Blog

As a group who obviously love being out in nature on the water, we are the first to recognize water pollution and how it impacts the beauty and vibrance of our favorite destinations. This is where we spend some of our happiest and most awe inspiring moments with our family and friends. Unfortunately, traditional power-boating isn’t very environmentally friendly in general, so how can we help when we’re engaging in activities that can be part of the problem? Well, let’s approach this scientifically by first checking the numbers as well as the biggest problems so that we can evaluate what we can do to turn it around.

There are really two primary components to the pollution that emanates from boat operation: there’s the boat and there are those who use the boat. Here in the bay area, there are about 200,000 registered boats, the owners of which come from all walks of life. Many have learned some pretty bad habits in their lifetime and really don’t seem to understand and/or care about the consequences, while others are “woke” or were raised to be eco-conscious. Let’s start with the former of these two components, the boats.

Currently, Freedom Boat Club of Tampa Bay has a membership of 4500 members sharing 450 boats (we keep a 10 member:1 boat ratio). That means that if all of our members would otherwise own and operate a boat instead of belonging to Freedom, we have potentially taken 4.050 boats off the water. Further, each of these 450 boats is maintained by a professionally trained staff of marine technicians and dockmasters so that the normal pollution surrounding the all-to-common neglected boat doesn’t occur. Everything from the proper disposal of engine fluids, filters, and parts to used fishing line and trash must be tended to. Finally, our vessels are all inspected by the US Coast Guard to ensure that each boat is compliant with the latest EPA regulations such as fuel vent evaporation filters. This is a start but we can, and will, continue to evolve with greener cleaning products, more eco-friendly marine growth prevention techniques, and even the deployment of electric motors..

Now let’s talk about the other component of water pollution; the operator. While the vast majority of our membership base has been captivated by the majesty of wild dolphins, sea turtles, and rays, which keeps pollution problems in the forefront of their consciousness, there are still some who haven’t yet come to realize the fragility of our local waters given the sheer size of the human population affecting it, For those that put effort into securing plastics to keep them from blowing off the deck and into the water or boycotting harmful sunscreens, Freedom members have the opportunity to be a formidable ally to mother nature in the Tampa Bay area. Beginning in 2020, we are rolling out the “Green Chapter” of our New Member Orientation that all members must attend upon joining. Previously covering safety and navigation, this new chapter will encompass how we conduct ourselves on the water to prevent environmental damage to useful boating products that are less impactful or actually helpful. 

It is our vision that Freedom Boat Club of Tampa Bay will continue to improve in this arena year over year in order to not only have a noticeable impact along our shores, but to educate a more conscientious brand of boater who can lead others by example.