solution for you too - sunscreen.
Slap this wonder product on your exposed skin, spread it around, and voila, you are safe from all that UV radiation.
Unfortunately, most sunscreen is brought to you by the major chemical companies who are responsible for creating some of the nastiest toxins out there.
Mounting evidence is showing that your typical, grab-some-on-the-way-to-the-beach sunscreen might be doing as much damage to your body, if not more, than the sun is.
Consider this, according to an article written by Rebecca Sutton for the Environmental Working Group, a "March, 2008 study by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that 97% of Americans are contaminated with a widely-used sunscreen ingredient called oxybenzone that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. A companion study published just one day earlier revealed that this chemical is linked to low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy. Oxybenzone is also a penetration enhancer, a chemical that helps other chemicals penetrate the skin.
Environmental Working Group identified nearly 600 sunscreens sold in the U.S. that contain oxybenzone, including products by Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone, and Banana Boat (see the full list of 588 sunscreens here) as well as 172 facial moisturizers, 111 lip balms, and 81 different types of lipstick."
In addition to oxybenzone, all sorts of awful stuff can be found in most of the sunscreens you'll find in your grocery store or big-box retailer. Octyl methoxycinnamate, psoralen, p-aminobenzoic acid, ethylhexyl salicylate, menthyl anthranilate, butyl-methyoxydibenzoylmethane, and all sorts of other scary sounding and truly toxic ingredients are common ingredients in this stuff that is supposed to "protect" us.
Considering that most medical research suggests that up to 1/3 of the sunscreen we apply is absorbed through the skin, it is frightening to think what this stuff could be doing to our bodies.
Hormone disruption, allergy problems, reproductive system damage, the creation of free radical reactions, an increased risk of birth defects, cellular damage and DNA disruption are just some of the things that can happen from exposure to this stuff.
To add insult to injury, the US Food and Drug Administration requires hardly any testing from the chemical peddlers who are pushing this stuff!
Just as they have with cleaning products and so many chemical compounds, big business has lobbied successfully to keep consumers in the dark when it comes time to disclose what their products contain and what they might do to our body.
Worst of all, what is it doing to our kids?
Worldwide, the greatest rise in skin cancer has been experienced in countries where chemical sunscreens have been heavily promoted, primarily the United States and Australia. A study several years ago in Queensland Australia, where the medical establishment has aggressively promoted the use of sunscreens for years, revealed more incidences of melanoma per capita than any other place on Earth. Recent research in the USA suggests California is closing the gap.
So what are we to do the next time the sun is shining and the water calls?
For sure, sun protection garments are a great beginning. On a hot summer day though, getting in the water or soaking up a few rays is just part of the deal for most boaters.
In addition to common sense, why not try some non-toxic sunscreen? Like most problems that need solving, Mother Nature has created a host of ingredients that do the job without all the harm. Naturally occurring plant and mineral compounds such as Coconut Oil, Green Tea Extract, Shea Butter, Titanium Oxide, and Zinc Oxide, do a great job of protecting us from the sun without damaging our DNA.
A growing number of non-toxic sunscreens are on the market today. At www.greenboatstuff.com we carry several.
Just like we have advocated with cleaning products, one of the keys to determining if the sunscreen you choose is good or bad is to look at the label. Plant and mineral ingredients are usually safe to consider. Avoid products with ingredient lists that sound too much like a chemistry set.
And of course, use the Internet to check this stuff out on your own. If your reading our blog you're just a Google search away from seeing the evidence for yourself first hand.
After you take care of yourself and your loved ones, please consider the effects toxic sunscreens are having on the environment.
It might sound silly to think that a glob or two of sunscreen could cause significant harm to something as massive as the Ocean, but think again. Anybody who has spent time in Coastal Mexico or the Caribbean in the past few years has probably come across a new policy at many of the most popular swimming and snorkeling spots.
On a recent trip to a beautiful lagoon near Tulum, Mexico, we were forbidden from using any sunscreen other than those specifically labeled "biodegradable." Security guards actually confiscated people's chemical sunscreen, forcing folks to go without or spend big money on a tiny bottle of the good stuff in the gift shop.
I love Mexico, but it is one of the last places I would expect to encounter the long arm of the law over my sunblock. The reason the rules were enforced, though, is simple. This gorgeous swimming hole, which is a big money maker for the locals, is dying.
Years of Coppertone and Banana Boat mixing with sea water have done incredible damage. In addition to the problems caused at the microscopic level by these poisons, the physical characteristics of the chemical sunscreens have taken their toll too. The ingredients in most plant and mineral based sunscreens are broken down and flushed from the aquatic system much easier than the synthetic compounds found in traditional sunscreen. The chemical stuff often lingers in the ecosystem, blanketing plants and animals with a stubborn, slimy film that inhibits growth and disrupts the natural way of things. Sheltered coastal areas that are not regularly swept by the full power of the Sea are especially vulnerable.
