BBQ DONUT - Float Fun Feast!!!

After a long hectic week its always great to have a BBQ at your backyard, call your friends over, have some fun, enjoy drinks & munch on awesome grilled food. Sounds like a perfect weekend right? doesn't it? But what if its on a beach. The sound of the waves and the cool breeze hitting you, makes it much better right? And what if you can float, grill & chill at the same time? Sound impossible? BBQ Donut makes it possible!!.


BBQ Donut is a insane rig, designed & manufactured in Germany. The floating donut is electric powered and seats 10 comfortably. It has a BBQ grill situated in the center of the table and has a umbrella (sunshade) to protect you from the hard sun. BBQ Donut is easy to operate and being a great product for a family its a good product for business too.

The donut has a small outboard electric motor which helps the diners to cruise and grill at the same time. Crusing at max 4km/hr makes the ride very comfy and smooth. It has a powerful inbuilt music system to rock the party harder. Worried about your soft drinks and booze? don't need to worry as there is a lot of storage space on board, plus it has a wet chiller to keep all the beverages cold.


The BBQ Donut is 3.6 meters in diameter. Polyethylene is used to construct the main floating body & it is highly UV protected. For its size it weighs only 450 kg & it can take a payload of around 1300 kg! The BBQ table has integrated cavities for holding the glass and plates. It comes with a optional trolley on which u can take the donut to different water body locations.

Having a small rechargeable electrical outboard engine, the donut is environment friendly. It is pollution free and provides a noiseless cruise. The BBQ thats used is a low smoke charcoal burning barbecue. The donut is not suitable for rough waters and so inland and sheltered waterways are the best place to have them.. Read more...

Aquaskipper - Time to hop on water!

Who said its not possible to walk or hop on water?? Aquaskipper, the crazy human powered vehicle makes impossible possible. Hydrofoil wings makes the ride smoother and faster..

The design of the aquaskipper, fiberglass spring & the hydrofoil wings are the key factors which helps the person to fly across water simply by hopping up and down. Compared to its size it weighs only 26 pounds & as the hydrofoil wings have less drag in the water the ride is very powerful. Its a great craft to try new tricks & have some fun with your friends.


Its very easy to handle & operate aquaskipper. The rider has to simply get on it, put the feet on the platform & the hands on the handle & just hop up and down to propel forward. Due to the hydrofoils the craft is lifted above the water which helps it to move faster than any other human powered water craft.


Aquaskipper is an environmentally friendly craft. It doesn't generate any noise pollution, water pollution or air pollution. As there is no engine its maintenance free and the only fuel you will burn will be calories due to energizing & exciting cardiovascular workout. The AquaSkipper is both a lot of fun and a great way to exercise.


Aquaskipper is very handy. It can be dismantled and packed in a bag and it can be taken wherever with ease. One of the biggest advantage this craft has that you can have your fun and exercise without any wind. Its said that due to the availability of used and restored models aquaskipper is not for everyone, but i personally feel that people with the extra pound & love for water should definitely give it a try.. Read more...

Environmentally Friendly Boat Maintenance

Boat owners who do their own maintenance and repair work must be aware of the environmental consequences, and must learn the basic steps they can take to protect the environment, remembering that they themselves are part of what they will be protecting. If they prefer to use professional maintenance, they should apply the same basic principles to the yard that is doing the work.

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Boaters enjoy the best of our waterways, the peace of being on the water, the ability to interact with nature, and the beauty of the open spaces. Whether you are in a personal watercraft, a row boat, or a large motor yacht, each of us has a vested interest in the health of these waterways and natural resources. It’s this vested interest that drives many boaters and marina operators to ask what they can do to help the environment.

The following are some specific actions boaters can take to protect the environment while having a great time on the water:-

Reuse and recycle: Recycle spent antifreeze, fuel, oil, oil filters, and batteries. Use less toxic propylene glycol antifreeze whenever possible, but check before mixing it with other antifreeze for recycling.

Put a sturdy trash container on your boat: If it’s in an open area, make sure it has a locking lid to prevent light items from blowing away.


Tune up your engine: A tuned engine improves fuel economy and burns fuel more efficiently, causing fewer emissions from entering the air and water.

Clean your bottom: Keeping your hull clean and free of barnacles, grass and other marine growth will help reduce fuel consumption, and help increase your boats' performance. Use a hard (not ablative) anti-fouling paint if you plan on scrubbing the boat bottom while in the water.

