Goodbye 2009 and welcome 2010.  I am looking forward to being out on the water - hopefully this weekend.  I am leaving you with an interesting story about an expedition that will be sailing from San Francisco, CA and ending in Sydney Australia named Plastiki.  They are trying to raise environmental awareness about the growing mounds of plastic accumulating in our oceans.  There are reported areas of plastic trash floating in the Pacific Ocean that cover areas twice the size of Texas.  The sailboat they will be traveling on is constructed from recycled plastic materials.  They have a nice website that will keep you up to date on their whereabouts as well as information about the construction techniques used.

As we head into 2010 I wish all a happy new year and decade!  Let's make sure that we keep our selves healthy and renew our commitment to keeping our planet a healthy place to live for ourselves and our loved ones.  Good sailing!

Using common sense and some green boating strategies, it's possible to enjoy the pleasures of boating without feeling guilty that you're screwing up the environment.  In case you were out sailing and haven't noticed, there is a green movement going on and maybe this time it will be here to stay.  Some of us were around in the 60's and 70's when there was a push for environmental awareness but it really never made the mainstream.

Besides being fashionable it now makes economic sense  for the short and long term to invest in our future by utilizing green strategies. The following is a list that will get you on your way towards greener boating.

1. Keep up with regular engine maintenance and you can boost engine efficiency by about 4 percent and reduce fuel consumption.
2. Watch out for worn spark plugs. A misfiring spark plug can reduce an engine's fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.
3. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
4. When your boat is moored at the docks do you leave the air conditioning on to prevent mold and mildew?  Turn the air conditioning off and use a device such as the Stor-Dry Air Dryer.
5. Avoid the use of finishes, adhesives, and compositions that may give off toxins into the environment.
6. When using bottom paint for your boat try a high-copper modified epoxy paint or one of the newly formulated no-copper alternative such as Interlux Pacifica and Pettit Vivid Free. Both utilize a zinc pyrithione biocide.
7. For washing dishes, clothing or bathing try using Sun Shower Soap.  I've found it to be very effective and it is environmentally friendly.
8. Have you ever started washing your boat and watched the runoff empty into the water?  There are several environmentally friendly products available for cleaning your boat including the Simple Green Family of cleaning products such as Simple Green Marine and Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner.
9. Use solar panels to supplement some of your electrical needs.
10. Replace your power boat with a sail boat.  Enough said!