Reduce your boating footprint by being a green, environmentally conscious boater:

1. Keep your engine well tuned and in top condition: A well tuned engine is lesser likely to have oil spills that pollute the water.
2. Limit oil spill damage: Have mechanisms in place to limit the damage that could be caused by oil spills. Cover the area around your boat’s engine with rags or other oil absorbent materials.
3. Be careful when re-fuelling: When re-fuelling your boat, do so slowly and very carefully to avoid oil spills.
4. Leave 10% of oil tank empty: Oil tends to expand when it gets heated and filling your tank fully will cause the oil to drip.
5. In case of an oil spill, don’t use soap: This does even more harm to the environment.
6. Drive at cruising speed instead of top speed: You will burn less fuel this way
7. Maintain your boat well: Make sure your boat’s propeller and hull are clean and free of marine growth. A well maintained boat is more fuel efficient and gives you extra mileage. It also reduces gas emissions. So, service your boat regularly to keep it in a well maintained condition.
8. Be Eco-Logical: Use environment friendly, phosphate free products for cleaning your boat.
9. Use environment friendly paints: The bottom of your boat obviously is in constant contact with water. Paint your boat’s bottom with eco-friendly paints that are low in toxic substances.
10. Dispose of trash responsibly: Don’t throw the trash generated on the boat, out in the water. Dispose it off at the designated areas on the shore. Properly drain your boat sewage.

Make these a part of your boating routine and you’ll find that environmentally responsible boating comes naturally to you. So, the next time you enjoy the wind caressing you as you cruise the pristine waters, you can rest assured that you are doing your bit for the environment by reducing your boating footprint.