Recycle at your marina: If you do not currently have recycling at your marina, let the manager know that you and other boaters would support the separate collection of recyclables, particularly aluminum cans.


Fix your prop: Damaged props greatly reduce the efficiency of your engine. Having a prop that is clean and in good condition will increase your performance, and help reduce fuel consumption.

Clean your bilge: Having a clean bilge will help you spot fuel/oil leaks, and help you avoid discharging petroleum into the water. A clean bilge is also much easier on your nose!


Wash your boat often: Try to wash your deck off regularly with fresh water and a scrub brush to reduce the amount of strong chemical cleaners needed throughout the boating season. If your boat is hauled for the winter, use that time to do any significant cleaning or repairs, to reduce the potential for pollutants to enter the water.

Refuel carefully: Do not top off fuel tanks, because it usually leads to spillage.

Clean naturally: By using natural cleaners such as vinegar and baking soda, or biodegradable cleaners and detergents, you will help reduce the amount of solvents and chemicals going into the water. Read more...

The Green Boat Effect: Teak, India And The Rise Of Boating

Teak is one of the strongest and most durable hardwoods in the world. Known as the “King of Woods”, Teak is one of the most desirable and endangered woods. Considered by mariners to be the most valuable and versatile hardwood, its rare beauty, its rich golden brown luster, its decorative grain and its unique properties of strength, stability, and resistance to wear have made it the most demanded wood for marine use.






Teak is found naturally in only four countries in the entire world. Burma, Thailand, Laos and India each have varying amounts of natural teak forests. Because of its strong demand and limited supply, Teak is in desperate need of reforestation projects worldwide.

Investment possibilities with Teak plantations

Many companies are anxious to invest in Teak plantations and reforestation projects because potential returns are enormous. As the worldwide supply of Teak dwindles, the prices of this exotic wood will continue to rise. As the prices rise, the investment opportunities in Teak plantations will continue to be available. The time for these opportunities is now; because of the time involved to establish new Teak plantations, it is important start now.

Consider this example of a reforestation project. During the lifespan of a tree in a Teak plantation, the first harvest occurs at 12 years, and is cut in rotating cycles as the tree, once cut, re-grows up to 3 times. If the trees are planted in a 3 meter X 3 meter quadrant, thinned, and maintained properly, a hectare of Teak trees in a reforestation project at the current market prices will yield gross income of over $475,000 in 20 years. It is projected that plantation set-up and maintenance costs would be approximately $17,000 per hectare the same 20-year plantation, with the figure adjusted for inflation.

The Green Boat Effect:

Imagine this. The yachting trend in India is picking up. So is the Boat-building industry. If mergers with advanced technologies of the international world are projected, India can become the future world boating destination. Right from Material to Manpower and Manufacture to Maintenance.
With an opportunity like teak reforestation, some carbon credits would definitely speed things up! What do you say?

Share Your Thoughts Please.

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International Coastal Cleanup - Ocean Conservancy

Oceans can no longer be exploited and neglected. Marine debris kills more than one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles each year. Ocean Conservancy is on a global mission to save the oceans for more than thirty years. Ocean Conservancy envisions a future in which no place on earth is ignored in the fight against debris. The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is a fundamental aspect of this vision.

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Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup is the world’s largest volunteer event of its kind. Thousands of volunteers participate from all over the globe, clearing tons of trash from oceans and waterways, and recording every piece of trash collected. Last year, 378,000 volunteers participated from 76 countries and 45 states. Worldwide, volunteers removed an average of 16 pounds of trash, per person.


The volunteers collected and cataloged nearly 2.3 million cigarette butts, filters and cigar tips. And they found 587,827 bags; more than 1.7 million food wrappers, containers, lids, cups, plates and eating utensils; and nearly 1.2 million bottles and beverage cans on September 15, 2007. 81 birds, 63 fish, 49 invertebrates, 30 mammals, 11 reptiles, and one amphibian were found entangled in debris during the cleanup.


8,321 divers took part in underwater cleanup efforts and cleaned up 161,513 pounds of debris over 1,000 miles of underwater terrain. An average of 20 pounds of trash collected per diver. 247,099 debris items related to derelict fishing gear were removed during the cleanup. This includes crab/lobster/fish traps, fishing line, fishing lures/light sticks, fishing nets and rope.