On a final note, consider the overall impact that the creation of these chemical compounds has on the Planet as a whole. An industrial complex far removed from the tropics is the likely source of the toxic ingredients found in the average tube of sunscreen. Now picture the manufacturing process itself, with all the toxic byproducts created and somehow disposed of, either properly or just as likely, flushed down a drain.
Once again, mankind's quest for a solution to one problem has led to unintended, yet still serious, consequences for the Earth and it's many inhabitants. So often the challenges we face in dealing with the messes we have made seem overwhelming for the average person. We ask ourselves, "What can one person do, how can I make a difference?"
Next time the sun comes out do something simple that can make a difference. Use your common sense, grab a hat, and replace your toxic sunscreen with the good stuff.
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We have written extensively on this blog about most of these issues, but sometimes a few quick bullet points sink in better than a longer version.
Please keep these great ideas in mind the next time you head out.
Boaters have a vested interest in clean water, which is able to support diverse fish and wildlife. One by one our collective actions add up. Here are some ideas from the BOAT/US Clean Water Trust about how you can help the waters while boating.
1- Stash your trash. Never throw anything into the water that didn’t come out of it. Keep trash, even food waste, onboard and bring it back to recycle or throw away on shore.
2 - Respect marine wildlife. Don’t feed or harass dolphins and other mammals. Reduce speed and give a wide berth to all marine life.
3 - Fish for the future. Learn proper catch and release techniques and use them after you've caught what you need.
4 -Watch your wake. Large wakes can unnecessarily accelerate shoreline erosion. Throttle back in narrow waterways. Use moorings rather than anchoring in environmentally delicate areas such as coral reef. When snorkeling or diving, never touch any live coral.
5 - Comply with sewage standards. Install a coast Guard- approved marine sanitation device on your boat and use it. Consult up-to-date cruising guides for the locations of pump- out facilities. If you can’t find one in your area, organize boat owners to convince your local marina to install one.
6 - Tune up your engine. A tuned engine improves fuel economy and burns fuel more efficiently, causing fewer emissions into the air and water.
7 - Refuel with care. Take precautions to keep fuel and oil out of the water. Do not top off your fuel tanks, as it usually leads to spillage. Use a "bilge pillow" to soak up leaks in your bilge.
8 - Reuse and recycle. Recycle spent antifreeze, fuel, oil, oil filters, and batteries. Use less toxic propylene glycol antifreeze whenever possible, but check before mixing it with other antifreeze for recycling.
9 - Wash often. Wash your decks regularly with fresh water and a scrub brush to reduce the amount of strong chemical cleaners needed throughout the boating season.
10 - Get involved. You can make an even greater impact by donating money and/or your time to environmental action groups, from national organizations like the Center for Marine Conservation, the BOAT/U.S. Cleanwater Trust, and to regional groups such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Be a watchdog. If you’re out on the water and see oil or chemical spill or other pollution, call the Coast Guard’s National response Center hotline (800-424-8802).
]]>It goes without saying that boating and seafood go together like the proverbial apple pie and ice cream. Nothing compares to a nice filet off the grill at the end of a long day in the sun. If you possess the skills and the gear to haul dinner out of the deep you are usually in little danger of harming the ecosystem as long as you adhere to the regulations and catch limits in the areas you frequent.
For those of us who are less talented in the fine arts of fishing, however, a more likely scenario involves heading to the local market and stocking a cooler full of seafood for a weekend on the water. By now, most folks are aware of the many health benefits to be had from the fruits of the sea. But how often do we consider the impact our seafood choices have on the health of the Planet around us?
Like everything we consume, seafood is a resource, subject to the same pressures and market forces that affect anything of value. An obvious example of what is wrong with the current way this resource is being managed can be found in the headline stories of Bluefin Tuna fetching $100,000 or more in the Tokyo fish markets. While some folks might chalk this madness up to decadent millionaires willing to spend anything on a meal just because they can, the reality is much more bleak for one of Nature’s most majestic creatures.
By all accounts Bluefin fishery stocks are on the verge of extinction, having been fished to the brink with little if any thought to the future. Economics 101 dictates that scarcity creates value. When people want something and they have trouble getting it, they usually become willing to pay more. 99.9% of us cannot imagine spending six figures on a single fish, but the fact is the .1% who can is willing to spend big regardless of the consequences.
Once considered to be the provider of an endless bounty, the Ocean has been swept clean. Dig a little online or in your bookstore and you will be shocked by the statistics. If there is any place on Earth where the Wild West mentality of “get what you can while you can” is at work it is in the offshore fishing fleets. Sure, there are rules and regulations governing coastal waters that provide a degree of comfort to those of us who want our grandkids to experience the thrill of hauling in a big one. And there are also remarkable examples of fisheries like Alaska where sustainable practices have been recognized as the key to long term survival.
