Gas vs. Electric Recreational Boats: The ROI Showdown for Your Time on the Water

The unmistakable sound of a gas engine roaring to life has long been the soundtrack of a perfect day on the lake. But lately, a new sound—or lack thereof—is making waves. As the marine industry shifts towards electrification, a lot of us are asking a crucial question: Is an electric-powered ski boat a smarter investment than a traditional gas-powered one?

As someone who's new to the electric boat market, you're probably thinking it's all about the sticker price. And while that's a big part of the picture, it's really the total cost of ownership, the on-water experience, and the future of boating that we need to consider. So, let's dive into the numbers and details to help you make an informed decision for your time on the water.

The Upfront Cost: A Clear Divide (For Now)

Let's be honest—the first thing you'll notice is the price tag. Electric ski boats, like the stunning Arc Sport, start in the neighborhood of $258,000 to $268,000. Brands like Nautique have their own electric model, the Super Air Nautique GS22E, priced around $260,000. This premium cost is a direct reflection of the cutting-edge battery technology and specialized components that power these vessels.

On the other side of the dock, gas-powered ski boats offer a much wider and more accessible price range. You can find a new wakeboard boat starting around $70,000, with popular models like the 2024 MasterCraft XT24 often priced at a more moderate $176,114. The used market is even more diverse, with options that make boating accessible to nearly any budget. So, if your priority is immediate affordability, gas boats currently have the clear advantage.

Fueling Your Fun: Where Electric Boats Win Big

This is where the financial tides start to turn in favor of electric boats.

Gasoline Consumption: We all know gas-powered ski boats are thirsty. For a day of wakeboarding, they can burn through 2 to 8 gallons per hour (GPH). With active use, a boater might average 3 to 4 GPH. Depending on gas prices in your area, your annual fuel costs could easily be anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 per season. That's a significant part of your budget, and it’s a cost you have to budget for every time you hit the water.

Electricity Consumption: Electric boats, however, dramatically slash these costs. While charging an electric boat isn't "free," the cost is minimal—estimated at a mere $800 to $1,200 per season. That's a staggering 75-80% reduction in your "fuel" expenses. While electric boats may have a more limited range and require a bit more planning for longer trips, the undeniable monetary savings are a huge factor in the long-term ROI.

Maintenance & Repairs: Simplicity vs. Complexity

Another major area of savings for electric boat owners is maintenance.

Gas Boat Maintenance: For a gas boat, a common rule of thumb is to budget about 10% of the purchase price annually for upkeep. For a $50,000 boat, that's roughly $5,000 a year for everything from routine servicing, oil changes, and fuel filter replacements to the extensive process of winterizing the engine. Just the annual engine maintenance alone can run you $1,500-$2,000.

Electric Boat Maintenance: Electric boats, with their much simpler propulsion systems, have fewer moving parts to break down or require servicing. Annual maintenance costs are estimated to be a minimal $200-$400. This typically covers basic hull care and routine checks of the battery system. You can say goodbye to oil changes, fuel filter swaps, and the complex winterization procedures that take a big chunk of your time and money.

The Battery Question: The big long-term cost for an electric boat is the eventual replacement of its main battery pack. While the cost is substantial, the overall trend of decreasing lithium-ion battery prices, driven by the massive automotive EV market, suggests that future replacements will likely be more affordable. It's a cost to plan for, but it's a cost that's trending downward.

Other Factors: Insurance, Storage, and Government Perks

Insurance: While electric boats might have a higher initial premium due to their higher price, they also pose a lower explosion risk because there's no highly flammable gasoline onboard. As the electric boat market matures, this safety advantage could lead to more favorable insurance rates.

Storage: Both gas and electric boats have similar storage costs. However, electric boats have a big advantage when it comes to winterization. A gas boat requires extensive procedures to protect the engine from freezing, which can cost $200-$500 per season. Electric boats need "no winterization needed" for their propulsion system—a clear annual savings.