"This is a snapshot of one day, one moment in time, but it serves as a powerful reminder of our carelessness and how our disparate and random actions actually have a collective and global impact," Vikki Spruill, president of the Ocean Conservancy said in an interview.

On September 15, 2007 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) was undertaken worldwide. The Cleanup saw an increase in international representation in 2007, with 76 countries holding a cleanup event compared to the 66 who participated in 2006. This year’s cleanup will be held on September 20, 2008.. Read more...

Tidal Energy - Future Turbo Power!

If there is one thing we can safely predict and be sure of on this planet, it is the coming and going of the tide. This gives this form of renewable energy a distinct advantage over other sources that are not as predictable and reliable, such as wind or solar.


Tidal energy is produced through the use of tidal energy generators. These large underwater turbines are placed in areas with high tidal movements, and are designed to capture the kinetic motion of the ebbing and surging of ocean tides in order to produce electricity. Tidal power has great potential for future power and electricity generation because of the massive size of the oceans.


Tidal turbines are a new technology that can be used in many tidal areas. They are basically wind turbines that can be located anywhere there is strong tidal flow. Because water is about 800 times denser than air, tidal turbines will have to be much sturdier than wind turbines. They are heavier and more expensive to build but will be able to capture more energy.


This form of generation has many advantages over its other tidal energy rivals. The turbines are submerged in the water and are therefore out of sight. They don’t pose a problem for navigation and shipping and require the use of much less material in construction. They are also less harmful to the environment. They function best in areas where the water velocity is 2 - 2.5 m/s. Above this level the turbine experiences heavy structural loads and below this not enough generation takes place.


Small tidal power companies are taking advantage of the rising interest in alternative energies. Large amounts of coastal waters are being reserved on both coasts of North America by small companies who plan to take advantage of ocean energy technologies, in the hopes that these sites will become profitable sources of electricity. Read more...

Solar Power - Eco friendly sail!

While most boats on the water today are powered by diesel engines, and sail power and gasoline engines are also popular, it is perfectly feasible to power boats by electricity too..


Electric boats were very popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion engine took dominance. Since the energy crises of the 1970s, interest in this quiet and potentially renewable marine energy source has been increasing steadily again, especially as solar cells became available, for the first time making possible motorboats with an infinite range like sailboats. The first practical solar boat was probably constructed in 1975 in England.


The idea of using solar and wind energy to propel ships can cut a ship's fuel costs by up to 90 percent and significantly lower its environmental impact. The new technology, which is already used can be applied to everything from cruise ships to 500,000-tonne water transport tankers and small unmanned military vessels.

Solar panels can be built into the boat in reasonable areas in the deck, cabin roof or as awnings. Modern solar panels, or photovoltaic arrays, can be flexible enough to fit to slightly curved surfaces and can be ordered in unusual shapes and sizes. It is still true that the heavier, rigid mono-crystalline types are more efficient in terms of energy output per square meter. The efficiency of solar panels rapidly decreases when they are not pointed directly at the sun, so some way of tilting the arrays while under way is very advantageous.


Solar powered. A boat propelled by direct solar energy, almost always converted to electricity by solar cells, temporarily stored in accumulator batteries, and used to drive a propeller through an electric motor. Power levels are usually on the order of a few hundred watts to a few kilowatts. Solar powered boats started to become known around 1985 and in 1995 the first commercial solar passenger boats appeared.[1] Solar powered boats have been used successfully at sea. The first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean was achieved in the winter of 2006/2007 by the solar catamaran sun21.

SUN 21


On friday, 30 March 2007 Sun 21 made Atlantic history.
The 14m- (46ft) long vessel, built by a Swiss firm and registered in Basel, can maintain a constant speed of 10kmh. During the day, the 48 solar panels on its roof gather energy from the sun. The power is stored in batteries, which allow it to sail through the night.The motorized catamaran has two polyester hulls and measures 46 feet (14 meters) by 21 feet (6.5 meters). Solar panels cover its 700-square-foot (65-square-meter) roof.
Using solar power only, the catamaran "sun21" undertook the first motorized crossing of the Atlantic with solar power to promote the great potential of this technology for ocean navigation. The "sun21" arrived in New York City on 8 May 2007, 3 pm, having covered about 7000 sea miles. Sun21 moved about 7 miles an hour (11 kilometers an hour).

