12 Sustainable Boating Tips

While personal safety is usually at the forefront of our minds when we are speeding around on the open water, protecting the wildlife and ecosystems that live in our waterways is essential to safeguard our local and global environment. In this article, we will share some sustainable boating advice that any inboard boat owner ought to observe in order to do their part in preserving our precious aquatic ecosystems. 

Sustainable Boating Practices

• Boat Maintenance

Regularly checking the condition of your inboard boat is an essential aspect of sustainable boating, as any external damage to the hull, bow and stern could be spreading harmful chemicals into the aquatic ecosystems you visit. Repairing any superficial damage on the underside of your vessel with toxicant-free paints and materials will prevent harmful substances from entering the waterways, while lengthening the lifespan of your boat and increasing its resale value. 

• Storing Your Boat Over the Winter

Leaving your boat on the water over the winter can accelerate the corrosion of its propellers, rudders, and other elements below the waterline, while the expansion of freezing water can cause your hull and engine blocks to crack, putting you at risk of harmful leaks. Storing your boat indoors in dry conditions will prevent it from becoming damaged over the winter, eliminating the risk of any pollutants seeping into the surrounding water.

• Engine Maintenance

Monitoring the performance of your engine is perhaps the most crucial component of practicing sustainable boating, as an inefficient engine will consume more fuel while expelling more harmful emissions and noise into aquatic habitats, disturbing or killing the local wildlife. Inspecting the oil levels, air filter, water pumps, and exhaust manifold before departure will allow you to track the condition of your engine, such that you can make repairs and replacements before they become a bigger issue.  

• Fuel Efficiency

The amount of fuel you use while driving your boat corresponds to the amount of pollutants released into the water, which is why optimizing the fuel efficiency of your vessel has such an important role to play in green boating. Operating at an optimal Rotations Per Minute (RPM) while managing the weight distribution of your vessel will allow you to maximize your fuel consumption without impacting your performance, such that you can keep wakeboarding and waterskiing without worrying about your environmental impact.  

• Bilge Maintenance

Even small amounts of oil can spread across acres of water, disrupting the oxygen levels and causing serious damage to the animals and their habitats. Scrubbing the inner hull of your boat with biodegradable cleaning products not only reduces the amount of bilge onboard but will prevent any oil leaks from emulsifying and causing even greater problems for marine life. 

• Oil and Fuel Spills

Overfilling engine tanks and mishandling bilge cause more oil and fuel spills than groundings or hull failures, which is why observing proper procedure when refuelling and cleaning your boat is an essential sustainable boating practice. Remember to check the capacity of your engine on the plate or certification label located inside the transom and place an oil absorbent pad under your engine in case of drips.

• Waste Management

From domestic rubbish and food waste to cleaning products and degraded lithium-ion batteries, the waste produced by your boating excursions can cause serious harm to local marine life and their habitats unless it is handled and disposed of correctly and carefully. Laying down tarps to prevent any waste from spilling into the water, then separating your trash for recycling, hazardous and general rubbish will ensure your waste is properly processed and your favorite boating spots are protected.  

• Chemical-Free Sunscreen

Many commercial sunscreens contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, common chemical filters used to protect the wearer from UV rays. While good for your skin, these chemicals are the primary cause of coral bleaching due to the way they interact with the DNA in coral reefs. Replacing your sunscreen with a mineral-based alternative is a simple yet crucial component of green boating, as these compounds do not interact with the aquatic fauna that provides homes to many marine animals. 

• Eco-Friendly Boating Gear

Water sports, diving and fishing gear that are made from artificial materials such as nylon, polyester, and PVC release microplastics when they come into contact with the water, which pose a threat to smaller marine creatures who may consume and be killed by these materials. When you are purchasing equipment for your next boating season, look for gear that features eco-friendly certifications such as OceanSafe and Green Seal to ensure you are minimizing your impact on the environment. 

• Anchoring Responsibly

Seagrass beds serve as habitats for diverse species, including shellfish, seahorses, and anemones, while acting as ‘carbon sinks’ absorbing large quantities of carbon dioxide in the water. When you drag your anchor through these beds, you risk damaging these habitats and potentially killing the marine life living within them, while releasing large quantities of carbon into the atmosphere. Mooring your boat in designated areas marked by buoys is an essential sustainable boating practice, as is limiting the length of your anchor chain to prevent unnecessarily disturbing the bed while you are moored. 

• Fishing Responsibly

Aquatic ecosystems rely on a delicate balance of marine life to sustain their biodiversity, which has a wider impact on the environment and ecosystems around the world. Overfishing particular species of fish can disturb this balance, resulting in certain species thriving or diminishing, and leading to the extinction of animal and plant species. Being selective about the type of hooks, lures and fishing gear will reduce the incidence of catching and killing protected marine species, while ensuring you collect your gear at the end of your expedition will prevent animal and plant life from being suffocated by “ghost gear.”

• Avoiding Feeding Wildlife

Accepting food from tourists can make marine animals more reliant on handouts for their nutrition, disincentivizing them from foraging or hunting, while some preservatives and chemicals in human food can be dangerous for wild animals to ingest, damaging their digestion or even rendering them infertile. It is vital that you do not intentionally feed any marine animals or leave any food waste behind that they could accidentally consume. 

We hope that our sustainable boating advice has opened your eyes to the importance of being mindful and responsible while enjoying yourself on the water. For more insights into green boating or guidance on how to keep the environment and yourself safe while participating in your boating hobbies, please refer to the boating safety resources available on our blog.