Grants and Tax Credits: Unlike the widespread federal and state tax credits for electric cars and trucks, direct incentives for recreational electric boats are less common. The good news is that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and other federal programs are focused on cleaner marine transportation, often through grants and R&D funding for manufacturers. While you might not get a massive tax credit for your personal ski boat right now, keep an eye on state and local programs, as they are a more likely source for incentives.

Performance and User Experience: A Different Ride

The biggest difference between gas and electric boating isn't just about money—it's about the feel of the ride.

Electric Boat Advantages:

• Quiet Operation: The only sound you'll hear is the water rushing by. This makes for a more serene, peaceful day on the lake, perfect for conversation and enjoying nature.

• Instant Torque: Electric motors deliver smooth, quick, and powerful acceleration. This is a game-changer for wakeboarding and wakesurfing, giving you a consistent pull right from the start.

• No Fumes: A dock without the smell of gasoline and exhaust fumes is a cleaner, safer, and more pleasant environment for everyone

• Zero Emissions: You can feel good about your time on the water, knowing you're not contributing to air or water pollution.

Gas Boat Advantages:

• Power and Speed: Gas boats are still the go-to for maximum top speed and heavy-duty towing.

• Greater Range and Refueling: They offer a longer range and the ability to refuel quickly at widespread gas marinas.

• Wider Selection: The gas boat market is mature, offering a huge variety of models and customization options.

The Bottom Line: Total Cost of Ownership

Despite the higher sticker price, the substantial savings on annual fuel and maintenance costs for an electric ski boat are undeniable. The significantly lower operational expenses can help offset the initial premium within an estimated five to seven years. Over a typical 10-15 year ownership period, the total cost of ownership for an electric boat could be considerably lower than a comparable gas-powered vessel.

Beyond the financial, electric boats offer a significant, non-financial return on investment through a reduced environmental impact, quiet operation, and less maintenance hassle. As battery costs continue to drop and charging infrastructure expands, the long-term financial and lifestyle advantages of electric boats are only going to grow.

Making Your Choice

The decision ultimately comes down to your personal priorities:

Choose Electric if: You are looking for long-term financial savings, a serene boating experience, and minimal maintenance. Be ready for a higher initial investment and to adapt to the current limitations of range and charging infrastructure.

Choose Gas if: You prioritize immediate affordability, maximum top speed, extended range for long trips, and a wider selection of models. Be prepared for higher ongoing fuel and maintenance costs.

The future of boating is here, and it's quieter and cleaner than ever. Understanding these factors will help you navigate this exciting new era and make the best investment for your time on the water.

Range Anxiety Laid To Rest

Elvene Boats Crushes Range Anxiety with 200+ Nautical Mile Solar-Powered Journey

How far can an electric boat really go? It’s the question on every potential buyer's mind and one that Emil Finne, CEO of Elvene Boats, set out to answer definitively. In a remarkable demonstration of modern marine technology, Finne and his team recently completed the "Crushing Range Anxiety" tour, a five-day voyage covering over 200 nautical miles powered entirely by the sun.

In a follow-up interview with Bruno, The Green Boater, Finne reflected on the journey that has captured the attention of the electric boating community. The goal was simple but ambitious: to prove that with the right design, sustainable, long-distance boating isn’t just a future concept—it's a present-day reality.

The final tally for the trip was an impressive 214.9 nautical miles, all achieved without plugging into shore power once. The vessel for this adventure was a standard, unmodified Elvene boat equipped with solar panels and a 30 kWh battery pack. To ensure complete transparency and credibility, the entire trip was documented and validated by a third-party expert, Justin Dalinger of Aqua Lectric, who was on board for the majority of the journey.

Dalinger, an experienced captain himself, was impressed. By the end of the first day, he noted it was the furthest he had ever traveled on an electric boat. He later compared the serene experience to "sailing, but without all the work," highlighting the quiet, effortless glide of the vessel, which allowed them to enjoy nature without the noise and fumes of a traditional engine.