The Future.


The future possibilities seem limitless. From luxury private yachts to tanker ships, the prospects of saving fuel, reducing pollution levels and increasing passenger comfort means that the Solar Sail concept could go a long way on tomorrow's blue highways. Read more...

The ‘GREEN BOAT EFFECT’ – Is Mumbai's Environment Ready For Luxury?

Was the Mumbai Boat Show a positive event? Will it do wonders in changing the mindset and lifestyles of the Indian people and the Indian Government? Will the world change its perception of Mumbai being an unclean city full of pollution and the poor? A marina might just help do the trick! Read on...



With not a single waste-bin along the footpath outside the Gateway to India and the 5Star Taj Mahal Hotel, the waters there are anything but clean!
As this is the main spot for mooring, concerns for the maintenance and upkeep of the boats parked are very strong. It is a pleasant surprise to spot 3 men in a small boat cleaning up the waters at the gateway. Are they from the government? Or is it an incorporated measure of the Yacht Maintenance Companies? All the same, the bins would definitely be of some help…


Mumbai: a potpourri of culture, is ruled by a good mix of traditional and modern people.
The waste found floating around in the waters are many times organic, like garlands coconut etc, but there are enough plastic bags and other monstrous scraps polluting the sea. A marina would definitely help in transforming the outlook and the habits of irresponsible citizens.


The Mumbai Boat Show was met with many mixed reactions this year. Although it clashed with the budget release on Friday and the cricket matches on Sunday, the show was well received. The response could have been much better, there are no doubts about that. As hundreds of Mumbaikars flocked the show, the number of serious buyers was limited due to the above mentioned discrepancies. Who would want to invest in a multi crore Luxury Yacht without efficient infrastructure? Rumors have it that the water levels and weather conditions are not ideal for marinas in the city. Surely something can be done about it. The yachting industry is doing it’s best to stop analyzing the problem and instead invest their energies in coming up with solutions for it.

There are many businesses cropping up and speedy travel by water is becoming a need of the hour. Time is money. This year the SMIBS has proved the spending powers of Indians. Hope it will carry on the trend and transform the place and it’s people for the better.


And did someone say that the boats have replaced the birds in the harbor??? Think again… a clean and well planned infrastructure will retain both the boats and the birds.
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The Monaco Yacht Show Making Earth A Better Place To Live.

The Monaco Yacht Show is well aware of the scale of the danger our planet is facing. That is why it has adopted a sustainable development strategy over the past three years which consists in paying an ecology tax each year to help fund ecology projects throughout the world. This ecology tax is calculated on the basis of carbon dioxide emissions caused by exhibitors, visitors and yachts presented in the in-water exhibition (including transport, accommodation and arrival at Monaco of the yachts themselves). The Monaco Yacht Show is continuing its commitment to environmental protection and will set up new projects in India and China….

The first one involves constructing 10 wind turbines in the Indian states of Karnataka and Rajasthan. These turbines will produce enough energy to supply 30 000 households and will reduce the region’s dependency upon fossil fuels. This in turn will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 84 000 tonnes over the next five years.

The objective of the second programme is to construct 36 wind turbines in the North of China on the Saihanba Farm in order to exploit the great wind resources of that region. This wind farm will help commercialise clean energy, one of the priority policies of the Chinese government. Over the next two years this project will allow the region to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 138 000 tonnes.

Luc Pettavino , Director of The Monaco Yacht Show: “We now know that our planet is not so great after all and that what happens in India or China has a direct impact on our own environment. It is also essential that these countries have significant models because though they are economic giants, they are only just beginning to come round to respecting the environment. That’s why the projects selected for 2008 will be set up in these countries. All in all, it is our duty to do all in our power to leave our planet to future generations in the best possible state.”

These projects which are being carried out jointly with Camper & Nicholsons International have enabled the world leader in international luxury yacht shows to earn the Carbon Neutral stamp. This makes the Monaco Yacht Show the first Monaco-based company to be awarded this stamp. Read more...

The 'GREEN BOAT EFFECT' Part II: Cool Yachts And Global Warming

What if man could create cloud cover that would reflect the sun’s rays back into the universe and thus shade the earth to keep it cool? Sounds far-fetched? Guess what. It’s one of the top innovative ideas of preventing global warming and scientists are working on it to make it a reality! They have come up with a ‘Cool Yacht’ to do the trick. Check it out.


