boats - enviromental pollution

[Franz F.]

Hi
As a boat deigner from Europe, Danmark, I want to open a new discussion group:
- How can boats be more enviromental friendly?
- Or is the way they are done now fine?
- What about the extensive use of "glue" on wooden boats? ...

Although enviromental aspects are are taken serious in Industry (at least in Europe), it has never been a subject in boating indusrty, or do I get this wrong?

open for any suggestions
Florian

[Donn]

Florian...environmental concerns have definately affected the boating industry. Just considering the most gross impacts of boating; engine exhaust, human waste disposal, and ablative paint, the level of regulation is high, and increasing. I can't speak for Europe, but those areas of marine pollution are becoming more and more strictly controlled in the US.

[Franz F.]

That's true, the use of a boat is issue itself, but I'm more interested in the boat.
I give you an example:
take the folkboat as an example for mass produktion in the 50's: it has an iron keel, metal fastenings and is built from local wood. You can use this boat for 40 years in average.
After that, the paint will peel off soon, the keel is one piece an can be recycled. rigg and hull is fire-wood, or will recycle itself when left alone. you will end up with 10-15 kg paint that can't be recycled.

how about a modern cold molded hull or even a glass boat?

[A. Mason]

On the Central Coast of California, marinas and harbors have increased their dockage and mooring fees to create a fund to deal with abandoned and derelict fiberglass boats. Unlike wooden boats that will decompose naturally, fiberglass won't.

The problem of unmaintained boats has always been around, but now the problem has been exasperated by the need o local authorities having to find a way to dispose of non-biodegradables.

I don't know how environmentally unfriendly these deteriorating boats are, but I do know they're quite an eyesore along the shoreline.

Anita

[Franz F.]

Anita
"wooden boats that will decompose naturally" - I think it's not that easy:
- a cold molded hull of 30' contains at least 50kg glue
- modern plywood contains 5% glue
- if the boat is amateu built, it is likely glassed outside
- all other parts, from rigg to winches and ropes are made of different materials, a material mix that cant't be recycled

by the way: what is the money of increased dockage used for?

[Alan D. Hyde]

Couldn't an old fiberglass hull be stripped, compacted, ground up, and recycled into a new fiberglass hull? Or perhaps into some useful product?

Alan

[WWheeler]

In speaking to a local boat hauler, he will refuse to move a derelict fibreglass, since the dumping fees are too big. He will take away wood boats, since they're easy to recycle. He takes engines, hardware, and uses the wood for firewood.

One would have to wonder what's happening to those old fibreglass boats -- being scuttled? If it costs hundreds of dollars to dispose of on land, it would be really tempting. There's probably an environmental hazard there, not to mention to shipping.

[Franz F.]

Alan,
old fiberglass hulls can't be stripped, compacted, ground up, and recycled into a new fiberglass hull ore useful product.
- first of all the hull would have to be dismantled (and thy are not designed for it)
- modern hulls consist of a material mix: gelcoat outside, balsa or foam sandwich and many other structural inlays.

[mmd]

I heard of a pilot project to recycle old GRP by grinding it up and using the resultant fibrous fill as bulk material in asphalt paving. Don't know what ever became of it, though.

[cmtacking]

I have a friend that has built his own fishing reefs out of several old fiberglass boats. There is the need to get a low-cost permit and have the boat inspected to make sure no pollutants are still onboard, then the boat can be towed to a designated fishing reef spot and sunk. From his experience, he says it's really HARD to sink these old boats, even after overloading them with concrete and rubble. But the end result is a good reef and a nice way to recycle an old boat. And only YOU have the co-ordinates!

As far as the amount of glue and resins in a typical modern wooden boat, I wonder if they pose that much of a problem after they have cured. Maybe The Chemist might care to enlighten us....

Riley Smith