The journey wasn't without its challenges, which only served to better prove the boat's capabilities. Navigating through varied weather conditions, the team maintained an average speed of just under five knots. The most dramatic moment came on the final day. While the boat's onboard GPS showed they had surpassed their 200-mile goal, the public-facing online tracker was short by about 15 miles due to the way it logged data points through narrow, winding canals.

Faced with a nearly depleted battery and a setting sun, Finne and his crew had to generate enough solar power for one final push. They took a short break, let the boat charge, and then completed the remaining miles at a slow, steady pace. Finne described this unexpected hurdle as the "best test of the boat and the best proof that this technology is actually working."

While this five-day marathon pushed the boat to its limits, Finne clarified that it doesn't represent a typical use case. Most owners will take shorter trips, anchor for a day or two while the solar panels fully recharge the batteries, and then continue their adventure. This tour was about demonstrating the ultimate potential and building confidence in the system's reliability.

The "Crushing Range Anxiety" tour has successfully challenged long-held doubts about the viability of electric boating. By transparently documenting the journey, Elvene Boats has not only showcased the impressive range of its vessel but has also paved the way for a new, sustainable era on the water. With plans already brewing for even longer international voyages, it’s clear that for Elvene Boats, 200 nautical miles was just the beginning.

Riding the Electric Wave: Planing Hulls vs. Foiling Hulls in the Green Boating Revolution

The hum of electric motors is replacing the roar of combustion engines on the water, signaling a profound shift in the marine industry. This move towards electric boating isn't just about cleaner air and quieter journeys; it's fundamentally reshaping how boats are designed, especially their hull forms. Why? Because the heart of an electric boat—its battery—is heavy, making hydrodynamic efficiency more critical than ever.

In this exciting new era, two prominent hull forms are leading the charge: planing hulls and foiling hulls. Each offers unique advantages and challenges when paired with electric power. Let's dive into a comparative analysis to understand which might be the best fit for your next green boating adventure.

Planing Hulls: Speed, Simplicity, and the "Hump"

Planing hulls are designed to lift and glide on the water's surface at speed, significantly reducing drag by minimizing the wetted area. Think of a speedboat skittering across the water – that's a planing hull at work.

How They Work

A planing hull goes through three distinct phases:

• Displacement Mode: At slow speeds, it acts like any other boat, pushing water aside.

• Plowing Mode: As it accelerates, it struggles against its own bow wave, an energy-intensive phase often called the "hump."

• Planing Mode: Once enough speed is reached (typically around 15-16 MPH), the hull lifts, and drag dramatically drops, allowing for higher speeds.

Common examples include V-shaped designs, with deep-V hulls offering a smoother ride in choppy conditions by slicing through waves.

The Upsides for Electric Boaters

• High-Speed Potential: Once on plane, these hulls can achieve impressive speeds, similar to their gas-powered counterparts, perfect for watersports or quick commutes.

• Relative Simplicity & Lower Cost: Planing hulls are generally simpler to design and build, which usually means a lower sticker price for you.

• Stability at Speed: When properly on plane, these boats offer good stability, providing a secure feeling for passengers.

Leading the charge in electric planing hulls are manufacturers like X-Shore, known for their sleek Scandinavian designs, Rand with their lightweight, sustainable builds, Arc, which approaches boat building with an "EV architecture" mindset, and Voltari Electric, pushing the boundaries of high-performance electric patrol boats.

The Challenges

Despite their appeal, planing hulls have some significant drawbacks for electric applications:

• Bumpy Ride in Rough Water: They can "slam" into waves, leading to a less comfortable ride and more fatigue for those on board.

• Weight Sensitivity: Planing hulls are very sensitive to weight. The heavy battery packs required for electric propulsion can significantly hinder their ability to get on plane or maintain speed. This is due to the "cube-square law," meaning as a boat gets bigger, its weight increases disproportionately faster than its lift-generating surface area, effectively limiting the practical size of electric planing boats.

• Energy-Intensive "Plowing Mode": The power surge needed to overcome the "hump" and get on plane can quickly drain batteries.

