Gas Guzzling Boats

     As gas prices soar to record heights every day people are becoming more conscious of driving to save gas and money.  Drivers are now interesting in buying cars that are fuel efficient and eco-friendly.   Hybrid cars and Segways are popping up everywhere giving consumers a chance to meet their needs.  Even airlines such as Southwest and United are taking measures to try and lessen their gas usage. 

     Now that we have both air and land taken care of in the mission to become more fuel efficient and eco-friendly it is time to turn to the water.  Boating has become an increasingly popular leisure activity for millions of people.    This recreational activity ranges from fishing, to water skiing to just driving around the lake, ocean or up and down a river.  Cruising around a lake on a gorgeous day is a slice of heaven for some; it is also a huge gas guzzling moment.  Most boats, with the exception of those that use man-power, suck up gas like crazy.  While the hybrid, solar-powered has not yet been mastered, there are still a few tricks and tips that will help save gas and make your boat more eco-friendly.

Wax on, Wax off – Waxing your boat will not only give it shine and make it last longer, it will help it slice through the water with ease.  This brings down the resistance and less gas is needed as the boat will glide through the water.  Wax will also protect your boat against dirt from being engrained into the surface, eliminating the need for detergents when washing it. 

Avoid idling - Just like in a car, idling the boat burns up unnecessary gas.  Keeping the engine running while waiting for someone to grab an extra towel or bring down the cooler just ends up costing money and gas.  Turn your boat off when you dock for a quick stop and then start it up again when you are ready to go. 

Avoid the need for speed – While speeding along at full throttle with the wind blasting against your face is an amazing feeling, it is emptying your tank.  Never go max speed on your boat, it runs the engine and burns more gas than you can imagine.  Slow down and enjoy the scenery, sun and the water.

Check your Engine - It may seem like a simple and obvious tip, but getting your engine checked regularly will improve your fuel efficiency.  Around 30% of gas discharged into the air and water by a boat is unburned gas.  Checking the engine and keeping it clean will help reduce the amount of unused gas being released from the tank.

Gassing up – Pay close attention when gassing up at the docks or marina.  Make sure you don’t over fill your tank or spill gas into the water while at pouring gas into your boat’s tank.  A quart of spilled gas can contaminate hundreds of thousands gallons of water.  It is estimated that boaters spill more than 15 times the amount of the Exxon Valdez spill each year.  That is over one billion liters of gas and oil being dumped into North America’s water each year.  Keep oil absorbent rags in the boat at all times and dispose of properly after spill cleanup.

Be a conscious consumer – If you are looking to buy a boat look for one that is fuel efficient and eco-friendly.  There are some, not very attractive looking, electric boats out on the market now.  Look for boats with an efficient four-stroke instead of a two-stroke engine.  If you choose to go with a two-stroke engine find one with direct fuel injection.  These engines are more fuel efficient and will reduce emissions into the air as well as use up less gas than other engines.

Think eco-friendly - While out on the water make a conscious effort to reduce the amount of personal waste from your boat.  Never throw trash or empty your sewage tanks directly into the water.  There are a variety of laws prohibiting this, even if your boat comes equipped with a sewage sanitizer.  If your boat has a septic tank bring it to an on-shore pumping station and have them drain your sewage for you.  Don’t every throw empty cans, cigarettes, etc. into the water it’s not good for the environment and will end up washing on the shore of someone’s lakefront property.  When cleaning your boat be aware of using products that contain harmful chemical products.  Everyone wants their boat to look like it was bought yesterday, but using cleaning products and letting it wash off into the water is extremely harmful to the environment.  Instead, wash your boat when it is out of the water, or just take a sponge to it while it is in the water.  Washing the underside of the boat daily will eliminate algae and grime build-up.  Not only will your boat stay clean but it will cut through the water with ease, using less gas and lessening the load on your wallet.