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There’s no question that advances have been made in boating technology in recent years. Boats are going further on less gas and creating less and less in the way of harmful byproducts. Still, there are some aspects of boating that are woefully lagging behind. One of these is the state of marinas.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association aims to change that. They’re currently promoting a project known as the Clean Marina Initiative. This NOAA program is designed to help move vulnerable marinas and waterfront recreation areas to a more clean state.

It doesn’t take much looking around at a typical marina to see why this is necessary. You’ll find floating garbage on top of a toxic mixture of diesel fuel, oil and gas. While some marinas are definitely worse than others, most seem susceptible to this kind of pollution.

This hasn’t happened by accident, of course. There are so many activities at a typical marina, including basic things like boat maintenance activities and even refueling, that are predisposed to making a negative environmental impact.

Further complicating the situation is the fact that many areas just don’t have the kinds of strict regulations required to keep a marina and the surrounding area clean. Some areas, like the San Francisco Bay, have seen severe ecological damage from marinas.

Fortunately, there are a number of things you and the owners of your local boat yard can do to help clean up your marina. There are greener products that can be used in a marina, for example. Waste water filtration systems, as well, can help get a marina clean and keep it that way. Even the use of ecologically friendly cleaning agents and paints that are copper free will help the process.

The Clean Marina Initiative is one way you can help make a difference. The program encourages recreational boat owners as well as marine operators to practice operating and maintenance procedures that will have a smaller impact on the environment. Boat owners benefit, as well, in that their boats will be exposed to fewer and fewer environmental hazards that could, ultimately, lead to damage to the boat and a boat insurance claim.

There are benefits for the marina itself, too. For one, a cleaner marina is more attractive to boaters and will ultimately be more profitable, especially in a market where there’s significant marina competition. The NOAA also recognizes participating marinas for their environmental concern. They also provide free technical assistance to marinas in the program. Waste disposal costs will also go down, because there’s less waste produced.

If you’re concerned about your local marina, talk to the marina owner today and introduce them to the Clean Marina Initiative.

Marina developers across North America and the Bahamas are quickly realizing the importance of leisure time for yachters.  As a result, there is a veritable bumper crop of outstanding marinas to suit nearly any yachter’s discriminating taste while sailing throughout North America and the Bahamas:

1. Atlantis, Nassau, Bahamas – The marina destination in Atlantis is, without a doubt, the finest marina in the Bahamas, although it certainly has made a name for itself as a quality destination just outside North America as well. From outstanding amenities, such as concierge service and a crew lounge, to the famous Atlantis resort and casino, a fabulous island getaway is easily accessible for yachters who choose Atlantis’ large marina, which by the way, features slips for 63 mega-yachts.
2. Bimini Big Game Resort, Bahamas – Just a short jaunt off Florida’s coast, the marina at the Bimini Big Game Resort recently reopened after a massive renovation. As a result, this upscale marina offers 51 rooms and cottages, in addition to 54 slips and plenty of marina-side restaurants and recreational activity facilities.
3. Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi – Azure-colored waters and white powder beaches of the Gulf of Mexico are just the beginning of what yachters will find when they head to the marina of the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino. This full-service marina, in addition to accommodating yachts of up to 200 feet, features a nearby casino, spa and fitness facilities.
4. Grand Bay Hotel and Marina, Bahia Navidad, Mexico – The Grand Bay Hotel and Marina has just recently been given the recognition it deserves for being a superb resort destination. From its outstanding resort amenities to its 27-hole championship golf course and private beach, the marina here is simply the icing on the cake for this upscale resort.
5. Hawk’s Cay, Florida – Duck Key is home to the Hawk’s Cay marina, an 85-slip marina that sits among five small islands, all of which are connected by a series of picturesque canals. This family-friendly resort and marina boast interactive dolphin encounters, fishing and diving, just to name a few.

With so many gorgeous marinas in North America to visit, what is your yacht waiting for?