Paddling or sailing is not always practical for some people so the use of powerboats is necessary and enjoyable. There have been great improvements on marine engines and boats in the past 10 years that have caused them to be much greener. There are some boat designs that can more efficiently use solar and wind power like the ones shown here. There are things that we can do with less investment to help make power boating more environmentally friendly.

Tips for Green Boating

• Prevent oily discharges from the bilge. Keep your engine well tuned to prevent fuel and oil leaks. Secure an oil absorbent pad or pillow in your bilge and under your engine where drips may occur. Check the pads often, do not let them clog the bilge pump, and dispose of them as hazardous waste at a marina or local hazardous waste collection center.

• Spill-proof your oil changes. For oil changes, use an oil change pump to transfer oil to a spill-proof container. Wrap a plastic bag or absorbent pad around the oil filter to prevent oil from spilling into the bilge.

• When fueling, stop the drops! Prevent fuel spills by filling fuel tanks slowly and using absorbent pads or rags to catch drips and spills. Do not "top off" or overflow your fuel tank. Leave the tank 10% empty to allow fuel to expand as it warms.

• Do not add soap. Never use soap to disperse fuel and oil spills. It increases harm to the environment, and it is illegal.

• Minimize boat cleaning and maintenance in the water. If possible, save maintenance projects for the boatyard. When performing work on the water minimize your impact by containing waste. Use tarps and vacuum sanders to collect all drips and debris for proper disposal.

• Reduce toxic discharges from bottom paints. Minimize the discharge of heavy metals found in soft-sloughing antifouling paints by using a less toxic, or nontoxic antifouling paint. Use only non-abrasive underwater hull cleaning techniques to prevent excessive paint discharge. Remember, dry storage reduces the need for antifouling paints and saves money.

• Dispose of hazardous waste properly. Dispose of paints, batteries, antifreeze, cleaning products, oil, oil filters and other hazardous wastes at a hazardous waste collection facility.

• Plan A-head! Manage sewage wastes properly. Never discharge sewage within 3 miles of shore. Use harbor pump-out stations and shore-side facilities. If you do not have an installed toilet, use a port-a-potty and empty it at a harbor dump station or bathroom.

• Stow it, do not throw it! Keep your trash on board. Never throw cigarette butts, fishing line, or any other garbage into the waterway. Take advantage of shore-side facilities to recycle plastic, glass, metal, and paper.

• Reduce Greywater discharges. Use a phosphate-free biodegradable soap to minimize the impacts of greywater on the marine environment. Also minimize discharge by doing dishes and showers on shore whenever possible.

• Choose green products: Use the cleanest maintenance products that do the job. Look for the EPA-certified "Design for the Environment" DfE label, which assures you that the product has minimal environmental impact and is safer for the person using it. Benefit: Safer products. Reduce water pollution.

• Don't push water: Install and use trim tabs or hydrofoils. Most planing powerboats can improve hole-shot acceleration or reduce fuel consumption with properly adjusted trim tabs and hydrofoils. Keeping on a plane at lower engine RPMs can extend your range and reduce your time on passages. Benefit: Improve boat performance and save gas.

• Retire that 2-stroke outboard: It may be possible to get a few more years out of your old-technology outboard, but you'll be much happier with the reduced noise, fumes, fuel consumption, and pollution of a modern injected four-stroke outboard.

• Recycle your lead-acid batteries: 12V batteries are among the most recycled products in the world. Get up to a $10.00 credit on a new battery, when you return your core to any West Marine store. Benefit: Save money and conserve resources.

• The untreated discharge from one weekend boater puts the same amount of bacterial pollution into the water as does the treated sewage of 10,000 people.

• Human wastes can contain disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. Swimmers, waterskiers and others who swallow or come in contact with water that has been contaminated with human wastes can become ill.

• Dirty boat bottoms can carry hitchhiking pest organisms from bay to bay, port to port - pests that can harm the very things you value.