Head on over to C2134 (upstairs, in Electronics Alley) to see a demonstration of an electronic fuel spill prevention device called, appropriately, the Fuel Spill Guard.

Ken Wallenberg gave me the run-down, and it’s a convincing display. These units, manufactured locally on Whidbey Island, provide both visual and audible warnings that your tank is full, and they also include overflow tanks for additional spill prevention. Very cool.

Check out the website at http://www.fuelspillprevention.com to see the product line, including options for single and dual tank situations.

This strays a little off-topic for Navagear, but it’s pretty dang cool. I still have hopes that fuel cell technology will make a big splash for sailboats and other displacement-type vessels with low horsepower-to-displacement ratios.

Anyway, check out this story from Science Daily:

Zero CO₂ is the world’s first-hydrogen powered yacht with a fully integrated laboratory to study pollution in the Mediterranean.

[Image courtesy of Université Joseph Fourier]

The objective of the Zero CO₂ project is to sail around the Mediterranean using a clean carbon-free auxiliary motor (gasoline powered motors are commonly used in yachts for all port manoeuvres). The yacht will be presented for the first time at the Paris Boat Show in December 2009.  A 12m craft built by the RM shipyard of La Rochelle, the yacht will be equipped with an electric motor driven by a hydrogen fuel cell, developed by CEA Liten of Grenoble.

Test pollution levels in the Mediterranean using a built-in laboratory

A scientific platform installed on the yacht by the University Joseph Fourier (UJF) and its technology transfer subsidiary, Floralis, will be used to collect scientific data on man-made pollution throughout the length of the 10 month trip. The yacht will travel around the Mediterranean coast as far as Turkey on a journey that will commence in March, 2010.

[Read more...]

“New gadget makes grilling easy, green!”

Wait, what?!

“Recyclable instant grill comes complete with foil pan, grill grate, stand and 100% natural charcoal for superior grilling and convenience.”

Hold on. You’re trying to tell me that a throwaway grill is environmentally friendly?

This press release comes out of Kirkland, a pleasant suburb of Seattle with its own marina on Lake Washington. Regular readers know that I usually go out of my way to help promote products by neighbors within the region.

But a disposable grill? Actually, I don’t have anything against a disposable grill, in principle. It’s just the strong ecofriendly marketing angle that makes me skeptical. I guess I need to be convinced on the “green-ness” factor.

Oh well, on with the press release!…

Kirkland, WA – (June 24, 2009) – The all-in-one BBQ and 100% recyclable portable grill concept that has taken Europe by storm is now available in the U.S., courtesy of P&M Products, LLC. The EZ Grill™, complete with foil pan, stand, grill grate and 100% natural instant charcoal (all recyclable), makes cooking meats and vegetables easy, natural tasting, eco-friendly and convenient – the perfect grilling solution for home or apartment use, campers, travelers, tailgaters and passionate on-the-go BBQ lovers.

“The EZ Grill is our way of sharing our love for grilling and the environment with the rest of the world,” said Phillip Swan, CEO for P&M Products, LLC. “Because we have such a personal connection to the BBQ experience, we are able to satisfy all the key benefits consumers are looking for nowadays: quality, convenience, affordability and sustainability.”

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Here’s another recent Puget Sound Maritime post I feel some Navagear readers might find interesting. Heck, some might find it offensive, one way or another. I normally avoid expressing opinions, particularly off-topic. But the more I learn about this, the more I fear we are literally “loving the whales to death.”

Mark Anderson is chairman of Orca Relief, and was founding executive director of The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor. He had something to say in Sunday’s Seattle Times:

Most people know it is illegal to harass marine mammals, but I would guess that readers may not know the simple pursuit of our local whales violates federal law. Both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act specifically state that pursuit is illegal.

This makes sense. Can you imagine an endangered wolf population, being chased all day every day by tourists on all-terrain vehicles? The situation with our orca is not much different.

I agree. It’s not much different. I saw some orca while out on Two Lucky Fish last summer. How did I find them? Um, it was incredibly easy, because every whale-tour boat in sight was racing to the scene, and you couldn’t mistake the two lines of slow-moving boats, bracketing the whales between them.

My guests, visitors from Europe, were thrilled. So was I. But I was also a little bit sickened. These creatures have to put up with this all day long, every single day?!?

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[Information provided by the manufacturer. Is there something wrong with me that I both (a) embrace ecologically friendly products and (b) resent the many "green" marketing campaigns now underway, which feel vaguely Machiavellian somehow? By the way, this isn't about Pettit, in particular. I just had Two Lucky Fish's bottom painted with Pettit Vivid, and I couldn't be happier with it. —Tim]

Green products are all the rage right now, and with good reason.  However, Pettit Marine Paint was developing its clean formulas long before anyone was talking about global warming or climate change.  The company has made a long-term commitment to the research and development of the highest quality, most environmentally gentle marine paints and coatings.

“Pettit has developed additives and formulations that leave greatly reduced chemical footprints, some with nearly zero trace,” said Pettit general manager John Ludgate.  “Riding the wave of the future with breakthrough technologies, Pettit will continually introduce innovative new products for a cleaner tomorrow.”

For example, with Pettit’s composite copper technology, the traditional cuprous oxide is replaced with silica, reducing the copper content by up to 40%.  The result is a copper antifouling that provides superior protection and is made from materials naturally found in the ocean.

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[This information provided by the manufacturer. —Tim]

The leader in electric propulsion, Torqeedo introduced a revolutionary drive at this year’s METS in Amsterdam, Netherlands, the Ultralight 402. With a total weight of 15 pounds, including battery, it’s the first viable motor for kayaks on the market.