• Reduced Low-Speed Stability: At slower speeds, they can be less stable and harder to maneuver, though modern electric systems with thrusters (like those on Arc boats) can help.

Foiling Hulls: Flying Above the Water for Unmatched Efficiency

Foiling hulls, or hydrofoil boats, are marine marvels. They use underwater "wings" called hydrofoils to lift the entire hull out of the water as the boat accelerates, literally allowing the vessel to "fly" above the surface.

The "Flight" Principle

Just like an airplane wing generates lift, hydrofoils do the same in water. Once the foils create enough lift, the main hull emerges from the water, dramatically reducing hydrodynamic drag. This means the boat is primarily cutting through the air, with only the much smaller foils in the dense water, leading to incredibly efficient travel.

Modern foiling boats often use fully submerged foils (like inverted T-shapes) for superior efficiency and a smoother ride, but these require sophisticated active control systems (think gyrostabilizers and sensors) to maintain stability. Many also feature retractable foils to allow for conventional operation in shallow water or during docking.

The Electric Advantage: Why Foiling Shines

Foiling technology offers revolutionary benefits for electric boats:

• Exceptional Energy Efficiency & Extended Range: This is the game-changer. Foiling can reduce energy consumption by an astounding 80% to 90% compared to conventional hulls. For electric boats, this directly translates to significantly longer ranges from existing battery capacities, easing "range anxiety."

• Superior Ride Comfort: By lifting above the waves, foiling boats eliminate the constant pounding and slamming, offering an incredibly smooth and comfortable journey, even in choppy conditions.

• Higher Speeds with Less Power: The drastic reduction in drag allows foiling boats to achieve impressive speeds with much less power input than planing hulls. The fastest electric boats are typically foiling designs.

• Reduced Noise & Minimal Wake: Less interaction with the water means a quieter ride and a significantly smaller wake, benefiting both passengers and the marine environment.

Pioneers in the electric foiling space include Candela, renowned for their fully submerged foils and proprietary C-POD motors, Navier, a Silicon Valley startup focusing on advanced autopilot and flight control, Envgo with its futuristic "tricycle-arranged foil" design, Artemis leveraging their eFoiler technology for commercial applications, and New Zealand’s Vessev. primarily known for developing innovative electric hydro foiling vessels, particularly their VS-9 model.

The Trade-offs

While revolutionary, foiling hulls come with their own set of considerations:

• Increased Complexity & Higher Cost: The intricate engineering, advanced materials (often carbon fiber), and sophisticated software required for foiling systems mean higher manufacturing and purchase costs.

• Vulnerability to Debris: The underwater foils are susceptible to damage from submerged objects.

• Minimum "Take-Off" Speed: Foiling boats need to reach a certain speed (typically 10-22 knots) before the foils generate enough lift to raise the hull. Below this, they operate less efficiently in displacement mode.

• Shallow Water Challenges: Fixed foils can increase draft, making shallow water and docking tricky. However, retractable foils are largely mitigating this issue.

• Weight Sensitivity: While drag is reduced, foiling vessels still require lightweight construction to achieve and maintain lift, making battery weight a key design challenge.

The Power Behind the Hulls: Electric Propulsion Systems

Regardless of the hull form, the heart of any electric boat is its electric propulsion system. These systems, comprising electric motors, battery banks, and advanced control electronics, are crucial for performance.

Companies like RAD Propulsion are vital enablers in this space. They don't build boats directly but develop and produce advanced electric drive systems, like their RAD 40 outboard, offering compact, powerful, and precisely controllable motors. Their adaptability means their systems can be integrated into a wide range of planing and foiling hull designs, optimizing performance across the board.

The future of electric boating relies on this synergistic innovation—where advanced hull designs meet powerful, efficient electric propulsion.

Conclusion: Charting the Course Ahead

The choice between a planing and a foiling hull for an electric boat depends heavily on your priorities.

