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!

I did not have a multimeter with me to test the motor so I did the next best thing. I removed it and brought it home with me. The location of the pump is right next to the macerator pump beneath the couch or main berth. There is an access panel beneath the cushions so it was not too difficult to get to. Removing the pump was a matter of making sure that the power was shutoff at the panel, disconnecting the two wires that connect to it, and removing the three screw that secured it in place.

I never realized that there was a filter attached to the pump which is quite obvious after seeing the “gunk” covering the filter.

This is the pump removed.

After examining the inside of the pump it appears to be a lost cause. Upon opening the pump there was a burnt smell and the motor appears to be frozen. i don’t know what else to examine so it appears that I will be replacing this with a new pump.

Four people are confirmed dead aboard a capsized sailboat found off the Bahamas during the weekend.

The Coast Guard told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel its planes were searching for an overdue sailboat out of Fort Lauderdale when it spotted the overturned hull Sunday.

A nearby civilian dive boat went to the scene and discovered the victims in and around the boat.

The local Coast Guard Auxillary will come out and do a vessel safety check for free and make recommendations if needed. Contact your local auxillary or check out the Vessel Safety check website for more information.

I am a true believer that through out life each person we meet leaves a little bit of themselves with us. One of my fondest memories of Jeff was crewing with him on a night race several years ago. We didn’t win the race but our discussions on sailing and life will forever be etched in my mind. It ’s with great sadness that I say good bye to an accomplished sailor and wonderful person. More tributes to Jeff Gibson.

The SPOT can send messages with three levels of urgency to your choice of up to ten email addresses and/or mobile phones. And, since the SPOT has a built-in GPS, your messages are tagged with your precise position, allowing the recipients to quickly identify your position on Google Earth. The three levels of urgency (OK, HELP, and 911) allow you to choose whether to tell everyone you’re OK, or to request help from friends, or in more serious conditions, from your local 911 resources like the Highway Patrol and Coast Guard.

Retail cost is $149.00 and $99.00 annual fee for unlimited use. At this price it is an easy decision to add this to your safety arsenal.

The good thing about the pump not working is now my galley faucet does not leak. I spent 30 minutes one afternoon trying to figure out how to get to the washer and from the schematics available it should have been rather easy. I guess I gave up too quickly but after putting kids’ Christmas presents together over the holidays my patience had run out.

I am also adding to the maintenance list fixing a very slight leak in one of the hatches. I don’t anticipate this to be too difficult but often a 1 hour repair turns into a 4 hour one. I would also like to add a second bilge pump. Redundancy is good when it comes to bilge pumps. Of course there is always working on the teak, and cleaning the bilge, and maintaining the stainless deck hardware. Should I go on? You get the idea. It should turn into a year of scraped knuckles, reading and rereading Don Casey’s Sailboat Maintenance Manual, buying multiple sailboat parts and hardware, and enjoying the satisfaction of a job well done.

Happy New Year my sailing friends. Have a prosperous, healthy, and productive 2008!