Completely submersible and IP68-rated, it will operate even when fully submersed.  With a simple mounting ball it can be easily mounted onto most rigid hull kayaks.

The propulsive power of the Ultralight 402 is equivalent to a 1 HP gas outboard.  Depending on the type of kayak, it reaches a max speed between 5.0-6.5 mph for about half an hour.  At slow speed, the Ultralight 402 can drive a kayak for a range of 12-15 miles.

Its impressive speed and range are due to the latest technologies employed in the batteries and drivetrain.  The high-efficiency drivetrain converts 50% of stored battery power into propulsive power, measured after all losses including propeller losses.  The equivalent value for trolling motors amounts to some 20% while internal combustion outboards have even smaller overall efficiencies.

An integrated board computer combines information from the motor, batteries and a built-in GPS.  The kayaker has battery charge, speed and remaining range at current speed always under control.

The Ultralight 402 is the perfect choice for kayak anglers, family kayakers and sea kayakers. It allows for trolling, provides additional range, gives support against local currents and is helpful when kayaking with friends and family, who may prefer the convenience of an outboard.

Each Ultralight 402 comes with a motor mount, motor unit, lithium-manganese battery and remote throttle control with integrated board computer and magnetic on/off switch.  Torqeedo’s new Ultralight 402 has a suggested retail price of $1,799.

You may have seen a headline like this in your paper: Lawn-Mower Emission Rule May Be Costly. Mentioned briefly in Megan Greenwell’s Washington Post article:

“All gas-powered recreational boats must reduce emissions by 70 percent [by 2010].”

Wait a minute…What?! “ALL”? Not just “newly manufactured” boats or engines?

The article doesn’t focus on boats, so I did my own research. Here’s what I learned from the EPA’s website:

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adopting new exhaust emission standards for marine spark-ignition engines and small land-based nonroad engines.  EPA is also adopting evaporative emission standards for equipment and vessels using these engines.  These standards apply only to newly manufactured products. The standards will reduce the harmful health effects of ozone and carbon monoxide from these engines, equipment, and vessels.”

Ah, OK. That’s fine, then. I’m all for it. Newer, cleaner engine technology provides benefits all around, in my opinion.

For instance, I love the 4-stroke, electronic-fuel-injected Johnson (but-manufactured-by-Suzuki) outboard motor hanging off Two Lucky Fish’s transom. It’s relatively quiet, relatively clean, and incredibly reliable. Except, you know, for the unacceptable corrosion failure mine experienced and BRP/Johnson’s clever-but-disingenuous liability-dodging on the issue.

Even if you’re comfortable refilling disposable propane cylinders, eventually the valves will fail, or they’ll get so rusty they have to be retired. So what do you do with them?

Coleman has launched a new recycling program for disposable 16-oz. propane cylinders.

“Green Key: Your Key To Being Green”.

Whuh-huh?

It’s a tool that “durably marks the propane cylinder as empty for steel recyclers.”

Again, whuh-huh?

Here’s Coleman’s video demonstration, and here’s my own attempt to explain how it works:

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Now THIS is pretty dang cool. Green Boat Stuff sells a product by Green Marine Products called the Fuel Whistle. That’s a lot of green, but even if you’re not an ultra-liberal tree-hugger, you’ll appreciate what this product does.

Here’s how it works:

While the tank is being filled a ‘whistling’ sound is produced by the Fuel Whistle. The sound is loud enough to be heard from any point on the boat. It will be audible in a strong breeze or with any normal surrounding sounds. As the tank approaches full, the sound turns to a ‘warble’ and when completely full it immediately stops. This is the signal to stop the fueling process before any spill occurs.

I’d love to give it a try. I’m always trying to balance my desire to fill my tanks as full as possible with my dread of overfilling. It would be great to have some warning!

I’m on a few different email lists, and recently I’ve received two very different calls-to-action from two sources, both of which I respect. I’m not going to try to convince you which side to take, but I think you ought to be aware of the arguments on both sides. And then, if you feel strongly about it, contact your senators and representatives.

On the one hand, we’ve got Jerry Fraser, Editor & Publisher of National Fisherman. On the other hand, there’s Michael Campbell, President of the Northwest Marine Trade Association. These aren’t the only two with something to say on this topic, by any means. But they’re the two from whom I happened to receive email.

At issue is the the Clean Boating Act (S.2766/H.R.5949), which Mr. Fraser summarizes pretty clearly:

Two years ago, a federal court, hoping to prevent further transmission of potentially invasive species lurking in the ballast tanks of high-seas cargo ships entering U.S. waters, said the Environmental Protection Agency could not continue to exempt incidental discharges of deck wash, engine cooling water, and the like under the Clean Water Act.

As a result, by Sept. 30, thousands of previously exempt commercial vessel operators and millions of recreational boaters will be required to obtain permits for discharge “incidental to normal operation of commercial and recreational vessels.”

You know, things like weather run-off, bilge water, engine cooling water, and even the drain from the galley sink.

If they do not, they could be subject to potentially severe fines for almost anything that might accidentally wash out the scuppers, even spilled milk.

Penalties for non-compliance include fines of up to $32,500 per day per violation, and citizen lawsuits. OK, I’m paying attention now.

Vessel operators in states that report (by Sept. 30) to the EPA how they intend to implement the regulations will not have to obtain individual permits. However, all states may not impose the same rules.

In short, a well-intentioned decision by the court is begetting regulatory hell.

The Clean Boating Act would exempt recreational vessels from the permit requirement. But it does nothing to address the needs of smaller commercial vessel operators. And therein lies the conflict.

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