Living on a boat can be a great way to reduce your environmental impact. Credit: Instagram @writingandsailing
Studies have shown that living on a boat is a brilliant way to minimise your carbon footprint and live more sustainably. Being close to the water and nature in general gives you a sense of connectivity that’s hard to beat. But even though boaters tend to use less water and energy, there are always things you can do to make your lifestyle more sustainable, both on the water and off it.
So, whether you’re a full-time liveaboard or weekend cruiser, here are some top tips for making your boating experience more sustainable.
1. Check your waste and recycle as much as you can.
It probably goes without saying, but taking control of your rubbish can make a massive difference to your environmental impact. If you’re out to sea, keep your general rubbish and recycling separate (and onboard), ready to dispose of properly when you make port.
If your marina doesn’t offer recycling facilities, you can use online tools such as RecycleNow to help you find the nearest recycling bank. Simply type in your postcode or town and select ‘nearest places to recycle’ to find a handy list of recycling places near you.
2. Repurpose and upcycle
Before you toss something into the bin, consider giving it a new life. Repurposing your worn items into something new is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and save some money. It’s a trend that’s gaining popularity, and it can be a fun and creative way to spend your time when you’re anchored up and enjoying the tranquillity of the water.
From turning sailing jackets into sofa cushions, wetsuits into yoga mats, old lines into dog leads, or yoghurt pots into containers for nuts and bolts, the only limit to repurposing your worn items is your imagination!
There are loads of recycled craft ideas online if you need some inspiration. Just bring your creativity and enjoy the feeling of creating something new whilst also reducing your rubbish! It’s not just about being eco-friendly, it’s about having fun and feeling inspired by your own creativity.
You might be surprised by the things you’re able to create with what you once thought of as rubbish! Credit: Pexels / ready made
3. Use eco-friendly products
It’s not just rubbish that can cause problems for our waterways. Chemicals and cleaning products can be incredibly toxic and harmful to the environment. This goes double when you live on a boat, and a lot of your cleaning waste is poured directly into the water beneath you!
When you’re shopping for cleaning products, opt for environmentally friendly, non-toxic options. Products that use enzymes to clean, rather than chemicals, are considerably safer and will help you keep your boat clean without harming the waterways. Brands like Ecover are a great choice, but there are plenty more to choose from.
In addition to selecting non-toxic products, you might also want to consider making your own cleaning spray. Like repurposing your old items, DIY cleaning sprays are a great way to feel more creative, minimise your environmental impact, and save money while you’re at it. I make mine with white vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and essential oils (eucalyptus, lemongrass, sweet orange, bergamot, and cinnamon are great cleaning oils and will leave your home smelling delightful).
Finally, don’t forget suncream! On the water, the harmful UV rays from the sun are doubled as they reflect back to you, so slathering plenty of suncream is essential when heading out for a day on the boat. But many suncreams are not ocean-safe and will wash off in the water, causing harm to the wildlife around you. So, make sure you’re selecting wildlife-safe suncreams before heading for a dip.
4. Leave only footprints
The adage: “Take only memories, leave only footprints” is one that every boater should try to live by. Throwing your litter overboard might be tempting on a long passage, but rubbish doesn’t belong on our shores or seas! Keep it onboard until you reach port.
You could take this further and bring a net to scoop out bits of rubbish you see on your cruise. You could even think of it as practising a man overboard and enjoy the satisfaction of scooping up trophies as you float past! Beach cleans are also a popular hobby for boaters, and leaving each place a little better than you found it will give you all the good feels.
If you want to learn more about marine litter, check out our post on Steps for Cleaner Seas.
Don’t drop your litter, and always be sure to leave wild spaces the way you found them.
5. Reduce fuel consumption
Sailboats are innately environmentally friendly as they harness the renewable energy of the wind to travel instead of burning fossil fuels for propulsion.
But even if you don’t have a sailboat, reducing your fuel consumption is still the best way to improve your sustainability on the water. Regular boat maintenance and antifouling are essential; if a boat isn’t antifouled regularly, it will suffer from a build-up of growth and hitchhikers, which will impact the speed and performance, meaning the engine will have to work harder and use more fuel to maintain its speed.
For more tips on how to reduce your fuel consumption, discover 10 ways to save fuel.
6. Keep up with engine maintenance
Similarly, regular engine maintenance is the best way to keep your engine in tip-top condition, meaning better performance and less fuel consumption. Make sure you’re completing regular filter changes, impeller replacements, oil changes, etc.
While it might sound daunting, most engine services are easy to DIY and will make a dramatic difference to the performance and longevity of your engine – not just helping the planet, but helping your wallet, too!
To get you started, take a look at our diesel engine maintenance tips and our diesel engine repair guide.
Engine maintenance might sound daunting to new boaters, but there are plenty of things you can do to keep your engine at its most efficient without any special skills. Credit: Instagram @writingandsailing
7. Be careful when anchoring
Anchoring is one of the most problematic aspects of sustainable boating. On the one hand, it’s lovely to drop the anchor at a secluded spot and enjoy the beautiful scenery and a free night’s sleep. However, the other, darker side of anchoring is that it can cause damage to the seabed and aquatic life beneath the hook.