For the most part, though, the damage being done to bring fresh fish to market is out of control. Bottom trawlers that rip up the sea bed, long lines that kill everything, drift nets that do the same, helicopter-guided catch boats, fish finders with military grade electronics, and good old fashioned greed are just a few of the culprits driving the demise of our fisheries.
While concerned parties argue for tougher rules and regulations to combat these practices - as they should -the most effective way for the average person to make a difference now is to let your wallet do the talking. By refusing to purchase seafood that is not harvested sustainably we can all make a very real, very positive impact on the world around us.
So how do we make the right choices?
Until recently there has been a lack of current information out there for folks looking to make informed decisions about what ends up on their plate. Through the dedicated efforts of our friends at the Blue Ocean Institute things are changing for the better in this regard.
Available for free, the Blue Ocean Institute Guide to Ocean Friendly Seafood is a simple, yet powerful tool anyone can use to help reverse the harm being done. Updated regularly, this handy guide lets you know in easy to understand terms what is good and what is bad about the seafood options you might consider. A color coded key lets you see at a glance which species are in trouble, which are doing fine, and which are on the fence. A brief sentence or two accompanies each description so you can see exactly what factors go into these rankings. In addition, species prone to mercury concentrations and other health hazards are highlighted too.
Anyone who has ever bought anything at www.greenboatstuff.com has received one of the printed versions of this guide with their order. Foldable into the size of a business card, the guide fits in a wallet or purse with ease. The most current version can be downloaded directly from The Blue Ocean Institute through the following link http://blueoceaninstitute.com/pdfs/miniguide_color.pdf
Cell phone and PDA users can visit www.fishphone.org and download a version straight to your favorite communication device.
For the truly advanced, texting “Fish” and the species name to 30644 will provide instant feedback you can use to make the right call. Not to digress, but guys, if you’re looking for a way to impress that special someone, try this trick at dinner and you are sure to score points you just can’t put a price tag on.
There is even a new Sushi Friendly guide at http://blueoceaninstitute.com/pdfs/oceanfriendlysushi.pdf
The choices made by generations past and present have pushed our fragile Planet to where we find ourselves now. Going forward these same choices we all face will either dig the hole deeper, or help get things back on track. If you want to make a difference, you can. Please take a minute and let the Blue Ocean Institute Guide to Ocean Friendly Seafood show you how.
The Clean Marina Initiative is a program promoted by NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association to move our vulnerable waterfront recreational facilities in the right direction. All you need to do is walk the docks at most marinas to see the assortment of unnecessary junk that is floating around in a slick of gas, oil and diesel.
Since so much activity takes place at marinas that can cause pollution, from fueling to maintenance and beyond, it is only sensible that the common sense, environmentally conscious standards should be employed there.
As the green tide spreads, it is also quite likely that more stringent rules and regulations are only a matter of time. In several locations that have become toxic nightmares, like San Francisco Bay and Seattle's Lake Union, changes are being enforced to clean up this mess, and we say, about time.
For the marina owners and operators looking to preempt costly changes that are mandated from on high, the time is now to get on the clean marina bandwagon. Far sighted boat yard owners are already improving the products and processes they use such as installing waste water filtration systems, employing safe cleaning agents or shifting to copper free paints in an effort to get ahead of the game.
The benefits of becoming a clean marina, in addition to doing the right thing, are many. The following information can shed more light on the subject.
For those of you who want to clean up your local marina, make your concerns known and encourage the powers that be to go green.
The Clean Marina Initiative is a voluntary, incentive-based program promoted by NOAA and others that encourages marina operators and recreational boaters to protect coastal water quality by engaging in environmentally sound operating and maintenance procedures. While Clean Marina Programs vary from state to state, all programs offer information, guidance, and technical assistance to marina operators, local governments, and recreational boaters on Best Management Practices (BMPs) that can be used to prevent or reduce pollution. Marinas that participate in the Clean Marina Program are recognized for their environmental stewardship.
Marinas and recreational boating are increasingly popular uses of coastal areas. The U.S. Coast Guard reported a 14% increase in recreational boating between 1990 and 1999. Because marinas are located right along the water's edge, pollutants created by marina activities are released directly into the water. Although not one of the leading sources of polluted runoff, pollution from marinas can have a significant impact on local water quality. Therefore, is it important to promote operation and maintenance practices that will prevent pollution from entering coastal waterways.
A Clean Marina Program offers many benefits to marina operators and coastal areas participating in the program.
Many boaters prefer to patron clean marinas because they value clean coastal waters for boating and fishing.
NOAA, jointly responsible for administering the Coastal Nonpoint Control Program with EPA, plays an important role in protecting coastal waters from polluted runoff. The Coastal Nonpoint Program establishes a consistent set of management measures for all coastal states to use in controlling nonpoint source pollution. Management measures are designed to prevent or reduce runoff from a variety of sources, including marinas.
