Sustainable boating can be approached from a number of angles.
If you’re passionate about water sports in general and sailing in particular, you’re certainly eager for the new boating season to begin. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being on a boat and sailing smoothly across vast bodies of water that stretch before your eyes to the horizon, on a calm and peaceful day, when the wind is just perfect and the sun shines high in the sky.
But the joy and excitement of going on a water boating or sailing adventure shouldn’t come at the cost of the environment. As you may well know, our planet is on the brink of an environmental crisis, with global warming threatening to destroy many of the Earth’s natural habitats and pollution reaching alarming rates in all parts of the world. Now more than ever we have to pay attention to environmental protection and do our best to limit our carbon footprint in every way that we can. That also means reassessing our habits and hobbies and how they might affect the planet.
As fun and thrilling as sailing may be, you need to be aware that it can also have a negative impact on the environment. Does that mean you should give up on your passion in order to limit these harmful effects? Fortunately, you don’t need to take such drastic measures. But what you can and should do is strive to make your cruising trips a bit more sustainable. So, here are a few tips that can help you achieve this goal and enjoy greener boat trips from now on.
Choose an eco-friendly boat
If you want to transition to sustainable boating, the best thing you can do is purchase a boat that is kind to the environment. In this respect, sailboats and electric boats (like an efoil boat) are as eco-friendly as boats can get. Since they rely on wind, solar energy and electricity, their carbon footprint is considerably reduced, and that makes them a great choice for anyone who wants to bask in mother nature’s wonders without leaving a trail of pollution behind you. However, when wind power or electrical is not an option, purchasing a conventional boat with a low-emission outboard motor is the next best thing as it will help you reduce fuel consumption and pollution.
Sail responsibly
Your boating and sailing habits can make a world of a difference in caring for the environment. There are many small measures that you can take during your trip to minimize your carbon footprint. You don’t have to build a boat from plastic bottles to be an eco hero. For starters, you can use less fuel and limit noise pollution by cursing at an adequate speed and limiting the number of passengers on the boat. Dump dump your bilge into the water. If you want to fish, be sure to avoid overexploited species or practice catch and release.
Wild eco-preneurs like David de Rothschild set out to catalogue micro-plastics at sea on a yacht made from plastic bottles.
Additionally, you should respect the natural habitat by keeping a safe distance from wildlife. Researching your destinations and buying local is another way to boost sustainability in your travels. And if you want to enjoy full peace of mind, you may want to use a carbon offsetting program to neutralize the gas emissions that you’ve involuntarily created.
Focus on maintenance
A very important aspect that plays a crucial role in limiting the environmental impact of boating, yachting and sailing and that many people, unfortunately, tend to ignore or postpone is maintenance. If you want to avoid accidents or mishaps that affect both the budget and the planet, you need to keep your boat in good condition. An engine that is properly maintained and doesn’t show any signs of malfunction is not only less likely to break down and lead to costly repairs, but it can also help you get better mileage while generating fewer emissions.
Prioritizing regular inspections allows you to keep unpleasant surprises at bay and extend your boat’s lifespan. Also, if you need to conduct repairs and replace certain parts, purchasing a used outboard engine instead of a brand-new one can help reduce waste and save money.
Minimize and dispose of waste correctly
No matter how thoughtful and cautious you are, generating waste while boating and sailing is unavoidable. There’s simply no way around it. But even if you can’t eliminate waste completely, you can at least minimize the amount you produce and dispose of it properly. Once again, it’s the little things that matter the most, such as:
- checking for potential signs of damage before leaving
- filling your tank with care so you don’t spill dangerous substances like oil or fuel into the water
- limiting single-use items on board
- learning about the recycling policies of all the destinations you plan to visit
- washing and cleaning only in onshore facilities in order to avoid greywater leakage
- disposing of the waste you have generated correctly, especially when it comes to black water and which should never be released into the environment.
Use eco-friendly products
This might not be the first thing that comes to mind when getting ready for a boating or sailing trip, but you should also pay attention to the products you use on board, whether it’s the shampoo, sunscreen, dish soap, or other self-care and cleaning supplies. More often than not, these products contain harmful substances such as phosphates that can disrupt the natural ecosystems if they end up in the water. These products can also melt the seats of your boat. Here is a safe DIY sunscreen recipe you can make at home.
The same principle applies to boat cleaning products. If you want to keep your boat sparkling clean, make sure you steer clear from harsh detergents and other harmful chemicals and use fresh water or go for eco-friendly alternatives instead when cleaning your boat.
Wrapping up
As you can see, sailing, boating and environmental protection is a very complex issue and there are many ways in which people unknowingly can harm the planet. Fortunately, there are also solutions to many of these issues. You may not be able to do everything perfectly, but as long as you’re taking steps in the right direction, your efforts will be worth it and in the end, you’ll be able to make a meaningful difference.
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