Environmentally-Friendly Boat Cleaning Products

Angela Reed

Discover Boating (www.discoverboating.org) is a public awareness effort managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) on behalf of the North American recreational boating industry. Discover Boating programs focus on increasing participation and creating interest in recreational boating by demonstrating the benefits, affordability and accessibility of the boating lifestyle while helping to educate potential boaters and offering opportunities to experience the fun and togetherness of being on the water on a boat. Each year nearly 70 million people in the U.S. enjoy boating, the recreational activity that "connects like no other. Boaters can contribute to the "green" movement in several ways.

Increasingly "green" products are a large, growing segment of the market. Cleaners that are more organic in their bases - like orange, vinegar, and baking soda based products - and products that are biodegradable and non-toxic. †These products are advertised to work just as well - if not better - than traditionally used chemical based cleaners. New non metal based products are being tested and introduced and the industry expects that we will see significant advances in this area in the future. Being a responsible, "green" boater also means taking care of your hull with proper cleaning and maintenance to prevent hard marine growth like barnacles that slow a boat down and impact fuel efficiency. Many manufactures are developing more environmentally-friendly paint strippers using biodegradable products that remove antifouling paint without the use of traditional toxic chemicals. Today's clean marinas are also doing their part, with boatyard areas that are environmentally responsible.