NOAA recognizes that the Clean Marina Initiative can serve a valuable role in protecting coastal waters from nonpoint source pollution and has promoted the program as a way for states to meet many of the marina management measure requirements under the Coastal Nonpoint Program. As a result, the Coastal Nonpoint Program has been responsible for driving the development of most of the state Clean Marina Programs existing today and developing a national interest in the Initiative. NOAA continues to support the Clean Marina Initiative through targeted grant funding to states developing Clean Marina Programs. Between FY01 and FY06, nearly $3 million went to support clean marina efforts.
For more information, contact cleanmarinas@noaa.gov.
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We recently received an email from a customer who laid into us for carrying products made in China.
With all the bad press out there about tainted toothpaste, leaded kid’s toys, poison pet food, and so on it is easy to see why many people have a hard time purchasing Chinese goods. We too are sick and tired of the proliferation of cheap crap coming out of Asian factories. The vast majority of the low price plastic products found in boating supply stores are manufactured in this part of the world.
Anyone who tuned into the Olympics this summer saw images of smog and pollution that even the best Politburo image consultants couldn’t convince us were simply “mist.” There is no denying that China today suffers from intense environmental degradation, and in much of Asia this pattern of 19th century industrialization is causing terrible harm. A look at the statistics on water and air quality over there is straight out of Dickens.
Much has been said about the consequences of the unabated growth in China, most of it accurate and reason for concern.
At the same time, however, we take exception to the idea that everything coming out of Asia is bad and should be avoided at all costs. We don’t expect everyone to agree with our reasons for this stance, but as an environmentally conscious company we feel that a little explanation is a good thing. We welcome your comments, either in agreement or dissent.
For one thing, as patriotic as we are, we have trouble with the blanket thinking that essentially argues that all goods produced in the USA are good and everything from China is bad. For anyone paying attention to history, it is important to recognize that the vast majority of toxins that modern industry has dumped into our waterways were originally synthesized in American laboratories by American companies. The post World War II boom in chemical production is well documented as being driven by American industry. We could go on and on here, but before we throw rocks at other countries for the pollution they cause we might want to look in the mirror first.
Granted, great strides have been made with environmental policy here at home, however, there is still a very strong argument to be made for American culpability in the proliferation of compounds linked to cancers, genetic abnormalities, and countless health problems in human beings and other life forms. As much as we detest the oppressive and misguided policies of the Chinese government, they didn’t bring the world PCBs, PVC, plastic, and so on, we did.
Since any discussion on China vs. America inevitably leads to a review of our different political systems, let’s get this one out of the way right now. We love America. This great nation has done more to secure and promote liberty than any country in the history of the world. We hate communism. The damage done to Mother Earth and mankind in general under communism is immeasurable. At the same time, though, we believe America has made her fair share of mistakes. Our point here is simply that to base a decision about buying, or not buying, goods made in China by exalting our great country over theirs’ might be a bit hypocritical.
Moving beyond the historical and political issues brings us to the current state of affairs we find ourselves confronted with when dealing with suppliers who use Chinese factories. We will not carry goods made in China unless we are certain that the manufacturing facilities involved meet strict criteria.
One of our favorite examples of the oversight we require comes from the apparel supplier we deal with, HT Naturals. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, HT Naturals designs and produces high quality clothing made from such earth friendly materials as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and so on. Given the economic realities of profitably manufacturing these items, HTN made the decision to locate their main manufacturing facility in China. Unlike many old-school apparel companies, however, HTN established rigorous and verifiable standards for the operation of their factory.
These common sense provisions include strict environmental standards for air, water, and overall facility operations, banning child labor, implementing an anti-discrimination policy, establishing a living wage, offering affordable health care and maternity leave, and so on. These programs are overseen by managers whose livelihood is tied to their enforcement. HTN executives perform routine inspections and employee interviews to verify everything is proceeding according to plan.
While no system is perfect, we would argue that conditions in the Chinese operations of HTN are vastly superior to what the majority of the world’s textile workers experience.
The point here is that it is possible to do business in China, or any other country, while still occupying the moral high ground. Consumers should boycott companies that abuse their workers or intentionally pollute the planet. The only way real progress will be made in the efforts to clean up the planet, however, will be if all companies adopt the type of policies HTN has put in place, whether in China, America, or anywhere else.
Consumer choice is one of the most powerful means of executing change. As you make your buying decisions we would urge you to consider the many factors that go into producing an earth friendly product, not just the geography of its’ origin.
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Let’s face it, good food and drink is an essential part of enjoying time on the water.
Unfortunately, so many boaters seem to forget that they are on the water when it comes time to whip up a meal or pass out the sundowners. Troll through any big marina, hit a crowded beach, or just spend a few days floating around and you are pretty much guaranteed to come across all sorts of junk that has escaped from the galley.