Planing hulls will likely remain a strong option for those seeking simplicity, lower initial cost, and moderate high speeds for smaller recreational vessels. However, their inherent weight sensitivity and ride comfort limitations will likely restrict their scalability for larger electric applications.

Foiling technology, on the other hand, is rapidly emerging as a transformative solution for high-performance and long-range electric boating. Its unparalleled energy efficiency, superior ride comfort, and minimal environmental impact position it as a cornerstone of the future. As manufacturing processes mature and battery technology continues to advance, the initial cost premium of foiling boats is expected to decrease, making their compelling long-term operational savings even more attractive.

Ultimately, the future of electric boating is bright, driven by continuous innovation in both hull design and propulsion systems, promising cleaner, quieter, and more comfortable experiences on the water for everyone.

What kind of electric boating experience are you dreaming of? Let us know in the comments below!

Links to Companies in this Post

Planing Hulls
Arc: https://arcboats.com/
Rand: https://www.randboats.com/
Voltari: https://voltarielectric.com/
X Shore: https://xshore.com/

Foiling Hulls
Candela: https://candela.com/
Envgo: https://www.envgo.com/
Navier: https://www.navierboat.com/
Artemis: https://www.artemistechnologies.co.uk/
Vessev: https://www.vessev.com/

Electric Propulsion
RAD: https://radpropulsion.com/

Ocean's Silent Killer: The Peril of Discarded Fishing Line and Clear Your Gear's Solution

In the vast expanse of our oceans, a silent and insidious threat lurks beneath the waves: discarded monofilament fishing line. Once it leaves an angler's reel, this seemingly innocuous material transforms into a deadly hazard for marine life, boaters, and the delicate marine ecosystem. Fortunately, Clear Your Gear, a dedicated company, is working tirelessly to provide a vital solution.

The less desirable paths for used fishing line lead directly to tragic consequences in our marine environments. Lost or abandoned line, often invisible in the water, becomes "ghost gear" – continuing to fish and ensnare marine creatures long after it's been discarded. Whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles, and countless fish and seabirds can become hopelessly entangled, leading to severe injuries, starvation, suffocation, and ultimately, a slow and agonizing death. This derelict fishing gear also snags on coral reefs and other vital habitats, causing physical damage and disrupting sensitive ecosystems.

Even if it doesn't directly entangle wildlife, discarded fishing line breaks down into microplastics over centuries, further polluting our oceans and entering the food chain. These tiny plastic fragments are ingested by marine organisms, potentially causing internal damage and carrying toxins. Beyond environmental devastation, discarded line also poses a significant threat to boaters, fouling propellers and causing costly damage.

This is where Clear Your Gear steps in. Recognizing the severe issues caused by improperly discarded fishing line, this company has created a program and specialized bins designed specifically for its recycling. Rather than contributing to the ocean's silent killer, anglers can now deposit their used monofilament line in these clearly marked receptacles.

Clear Your Gear collects this line, ensuring it bypasses landfills (where it would persist for hundreds of years and still pose a threat to terrestrial wildlife) and instead gets processed and recycled. This innovative approach prevents countless marine tragedies and contributes to a healthier, cleaner ocean for generations to come. By choosing to "Clear Your Gear," anglers actively participate in safeguarding our precious marine life and the integrity of our underwater world.

About Clear Your Gear

Clear Your Gear is a national network of volunteers in Canada dedicated to reducing the impact of discarded fishing line on the environment. They work to educate the public about the dangers of monofilament fishing line and provide recycling receptacles at various locations. CLEAR YOUR GEAR was founded in Canada by Judy Robertson of Wildlife Haven and is part of a collaborative effort among conservation organizations.

The Marine EV Leadership Series: The Top Companies Revolutionizing Marine EV Boats

Listen to audio podcast of this blog

The marine industry is charting a new course, one powered by electricity rather than traditional combustion. This electrifying shift is fueled by a growing global consciousness about our environment, increasingly stringent regulations aimed at curbing pollution, and exciting advancements in battery technology. The marine electric vehicle (EV) boat market is no longer a distant dream; it's a vibrant and expanding reality, with numerous companies at the helm of this innovation.