Professors John Latham and Stephen Salter have designed a fleet of that would pump fine particles of sea-water into clouds, thickening them to reflect more of the Sun’s rays.
Calculations show that if there is about 3% increase in the amount of sunlight reflected back into the space, the cooling will balance the global warming caused by increased CO2 in the atmosphere.

The idea of a fleet of "cloudseeders"(cooling yachts), was born from a remark made by Prof. Lathem’s son Mike, decades ago. They were on a mountainside in North Wales, looking west towards Ireland. He asked why clouds were shiny at the top but dark at the bottom. Lathem then explained how clouds were mirrors for incoming sunlight!


In order to deploy this scheme to produce adequate cooling, the fleet would need to spray sea-water droplets continuously over a significant fraction of the world's oceanic surface, at a total rate of around 50 cubic metres per second. Professor Stephen Salter has developed plans for a novel form of spray-droplet production (involving high-velocity propulsion of sea-water droplets), and has designed a wind-powered unmanned vessel which can be remotely guided to regions where cloud seeding is most favorable. Instead of sails, these vessels use a much more efficient technique to power the yacht- Flettner rotors.


These spinning vertical cylinders mounted on the deck are named after their inventor, Anton Flettner. They also house the spraying system which sprays sea-water droplets from the top of the rotors. The power required for spraying, communications and so on comes from electricity generated by turbines dragged along by the vessels. They envisage that about 1,000 such vessels would be required to make the scheme effective.


ADVANTAGE
One advantage of the plan is that it is ecologically benign; the only raw material required being sea-water. The amount of cooling could be controlled, via satellite measurements and a computer model, and if an emergency arose, the system could be switched off, with conditions returning to normal within a few days.
In addition to global temperature stabilization, we also envisage that the technique could be used to remedy more regional problems, such as the dying of the coral reefs as a result of ocean warming.

DISADVANTAGE
There might be serious or harmful meteorological or climatological ramifications (such as reducing rainfall in regions where water is scarce). If so, a solution for them needs to be arrived at.

While it is all very well spraying the clouds, what effect will this have on the world's fragile eco-system, and do we have the right to interfere with the planet's weather conditions in this way? Everything has two faces to it. As long as we arrive at a win-win situation 'The Cool Yacht' will by far be a great achievement. Read more...

The 'GREEN BOAT EFFECT' Part I: Yachts And The Environment

The megayacht industry has blossomed over the last ten years, with multi millionaires and billionaires buying yachts in the tens of millions of Euros price range. When it comes to some billionaires they seem intent on buying a fleet that would put some small countries’ navies to shame.

This may sound boastful, hence sceptics and critics are raising their eyebrows!
What good is it doing at the end of the day?
Are we arriving at a win-win situation when it comes to the protection of the environment and prevention of global warming?
Well, the Monaco Yacht Show has answered these questions and can proudly call itself a 'carbon neutral event'.

Despite being the second smallest country in the world Monaco has established herself as the natural European home for many of the world's wealthiest men and women due to her tax haven status, with many more visiting on holiday while cruising the Mediterranean for the Monte Carlo casino - and Monaco has managed to stay as a top destination by cleverly spotting and exploiting trends ahead of her competitiors.
The Monaco Yacht Show is part of the attraction for the super-rich, and has firmly established itself as the leading super yacht show in the world over the last fifteen years.

Monaco is showing that cuts in carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases are possible in a land of plenty, and the Monaco Yacht Show has successfully achieved carbon neutral status for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 events, thus establishing itself on the map of Monaco as an environmentally friendly event.


To attain carbon neutral status last year, the organisers sponsored various projects in Europe and further afield to offset carbon emissions generated by the show.
The show paid for wind turbines In New Zealand, generating enough electricity for 45,000 homes and in Brittany France paid for a heath to be planted with chesnut and oak trees to protect water catchments and provide a recreational area, while in the USA paid for a methane capture system, reducing the amounts being emitted by some 95 per cent.


The leadership for the move to a greener Monaco has come from Sovereign Prince Albert, who has been successfully campaigning among world leaders since his inauguration two years ago to move the environment up the political agenda, and it has brought the issue to the fore at home.



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