Styrofoam dishes, plastic utensils , food containers, the stray synthetic “coolie cup” that slipped off somebody’s cold one, coolers, and of course our constant companion, the disposable water bottle, are just a few of the things that so many boaters take for granted. And yet, this stuff is literally choking the waterways we claim to enjoy.
When it comes time to set up your galley please keep a simple principle in mind – Do not use anything that will not break down if it goes over the side.
This precautionary principle will serve you well in many aspects of boating, and it is fairly easy to apply if you put your mind to it. All you have to do is look at everything you use in or around the galley and find a natural alternative to the cheap plastic junk that all the ads tell you belong on a boat.
Sound hard? Maybe.
Doable? Of course.
Worth The Trouble? Your conscience can easily answer this one.
Let’s look at some common galley gear and the green alternatives that are out there.
Dishes –
Plain old paper plates are a good choice if you are on a budget, although they do take up precious space in the trash and a tree was probably cut down somewhere along the production line. If you go this route, shell out another buck or two for the stuff made from recycled paper products. Don’t let the marketing gurus trick you into buy recyclable instead. Remember, advertising executives know our attention span is often short enough that we can be duped into thinking recyclable and recycled mean the same thing. In fact, any paper product “can” be recycled, but most never are. If you do go the disposable route you also need to avoid the poly-paper blend versions. These are usually shiny, slick, and come in lots of fancy colors. As sturdy and pretty as they may be, the poly base means they are full of chemicals, petroleum, and all sorts of bad stuff. If you really want disposable stuff, look for the new cornstarch or sugarcane based plastic dishes, or even those single use versions made from bamboo or other sustainable materials. The new bio-plastics can be a little tough to find, and while they look like traditional plastic, they will actually biodegrade with ease since they are made from vegetable oils. Be careful using the bio-plastics with really hot stuff, sometimes it melts. Wood dishes have come a long way in recent years. Many options exist from plain to fancy, and most of the wood stuff comes from sustainably grown plants like bamboo (technically a grass, not a wood), acacia, and others. Be mindful you don’t buy a nice natural wood bowl covered in paint or some other synthetic finish. Look for food safe oils or other natural, plant based finishes. Stainless steel dishes are great on a boat. Now I know the image of a steel mill doesn’t exactly conjure up environmentally friendly images. However, if you compare the environmental impact of a set of stainless dishes that you will have on board for years and that will break down given enough time in the water vs. the completely non-biodegradable plastic set you replace every season or two, stainless wins hands down. Glass and ceramic can be good choices if you can keep them from breaking. Consider recycled glass products, and be wary of ceramic glazes, many contain lead or other nasty stuff.
Utensils –
Biodegradable plastic utensils are available if you look hard enough, but again be careful with hot stuff. Leaving a bio-plastic spoon in a hot baked potato might leave you with nothing but the handle. Wood is a great option here, especially chopsticks. Kids love trying to master them and clean up is easy. Good stainless utensils will last for years, although some people don’t like the metallic taste they can impart.
Pots and Pans – This is a tough one for some folks, and an area where we get a lot of opinions. You obviously can’t use wood over an open flame, although when properly used, bamboo steamers are quite versatile and double as attractive food servers. For the most part stainless steel is the greenest option available. Cast iron works great, but is prone to rusting, especially on a boat. At www.greenboatstuff.com we refuse to carry non-stick cookware. Treated with Teflon, or some other such synthetic, these cook-sets make clean up a breeze, but at a steep price. Mounting evidence shows that the chemicals from these non-stick coatings are showing up in the bloodstream of people around the globe, and even in the breast milk of nursing mothers. Who knows the damage this may ultimately cause, but for our part, we think folks would rather scrub a little harder instead of ingesting Teflon.
Food Storage – Use stainless steel instead of plastic. More and more stainless food containers are coming on the market all the time. The folks at To-Go Ware have a great product just for this purpose. For more info check out www.greenboatstuff.com/towaststfoca.html
Liquid Storage – I won’t bore you with more statistics on how many disposable plastic water bottles are literally floating around out there, but the numbers are staggering. Recent concerns about PCB (chemical code for really nasty stuff) contaminants leaching from those cute, multi-colored “permanent” plastic water bottles has made a lot of people rethink their water bottles. These same concerns have a lot of concerned mom’s looking for alternatives to the traditional poly sippy cups and baby bottles too. New “good plastic” water bottles that supposedly do not leach toxins are making the rounds as a result, but most of these are still petroleum-based, permanent plastic none the less. The best water bottles, in my opinion, are either stainless steel or aluminum. Built to last for years, these bottles can be made from recycled materials and then recycled themselves when they finally give out. Be careful with aluminum though - as long as the bottle has an impermeable liner you should be fine, bottles without liners can impart toxins of their own. Food grade stainless steel is one of the best materials out there for both food and liquid storage. Tough and relatively lightweight, stainless does not require a liner to be safe.
