Sustainable Boating Practices
Powering up your outboard motor and cruising out onto the water in your beloved boat is a great way to explore the world and connect with nature. But carelessness and a lack of awareness can mean that you are unwittingly contributing to environmental damage, which could lessen the beauty around you over time. It’s important that everyone who boats is aware of how their hobby can impact the environment and that they take steps to lessen or eliminate the harm that their boats can do.
New Jersey Outboards, located in Bayville, is your local outboard motor dealer. We want to help you reduce your carbon footprint and practice more sustainable boating, so here are our top eco-friendly tips for you to use when you’re out on the water.
Never Litter
When you’re having a relaxing meal on your boat, or even just a snack, make sure that you don’t let any napkins, cutlery, paper plates or food wrappers fall into the water. Littering causes a lot of problems for the environment and it can be very dangerous for the birds and fish that live in and around the water. Most trash takes several years to break down entirely. Even organic matter like an orange peel can take two years to completely decompose!
Plastics are obviously the worst offenders here, so reducing your plastic usage in general is wise, but make sure that you aren’t leaving any trash or recycling in the waters around you. Contain and dispose of all food waste, trash and recycling materials and dispose of it properly once you’ve gone back to the dock..
Respect Wildlife
When boating, you need to be vigilant about your impact on the surrounding environment, which includes being aware of and respecting wildlife. Only hunt or fish in approved waters and never catch any endangered species. Watch for animals and fish that may get near your boat’s propeller so that you can give them a wide berth to avoid hurting them.
Contain Solvents & Chemicals
It’s important to keep your outboard motor well-maintained in order to avoid leaking oil, battery acid, gasoline, coolant or other hazardous fluids into the water. Check your bilge before you pump it so you know you’re not letting oil run into the water. You can attach a bilge sock to capture fluids. If you do spill any oil or fuel, use an absorbent pad to mop up as much as you can. Take your boat in for repairs immediately to avoid further pollution.
In fact, if you need service or parts for your outboard motor or your boat, you can contact the maintenance team here at New Jersey Outboards to schedule an appointment with our team of professional mechanics! Let us help you stay green by keeping your outboard in good working order.
Another great way to reduce your impact on the environment is to trade in your old boat or outboard motor for a brand-new, technologically advanced model that’s designed to be more environmentally friendly. The latest boats and motors are designed to be quieter, more fuel-efficient, and less likely to leach chemicals into the water. They are also made with more ecologically sound materials and don’t use hazardous toxic paints in their construction.
Come see us at our location in Bayville, New Jersey, to check out our full stock of new and used outboard motors and boats for sale. New Jersey Outboards proudly serves our New Jersey customers along with the greater Philadelphia metro area. We welcome all our customers coming from the states of Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut.