Conscientious Cruising

Eco-friendly boating tips to keep our lakes clean.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” is an appropriate slogan for today’s boater. Handling various solid and liquid wastes, engine maintenance and reducing fuel consumption will save money and create a safer, cleaner environment. Here are some eco-friendly steps every boater can manage.

Weight loss: Dropping weight aboard will reduce fuel consumption. Take off bulky and unneeded items like water toys, folding chairs or full lockers, and don’t exceed the boat’s capacity for passengers. Dumping water from the bilge, livewell and wastewater will also reduce excess weight.

Wastewater: Greywater is untreated water from sinks, showers and runoff from washing the boat with detergents, while blackwater comes from sewage.

Discharging either type in most Great Lakes regions and its associated waterways or Canadian waters is illegal. Instead, use marina pump-out stations or designated waste areas.

Waste products: Disposable plastics and paper products should be discarded in separate containers and reused or discarded correctly.

Consider tying a heavy-duty kitchen bag for trash containment or using an inexpensive mesh laundry bag with drawstrings (about $4) to store empty plastic bottles and bulky plastics. Attach both types of bags to a cleat for later recycling. Collect your trash and even pick up other garbage within the area. Then place them in designated garbage bins. Garbage is not only unsightly but can also attract unwanted animals and diseases. Do not throw anything overboard.

Bait/fish waste: Use live bait compatible with or common to the area. Only keep fish you’re willing to clean and eat. Use the entire fish. Fish bones and cartilage are rich in calcium; the rest is high in minerals and good for the garden — it creates good compost.

Monofilament: Fishing line endangers land and water wildlife through entanglement or ingestion. Even scuba divers and boat propellers can be affected. Cut the line into 3-inch pieces, store them in a closed-top container, and drop them in specialized recycling bins at docks or marinas. Since it takes 600 years to decompose, the recycled line is excellent for making new fish habitats.

Cleaning: Bits of debris and microscopic organisms are easily transferred from one body of water to another. Moving to other water without washing the hull at an approved cleaning station is unlawful. Scrub off any organic growth and clean the hull with biodegradable soap. Not only does this keep organisms from spreading, but removing debris decreases water resistance and reduces fuel consumption.

Spills: Contain and then dispose of hazardous wastes like oil and fuel rags appropriately.

Listen to the sound made as gasoline fills the fuel tank — it will change as it gets closer to the top. Don’t overfill to leave room for expanding gases.

The gasoline handler is responsible for any gas spills. Not only are spills environmentally harmful, but gasoline is a solvent and will react negatively on gelcoat or polyurethane surfaces, so use a catch cloth and clean the area when finished.

Fuel consumption: Reducing fuel consumption is easy and eco-friendly. Reduce speed, take more time to travel or flow with the current. Don’t idle for long periods, but do get on plane quickly and maintain safe speeds while keeping the throttle steady.

Check the manufacturer’s manual for the fuel tank’s capacity and test your boating habits. Plan to use one-third of the tank’s capacity going out, one-third coming back and one-third for emergencies. Then, adjust your behavior to be fuel conscientious.

Use the correct octane gasoline, and never use E-15. In small two-stroke engines, E-15 causes them to run hotter, and it’s incredibly corrosive for older fiberglass fuel tanks. Left in the tank, E-15 produces a “brown goo” that clogs the fuel injection system.

Consider using fuel stabilizers if the engine sits for more than a few weeks to reduce the ethanol-water separation and possible gumming issues.

Lastly: Flora and fauna need their environment to be clean and pollutant free. Maintaining your boat, being conscious of your habits and using common sense are great for the planet, as well as other boaters on the water. Safety First. ★