Towels, Linens and Soft Stuff – Avoid anything synthetic. Polyester, nylon, or artificial fibers not only cause problems when they are created, but they can persist in the environment for years. Focus on natural fibers like organic cotton, hemp, and the like. These materials cause minimal if any harm in their production, and they also break down easily if they ever go over the side.
Chip Clips, Towel Hooks and all the Little Stuff – Once again, avoid synthetics. Nylon or plastic galley gadgets come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and colors. All you really need to know about this junk is that it polluted the environment when it was made, and it will be here 100,000 years from now. Brass, bronze, stainless steel, and even wood are good examples of materials that can do the job well, last for ages, usually be recycled, and yet cause minimal damage to the environment. Avoid painted gear if you can, along with chrome, zinc, or other plated surfaces. All this stuff causes harm.
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Anyone who has spent time on or near the water lately has almost certainly come across a plastic bag? Whether they are floating by your stern, dancing down the beach, or wrapped around a tree branch, this junk is everywhere. As if it were not enough that we have to look at this garbage dump we have created, we must also recognize that it will be here in one form or another for countless generations to come.
You see, as cheap and convenient as plastic bags are, they come with a much higher true cost to the environment. Mass produced in the industrial boom of post-World War II, every plastic bag ever created is still out there today, either in its original form, or in smaller pieces. Hailed as a “wonder” product by the marketing gurus, the only thing “wonderful” about disposable plastic is that it exposes how short sighted and selfish mankind has become.
Without getting too technical, the bottom line is that plastic bags never really go away. Created from chemicals, primarily petroleum, the modern plastic bag cannot be broken down into biodegradable compounds. Just to name a few, all the plastic bags in use today - grocery bags, food storage bags, small and large trash bags, pet waste bags, etc…etc… will persist in the environment forever.
Plastic bags can certainly change form. Given enough time and sunlight, plastic can “degrade” into smaller and smaller pieces, but the same amount of unnatural material still exists, just in pieces. Bury it in an oxygen free landfall and it might shrink a little, but that’s it. Burn it and plastic turns into a glob of goo, releasing most of its toxic components into the atmosphere.
The only hope that plastic bags will ever disappear lies several hundred thousand years in the future. By then it is possible bacteria will have evolved capable of consuming this stuff and converting it back into its elemental form. Anybody really care to wait a few thousand centuries?
Unfortunately, most bags just end up literally floating around. Cruise through any metropolitan marina and plastic is in the water. Running an Internet search on the effects of plastic on marine life will reveal facts and images that even the worst litterbug would be ashamed of. Casualties of the plastic bag include sea birds, marine mammals, fish, and more.
One of the greatest victims is the peaceful sea turtle. After making it through the last 100 million years or so just fine, these majestic creatures are on the fast track to extinction these days. To be fair to the plastic merchants, fishermen and egg poachers have done most of the damage to the turtles, but a plastic bag adrift at sea looks remarkably similar to a jelly fish, one of the turtle’s favorite foods. For any skeptics out there, try swallowing a few grocery bags and see how you feel.
The gruesome particulars of the damage done include intestinal blockages, suffocation, and the particularly cruel one- starvation. You see as the belly of sea creatures fill up with non-biodegradable plastic there is less and less room for real food, leading to weakness, sickness, and death.
How did we get here - to this point in our development as a species where we are willing to sacrifice one of the most noble, gentle, and harmless creatures ever created so we can stuff more junk in a sack?
So what are we to do?
It’s simple really, stop using traditional plastic.
Viable alternatives exist.
First, get some reusable shopping bags and use them at the store. Organic cotton, hemp, and other natural fabrics are your best choices, but any fabric is better than plastic.
Here is a link to some examples
http://www.greenboatstuff.com/bagscases.html
Just avoid polyester or recycled plastic bags if you can. Sure, you can argue that the tough bags made from these synthetics are better than disposable bags, after all they are using recycled materials right? While there is some truth to this argument it doesn’t solve the problem of eliminating disposable synthetics in the first place, it only shuffles them around some. The only way we can break the cycle is to stop using synthetics in the first place.
To quote someone with tremendous insight –
“In Nature no synthetic substance is synthesized unless there is provision for its degradation; recycling is enforced.” – Barry Commoner
If you must choose between paper or plastic in the checkout line go with paper. Many valid environmental issues surround paper production, but trees grow and paper can biodegrade. As in many green choices there is often a choice between the lesser of two evils. In my opinion paper bags do less harm.