Pay attention to your charts and avoid anchoring in seagrass beds, coral reefs, shellfish areas, or other protected areas. Ideally, you want to anchor in mud or sand to avoid damaging fragile ecosystems (this will also generally provide a better anchorage anyway with less chance of dragging). If anchoring in shallow areas, you must be even more vigilant to avoid causing harm.
Mooring buoys can be a decent solution to this problem. Instead of boats constantly dropping, dragging, and lifting anchors, the mooring ball is secured with a chain leading to a solid concrete block permanently in place. So as not to cause harm to the environment on the seabed. However, mooring buoys aren’t always maintained, and you may need to pay for the privilege of borrowing one. Your local harbour authority should be able to provide more information on this.
If you’re not confident using a mooring buoy, we’ve got a really helpful guide to boat moorings and how to pick one up.
8. Keep a respectful distance from wildlife
Spotting wildlife while cruising is a favourite for most boaters. But while it’s natural to want a closer look, remember that these wild animals deserve space and respect, and getting too close can disturb their natural routines. Try to maintain a distance of around 100m/300ft from wildlife, whether cruising or anchoring, so you can enjoy the scene without disturbing the animals.
Whether cruising past or picking an anchorage, it’s important to maintain a respectful distance from wildlife of all types when on the boat. Credit: Pexels / op23
9. Give some thought to your bathroom situation
Human waste can also be a huge problem and contribute to boat pollution. Although most boats are fitted with a sea toilet, you should avoid using anything that pumps straight into the water while you’re near land.
Eco-friendly heads are on the rise, with things like composting toilets becoming a popular sustainable boating addition for many eco-conscious boaters.
Otherwise, ensure you have a holding tank and only discharge waste at dedicated pump-out stations (many marinas offer this service). If you’re cruising, only discharge your black waste in deep water. The RYA recommends only discharging black waste at least three miles offshore, where the waste can be diluted and dispersed by waves and currents quickly.
This goes for grey waste, too. Shower and do your dishes ashore where possible to save water and minimise pollution.
10. Solar panels
There’s no doubt about it: solar panels and boats go hand-in-hand these days, and you’ll find very few boats that can’t create their own electricity by harnessing the sun’s energy.
But just having solar panels isn’t enough; keeping them clean and free from shadows is vital to ensure optimum performance. Salt will also reduce the efficiency of your solar panels, so wash them down frequently with fresh water.
Solar panels are a great way to achieve self-sufficient boating and reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. Credit: Su Nitram
11. Wind turbines
Second to solar panels, wind turbines (or wind generators) are a fantastic way to become self-sufficient on your boat. They’re easy to mount and can help top-up your batteries on a cloudy day, reducing your need to rely on shore power and fossil fuels.
However, wind generators can be noisy, so they might not be suitable for smaller liveaboard vessels. They’re also quite expensive and not as reliable as solar panels. But while wind turbines might not be an everyday addition to boating (like solar panels are), there’s still time and investment being put into them, and there’s no denying an increase in boats having them installed – so watch this space!
12. Go electric
Like the car has had its electric makeover, we increasingly see boats go the same way. Electric engines are fantastic as they don’t produce any tailpipe emissions or pollution, making them a much more sustainable option for the eco-friendly boater. Electric engines can be recharged with renewable energy generated by solar or wind, as well as nuclear power – making them immediately cleaner than fossil fuel boats.
However, electric boats are still a rarity. So, if you’re interested in exploring options for electric boating, you may need to consider upgrading an existing vessel with this new technology. Increasing numbers of companies today are dedicated to doing just that, and I believe we’ll see a rise in the electric, eco-friendly boat in the coming years.
Be prepared to keep learning
Like anything, living sustainably on a boat is a constant learning curve. While we’ve outlined some of the best things you can do to enjoy more sustainable boating, this is far from a definitive list. New studies on the sustainability of boats are being released all the time, and we’re always learning more about the impact of humanity on our waterways and environments.
Legislation also plays a massive part in helping reduce sustainability issues for boats. For example, the new antifouling regulations (which came into effect on the 10th of May 2024 in the UK) restrict the use of certain toxic ingredients in antifouling, reducing the harmful impact of antifouling on marine life.
Similarly, if you want a truly self-sustainable boat and/or self-sustaining floating home, keep an eye on improvements to renewable energy generation. It wasn’t long ago that solar panels felt revolutionary, but a 2021 study on the sustainability of boat homes found that 100% of recipients had solar panels installed, and most used solar as their primary energy source. So, even if wind turbines and electric engines aren’t fully established yet, it’s clear that renewable and self-sufficient energy is a key consideration for boaters, and one that the boating industry is willing to invest in.
We can all take steps to live a more sustainable lifestyle, both on the seas and ashore.
Otherwise, remember that even the smallest steps to a more sustainable lifestyle can make a huge difference. And simply reading articles like this shows that you’re one step closer to the eco-friendly boating life we all aspire to.
For more tips on sustainable boating, take a look at this related reading:
- How to dispose of an old fibreglass boat
- How to keep warm onboard
- A guide to environmentally-friendly powerboating
- Marine litter: Steps to cleaner seas
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