Boaters, it’s a new year and the perfect chance to look at boating in an energy-conscious way. Look, we all want to help preserve the planet as much as possible before we hand it off to our children and their children. Any way we can save energy helps to do that. There’s another reason to want to cut your energy costs and that’s to save money. The less fuel you use, the more you save. And the more you save, the better it is for you in the long run. With that in mind, we’ve turned to the marine experts in our Signal Connect division to bring you these five energy-saving tips for most commercial and personal boats.
1. Clean the Bottom of Your Boat
When you moor your boat, it can lead to a buildup of plant scum and other unwanted guests. If you have too much on the bottom of your boat, it creates extra drag that weighs it down. It takes extra fuel to push your boat through the water when this happens. If your boat has a hull that can be painted, try using some anti-fouling paint to prevent this growth. If not, get scrubbing!
2. Change Engine Oil and Oil Filter
Fuel engines on boats aren’t much different than those on vehicles. They need regular tuning and maintenance. Changing the oil and oil filter at recommended times for your boat engine is a great way to help keep it operating at peak efficiency. If your boat engine needs a tune-up, be sure to have those done on a regular basis too.
3. Lose Some Weight!
Not you, the boat. The heavier your boat, the more fuel you use to push it through the water. Are you lugging around things you don’t need? If so, get rid of them… but don’t just chuck them overboard! We’re trying to be as green as we can here, remember? Also, are you carrying more fuel than you need? That adds extra weight, too. Next time, be a little more mindful at the pump… or use a fuel flow meter. This device helps you keep track of fuel consumption in real-time.
4. Use LED Lights
If you’re not already doing this, you’re wasting money. Those older incandescent and halogen lights use more power than LEDs. Besides, there are LED replacements for just about every type of bulb on most boats. In most cases, you can simply replace the bulb without the need for extra wiring. If you’re not sure, consult with a qualified boat electrician.
5. How About that Fridge?
Some boaters don’t know that onboard refrigerators can be the biggest energy users on a boat. Let’s be honest, how old is your fridge? Because if “old faithful” has been one your boat for a while, it might be time to get a new one. The latest models are more energy-efficient than those that came before them. It’s worth looking into if you want to make your boat more energy efficient.
We Care About Boaters…
…Because marine electronics is a big part of our business. You might have read posts on here about our Signal Connect division. That’s the part of the company that provides satellite TV and cell phone booster solutions to boats. They’ll hook up with the right onboard satellite TV system and cell booster system. In addition, Solid Signal carries a huge selection of the latest marine electronics equipment. If you spend time on a boat for work or pleasure, you owe it to yourself to check out everything we have to offer boaters.