Second, consider biodegradable, vegetable based plastic bags. Yes they do exist now. Plan on paying more for biobags than you would regular plastic, but when you measure the true cost of both options, biobags are a bargain. Made from corn, biobags will breakdown harmlessly given some oxygen and sunshine, both readily available in any ocean, lake, or river. Available in several sizes, from small to large, and several in between.
One thing to be wary of are the new plastic bags that advertise themselves as "degradable." There is quite a difference between biodegradable and degradable. Biodegradable bags break down into natural compounds and return their contents to the Earth. Degradable plastic simply falls apart with time, converting one big piece of eternal plastic into countless smaller pieces.
For more details follow this link
http://www.greenboatstuff.com/bitrba.html
Third, replace your sandwich bags and plastic wrap with bleach free waxed paper bags and food wrap. Renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable, waxed paper is a very green alternative.
One more link
http://www.greenboatstuff.com/wabothcucofo.html
Once again, green alternatives to damaging products exist, work well, and are affordable too; all it takes is a little effort on all our parts to do the right thing.
]]>The minute your boat hits the water all sorts of aquatic critters try to hitch a ride. Depending on your water conditions - fresh or salt, warm or cold, you will experience varying degrees of growth on your hull. If not treated properly, before too long, a little green line will form at the waterline, followed by an increasing amount of slimy stuff accumulating below the waterline. In the most extreme cases the big boys – barnacles, muscles, and their friends will grab on too.
For centuries mariners dealt with this same problem, of course, but somewhere along the way, somebody came up with a solution that sounded pretty good at the time. Unfortunately for the environment, the same basic principles behind this original fix have led to a pollution problem that may never go away. After getting fed up with watching their boats devoured below the waterline, some ancient shipwright decided to apply a thin sheet of copper to his vessels hull. As pretty as it is, copper is deadly toxic to anything that tries to grow on it.
In modern times, the chemical gurus decided that what worked for the Romans would work today. Instead of sheathing entire boats in copper, however, somebody decided to mix copper into a paint that could be applied to a boat’s hull. Other nasty stuff – mostly heavy metals – were also added, making modern day anti-fouling paint.
To prolong the effectiveness of this wonder product, most formulas are designed to be “ablative”, and here is where the damage to the marine environment starts. Ablative paints are soft. Over time, the paint layers gradually fall off, exposing a new and more toxic layer of paint to keep the critters away. The problem, of course, is that as the old layer of paint sinks, it carries along with it trace amounts of all the toxins it contains.
A 30 foot sailboat requires about four gallons of anti-fouling paint to adequately cover the exposed hull surface. The average effective life of this paint job is about 18-24 months. If you are using copper paint you are basically dumping four gallons of paint over the side every few years. Add up all the boaters doing the same thing and you can start to see what we are doing to the waters we enjoy. As tempting as it may be to blame big industry for most of our water pollution problems, boaters should take a long look into the mirror as well.
There are statistics that will make your head spin about heavy metal concentrations, parts per million, etc… but the one that really hits home has to do with the resident Killer Whale populations of Puget Sound. Based on laboratory analysis of random blood samples from these majestic creatures, the toxic load in their bodies will probably make the entire group sterile, and subsequently extinct, within the next 25 years. Now obviously, this travesty did not occur just because of boat paint. But if mankind’s efforts to go a little faster, or make their boats look neat and shiny contributed even a little bit, we should be ashamed of ourselves if we use another gallon of toxic anti-fouling paint.
Alternatives exist that are effective, safe, and comparable in cost.
One of the pioneers in the area of copper-free boat paints is a company called EPaint. In a nutshell, Epaint solves the problem of deterring marine growth on your boat with a common substance – hydrogen peroxide. When properly applied, EPaint reacts with water and oxygen to create a microscopic layer of hydrogen peroxide on the bottom of your boat. Hydrogen peroxide is toxic to life forms that might try to take hold, however, when it falls off into the water it breaks down harmlessly. You see, the chemical formula for hydrogen peroxide is H2O2. After it sloughs off your hull, H2O2 converts into good old H2O - or water –in no time. So, instead of leaving a trail of copper in your wake you get to keep your speed, keep your shine, and stop causing harm.
For more details on EPaint you can check out the company’s main web site at
Before you buy please consider going through greenboatstuff.com at
Another option that is gaining ground are the “slick” paints being developed. The concept here is a paint that is so slippery it is extremely difficult for any organism to grab on in the first place. Much like a Teflon pan that keep food from sticking, these “Teflon” paints are better alternatives, in our opinion, than the copper paints. The issue we have with the slick paints, however, is that the chemical compounds that make them work can still accumulate in the water, and subsequently the tissue of the plants and animals that live there. The manufacturers will argue that the slick paints are much harder than the ablatives, and therefore less likely to come off your hull in the short term. While this may be
true, all paints peel eventually. Compared to copper, however, the slick paints are a much better choice.
