Green Boating

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                          GREEN BOATING    /  Do we ever think green when boating?

 

 

This may be the shortest article I write. Have you seen the Green Boating tips from Discover Boating? You could have knocked me over with a feather!

Seriously with all the environmental concerns about carbon foot prints and the condition of the lakes, rivers and oceans. You would think that the power boat industry would be high on the hit list. I have heard and seen many discussions on radio and TV about saving our water ways and fossil fuel burners, and some how we the boaters never come up, maybe that's because we are the most environmentally conscience people on the earth. I don't think so.

I wonder how much we pollute our environment? There is a scary thought.

The bottom line is one day in the not so distant future boaters will face cleaning up what we pump over board, and when we do it will be similar to how they cleaned up our roads with the clunker laws. It will only take big brother figuring out a way to standardize and profit from a method of inspecting pleasure boats They will be all over implementation of a program boaters have no control over, or input on. Either that or some type of carbon tax. If this happens those of us with twin big blocks and a generator will have a broom stick snapped off in our transoms. We should try to be proactive on this front. A shout out to all those groups who represent us, tell the boaters why Transport Canada is three years or more in reintroducing the pleasure boat inspection program what are they up too. Or is this just another surprise for us one day coming up.

Apparently if we use bio degradable toilet paper and cleaners, handle our trash responsibly, watch what we discharge overboard, and try to run at less than full throttle. This qualifies you as a green boater. So no one has a plan I am sure the industry will say that they are working on the problem, and that marine suppliers are making the environment a top priority by creating programs like battery recycling programs . OOP's I have not even seen that yet! The industry has however created some great logos, money well spent. What most boaters don't realize is that we have been left out in the cold. Marinas and boat repair companies have got together through groups like the OMOA ( Ontario Marina Operators Association) and created CLEAN MARINE, this way when the proverbial shit hits the fan they can shout from the roof tops that they were aware of the issues and got out front to do their part. When was the last time your marina management came and talked to you about what CLEAN MARINE is, and how you can do your part. That's what I thought. At the end of the day it is up to the boat owner to be responsible, and that's what they don't want to say!

Maybe the environment will be another issue that an independent will take on, we will create a contract were boaters sign up and commit to being green boaters. It will outline between ten and twelve ideas that boaters will commit to. Boaters will sign it, and we will be off the hook for a while. So what are our worst offenders on a daily boating basis?

• Ant foul ( Bottom Paint)
• Fuel burn and raw fuel discharge through the motor
• Fuel spills
• Oil discharge through the bilge pumps
• Cleaners and detergents used to wash the boat dishes and ourselves
• Junk that gets kicked off the dock
• Fishing line
• Batteries of all shapes and sizes
• Electronics disposal

We need a plan if we wish to get ahead of the curve, the question is will we spend the small amount of money per boat it would take to clean up, I wonder? I am not a environmental protection freak and I don't know the exact amount of pollutants that power boats dump on average per year, but I guarantee its a lot more than you are aware of. In some cases the owners do not even know the volume or contaminants that are getting pumped or dumped in the water. I don't know if anyone really wants to know.

Something to think about

 Just think about the amount of anti freeze that gets dumped during the winterizing process. The Shrink Wrap disposed of in the spring.  Have you looked at the ground when a bottom is pressure washed, we are years behind the US and other countries when it comes to this and other processes we get away with. I do know it will be up to us to weed out offenders, we all know boats that pollute, hell some never go to the pump out. That is what I am tiered of its our environment on the water we need to do more.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

                                                                                               Author   EC



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Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided.  



Boats and Boaters representatives in Canada

                                                   

 

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Open letter to all the acronym boat representatives out there..........

Where does all the money go and what do you do for Ontario or for that matter any boaters? NMMA, OMOA, and a host of other letters. I am very curious, these groups represent themselves as the voice of Canadian Pleasure Boaters. Over the last 35 years I have been in almost every major marina and yacht clubs in North America and I have yet to meet or been introduced to a single person who identifies them selves as a director or public relations officer. I guess that is my bad luck. I really would like to know what their mandate is and where they use their large budgets and government support, to create a better safer more organized boating experience at the grass roots level in Ontario.I hope they do something other than sell programs to get you a boat operators card. I have tried to reach out to these groups, but they must be very busy listening to boaters needs or creating new boater education and safety programs that are initiated by themselves or one of their board members. Outside ideas must not be serious enough to require their attention.

Boat Nut Medias reach is only 16000 readers globally!

Honestly it is no wonder Power Boaters create their own grass roots groups clubs and organizations to try and better their own boating experiences, and do not trust others. These five lettered groups must be contacting  and networking through the privately funded and quality boaters groups and forums like the CBOC. An organization who is working hard to open a responsible dialog with and between Canadian boaters. No they don't. The largest brick and mortar boating school in Canada has never had any interaction with the NMMA/ Discover Boating Ontario. Ontario Place Boaters created their own group in an attempt to negotiate with the Ontario Government, trying to figure out development plans with the marina and where that may leave them in the near future. There are several hundred boaters who are supposed to be represented at the provincial and federal level by one or all of these groups, so why are they not involved with development plan information so the boaters they represent are not in the woods fighting for information on there own.

Don't get me started when it comes to the Power Squadron the power house that was and still is supported by Transport Canada, they have the ability to do so much more, I think that these  representative groups clubs and associations are stuck in the mud they have fat budgets and apparently all the attention of the government officials, and unless I am wrong, large boat membership and data basis of information. So what do they do for the lowly boater the very reason they exist, not a god damn thing that will make a difference in my summer on the water.

I will go to their boat shows and read the updated literature, watch their ads on the TVs at the Ontario travel centers. However I am certain that unless I show up at their door when they are at their office, I will not likely ever meet one of them and have them ask me how they can make my boating experience a better and safer one this year.

If these groups really want to do something grab a boat get out on the water and take the time to have a one on one conversation with our great Ontario Boating community. Take some of their ideas and complaints back to your office and help them have a less stressful and more full filling boating experience. Worry less about the industry, they have their own boys clubs and side with the boater. What a novel idea. Hope you are reading this!  

             Yours truly, Boat Nut Media

In closing I really would like to know what these groups do, If I knew more about real changes or programs that were beneficial to boaters maybe I would have a different opinion, perhaps there will be a  response to this letter if they do I will post it. Because up until now we have reached out to many of these lobbyist groups and so far we've received a whole lot of nothing! They're apparent lack of interest in the boating community, safety, boating education and events has been astounding to us! After all isn't this exactly what your funding, and taking the boaters hard earned dollars is for?

To guarantee access to all of  Boat Nut Magazine articles, pictures and featured services visit the official Boat Nut Magazine ©™ website. Be sure to reply to the Boat Nut Association registration on our site for the latest Boat Nut weekly and monthly news letters and opportunities.

http://boatnutmagazine.com/

Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided.