Eco-Friendly Boating Relies on Technology and Sacrifice

The summer of 2008 was tough on drivers who were used to cheap gas and inefficient cars, but boaters were more apt to upgrade their inefficient technology and make lifestyle changes as the marine industry embraced fuel efficiency. We know that pleasure boating is a lot more of a discretionary activity than driving to work -- but the model of sacrifice and innovation is one to keep in mind for the future of all transportation.

New technologies ranging from more efficient two-stroke engines to longer-range electric boats have given pleasure boaters an opportunity to go green on the blue ocean. Evinrude's now-venerable E-Tec line of two-stroke engines puts automotive technology to shame, while a luxury electric Lear boat runs ten hours on a single charge. If that ain't green enough for you, there's always the option to use your boat less often.

Still, we were wondering if green technology and less time on the water resonated with consumers. We caught up with two employees at 3A Marine, a major sales and service center just south of Boston. Dave Simmer, 3A's Marketing Director, said that fuel efficiency and pollution reduction are definitely on the minds of customers. Roughly half of the visitors to 3A's website check out their "green boating" page, while customers call to ask about fuel saving tips. "People have been conscious of it. We don't want people to not go boating, but we also want people to be responsible." We think that sounds like a common-sense approach for all forms of transporation.

When it was released five years ago, the Evinrude E-Tec revolutionized not only marine engines but two-stroke engines in general. For fuel injection, the E-Tec relies on the same Lorentz coil found in loudspeakers to allow precision control of fuel droplet size. The E-Tec also avoids a need for a battery, instead relying on a magneto for reliably starting an engine that often sits in storage for the better part of a year. Jack White, 3A's Sales Manager, said that the E-Tec was extremely popular with his customers. "They've taken the technology that's the dirtiest and turned it into the cleanest -- still using two-stroke technology. It's now even cleaner than the four-stroke outboards." Even more important: boaters like it. Check out a video of it figuratively smoking a four-stroke below.

Despite what the warning label on your hairdryer says, electricity and water can mix. Last week, SolidNav announced a 48 volt electric boat motor that can cruise for up to two hours. Duffy builds an electric that can cruise at five miles an hour for eight hours, while the Lear 204 runs for eleven hours. The current crop of electrics are particularly popular for cruising protected waterways, White says that he's sure that electric boats will be in his seaside showroom in the near future. "I'm sure that in a very short period of time we'll be seeing more coming about that. It hasn't reached the retail level yet, but I'm sure it's taking place in some specialty markets," he said.

There's another great way to enjoy a boat responsibly: don't go very far. "I spent less money operating my boat this weekend than it would cost to take my family of four to a Boston Red Sox game," White said. "It's a minimal part of the expenses -- but I saw many people including myself maybe taking shorter trips in the boat."

Innovate and conserve while still enjoying the water? We really like that idea.Despite the rise in boat foreclosures, 3A's sales manager Jack White said that sales at his shop remained strong throughout the summer as boaters demanded the fuel-efficient technology which the marine industry was happy to provide -- even technology that exceeded EPA mandates. "Even with the rise in cost with fuel, compared to what we were doing just ten years ago operational costs really didn't rise as much because of the efficiencies, which is great -- nevermind the reduction in pollution," White said. He likened sales this summer to those right after 9/11. "I thought sales would go right down the tubes, but people bought more boats because they weren't travelling," he said. "Business remains strong because people are choosing not to travel either by air or by automobile."

Your turn: would the fuel-saving paradigm of technology and conservation work outside of recreational boating? We're listening.