The greenest option, of course, is to apply no paint at all. A long, sturdy scrub brush works pretty well at dislodging most algae. Sure it’s a chore, but so is painting. At about $200 per gallon for anti-fouling paint (reapplied every few years), you can also pencil the cost of hiring a local diver to do the scrubbing for you, or just doing it yourself. If you were looking for an excuse to justify the cost of getting dive certified, here you go.
Whatever you decide when it comes to anti-fouling paint, please try to look at the big picture. As big as we might think the world is, it is still a closed system, affected either now or later by the actions we take.
]]>Walk the docks near any fueling facility and you are guaranteed to see a deadly rainbow sheen on the water. Just a few loose drops of gas or diesel can spread across the water in no time. Turn your head away while filling your tanks and the accidental spray that heads over the side can contaminate an area many times larger than your boat's footprint. Let a few gallons loose and you can destroy an ecosystem.
For boaters who trailer their boats each time they head out, it is easy to fill up just like you do your car. After you fill up a quick wipe down of your boat's exterior will make sure you don't carry any stray fuel to the water with you.
For boaters who keep their vessel in the water most of the time there will be a lot more effort required to avoid a spill.
However, like most modern day tasks requiring the use of nasty stuff near the water, there are some simple precautions you can take to get the job done without causing any harm.
First and foremost, pay attention. More fuel spills are caused by the neglect of a busy skipper than anything else. It is imperative that you take the time to devote all your focus to fueling your boat. This is not the time to be carrying on multiple conversations or doing two things at once. You can afford to daydream when you are washing your boat, but not when you are fueling her.
If you fill up at a marina with traditional fuel pumps take a minute to do it right. Keep the hose nozzle elevated in such a way that the last guys left over fuel doesn't hit the water. Also, keep a few paper towels or a dedicated fuel rag handy as you handle the hose and insert it in your fuel tank. Being able to wipe up those few accidental drops right away is a must.
Unfortunately, many novice boaters fuel their boat on the water as if it were a car. They jam the nozzle down the fuel intake pipe and let er rip. Unlike car's however, most inboard marine engines have venting systems to allow condensation and fumes to escape the fuel tanks. If you try to fill your boat like your car you run the very real risk that these vents will overflow with fuel, right into the water. To avoid this unnecessary mess consider a few things.
One, keep track of your engine's fuel requirements. With some third grade math you should be able to figure how much fuel you use every hour your engine runs, giving you a good idea how much you will need at each fill up. Write these facts and figures down in your ship's log (yes, even small boats should have one of these) so you know when to slow and then stop your fueling.
Two, consider using spill prevention devices. Several exist and they are easy to use. One option is a No-Spill system that is a sealed catch basin you place over your exterior fuel vents to catch any overflow. These inexpensive tools are easy to use and stow easily. My only complaint about them is that you must deal with returning the overflow fuel to a proper container, not always a foolproof task. Compared to causing a spill, however, this minor inconvenience is a no-brainer.
Another nifty gizmo is called a fuel whistle. These simple devices have no moving parts and are permanently installed so you don't have to mess with them each time you fill up. First, you locate the hose leading to your exterior fuel vents. Then you make a simple cut in the vent hose, insert the fuel whistle and clamp the hose back down. Total time to install is less than 15 minutes for even the mechanically challenged. Once in place, the fuel whistle works according to simple physics. As you fill your tanks the air inside them is pushed up the vent hose, through the fuel whistle, and out the vents. As your tanks fill, the pressure on the expelled air increases. The fuel whistle is engineered to begin making noise once the air pressure reaches a point that corresponds with a nearly full tank. When the whistle blows, shut off your fuel source and you are good to go.
These prevention devices work great for fueling in a marina, but they also help the boater who must bring fuel to their boat. For those of us unlucky enough to deal with this chore there are some simple guidelines to follow. Please don't bring the same cheap fuel container to your boat that you might use for your lawnmower. You know the ones I mean, either plastic or metal with a simple spout on the end that may or may not have a plug in it. The moment of truth with these containers comes when you make the initial pour. All that fuel rushes down the spout and usually makes a splash. It is nearly impossible not to spill these old fashioned containers. Instead, spend a few extra bucks on the newer flow control containers out there. Usually made from a thick plastic, the flow control models let you positions the container and insert the spout before a drop of fuel comes out. Once ready, push a little gravity switch and your fuel goes where it is should and nowhere else.
For more details on fuel prevention devices please check out our retail website at
http://www.greenboatstuff.com/fuspprcluppr.html
For boaters with deep pockets or a desire to be extra precise, there are numerous electronic gauges that regulate your fuel status too. If installed properly these devices work great. Unfortunately, such gauges are often out of sight when you are bent over filling a tank, so they can be useless unless you have a partner within earshot watching them.
Regardless of how you fuel your boat, the key is to fuel your boat and nothing else. Common sense and patience are the key to doing the job the right way.
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