Chances are, if you love boating, you also love the water, and with pollution impacting our waters more than ever before, more people are making greener changes to keep our waters blue. These green changes can make a big impact on the environment and your wallet. Check out these eco-friendly boating tips to do your part in keeping our waters clean while you’re enjoying your boat rental from Boatsetter.
Reign in your horsepower in “no wake” zones when you get close to shore. While you might think of a “no wake” zone like a school zone in the water, lowering to idle speed in these areas does so much more than keep children safe. When high energy waves hit the vegetation around the shoreline, they erode and wash away the lands. Next time you’re in your boat rental, see if you can spot the difference in the shoreline of a “no wake” zone compared to a shoreline in an unprotected area.
To make a bigger impact on the environment, as well as in your wallet, keep an eye on your fuel usage. It’s easier than you might think. Ease up on the throttle and slow down your speed. Slower speed=Less fuel usage. You can also reduce your idle time and use solar or dockside power to charge your batteries and other electrical items. To go even greener, try an electric boat rental from Boatsetter.
Within the next decade, there could be one pound of plastic for every three pounds of fish if we don’t act now. The fix is as easy as bringing along a trash bag while you’re enjoying your boat rental and properly disposing of trash when you reach the shore. To go even greener and save money, consider reusable dishes. Renting for a multi-day trip? Don’t throw your greywater overboard. Greywater is the untreated water from your sink, shower, dishwasher, and washing machine. In other words, if you use it to wash something, don’t dispose of it in the environment. Retain it until you reach a pump-out facility.
We all know that sunscreen goes at the top of the list when packing for a boating trip. But did you know that some sunscreens are harmful to our aquatic environments? When you anchor down in your boat rental and go for a dip, your sunscreen can wash off into the water. Some sunscreens contain chemicals that can damage corals and disrupt fish development. When shopping for sunscreen, stay away from products that contain oxybenzone and instead opt for ones that contain zinc or titanium oxide.
If you spot pollution, such as hazardous waste or oil spills, report it as soon as you can. If you’re renting a boat in the US, call the Coast Guard’s 24 Hour National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802. If you’re renting in Australia, call the Northern Territories Pollution Hotline at 1.800.064567. If you’re vacationing on a boat in Canada, call 1-800-265-0237.