This post dives into the top companies that are currently making significant waves in the marine EV boat sector. From sleek, high-performance vessels to practical and eco-friendly recreational boats, these pioneers are redefining what's possible on the water.

The Dawn of Electric Boating

For decades, the familiar roar of gasoline engines has been synonymous with boating. However, these engines come with environmental costs, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and noise that disrupts delicate marine ecosystems. The global push for sustainability is now extending to our waterways, and electric boats are emerging as the cleaner, quieter alternative.  

Several factors are driving this transition:

• Stricter Environmental Regulations: International and local regulations are setting ambitious targets for emission reductions in the maritime industry. For example, Norway is aiming to ban greenhouse gas-emitting ships in certain sensitive areas by 2026.  

• Growing Environmental Awareness: Consumers are increasingly seeking out eco-friendly options in all aspects of their lives, and boating is no exception.  

• Advances in Battery Technology: Batteries are becoming more powerful, offering greater range and performance for electric boats.  

• Lower Operating Costs: Electric boats can significantly reduce expenses related to fuel and maintenance.  

• Government Incentives: Many governments are supporting the adoption of green technologies through various incentives.  

Meet the Leaders in Marine EV Boats

The marine EV boat market is diverse, with companies catering to luxury, high-performance, recreational, and commercial needs. Let's explore some of the key players shaping this exciting landscape:

Note: Specifications may vary depending on configuration and conditions. N/A indicates data not readily available in the provided snippets.

Luxury & High-Performance Pioneers:

• Candela Technology AB (Sweden): Founded in 2014, Candela is making headlines with its hydrofoiling electric boats and ferries. Their C-8 model, a sleek 26-foot day cruiser, uses hydrofoils to lift the hull above the water, drastically reducing drag and boosting efficiency. Powered by a 69 kWh battery from Polestar, it boasts a top speed of 30 knots and a range of 57 nautical miles. Candela is also expanding into the commercial sector with electric ferries like the P-12 Shuttle.  

• Arc Boats (USA): Founded in 2021, Arc is focused on high-performance, fully electric boats with an aerospace-inspired design. Their Arc One, a 24-foot speedboat, can hit 40 knots with a range of 50 miles, thanks to its massive 220 kWh battery. The newer Arc Sport, a 23-foot wake boat, packs a 226 kWh battery and a 500 horsepower equivalent electric motor. Reviews rave about their incredible acceleration and torque.  

• X Shore (Sweden): Often dubbed the "Tesla of the Sea," X Shore produces stylish and modular electric "smart boats" for both leisure and professional use. Their Eelex 8000, a 26-foot day cruiser, offers a range of up to 100 nautical miles with its 126 kWh battery. The more compact X Shore 1 also reaches 30 knots with a 50-mile range. They even have a commercial model, the X Shore PRO. Key features include modular decks, touchscreen controls, and sustainable materials.  

• Navier (USA): Navier is dedicated to creating zero-emission, hydrofoiling vessels that promise to revolutionize water travel. Their N30 Pioneer Edition, a 30-foot carbon fiber boat, can achieve 30 knots with a 75-nautical-mile range, thanks to its hydrofoil technology that reduces drag by up to 90%. Their advanced technology has even gained the trust of the US Navy.  

• Voltari Marine Electric (Canada): Voltari specializes in high-performance, fully electric boats designed for saltwater environments. Their models, like the VOLTARI 260 and PATROL 26 RIB, boast 740 HP of EV power and utilize aerospace-grade carbon fiber for a lightweight yet robust construction.  

Recreational & Day Cruiser Innovators:

• Duffy Electric Boats (USA): With a history spanning over 50 years, Duffy is known as the "original electric boat" manufacturer. Their iconic leisure boats are perfect for relaxed cruising and are a common sight in harbors, especially in Southern California. Models like the Sun Cruiser 22 offer a top speed of around 5-6.5 mph and a 3.5-hour range.  

• Four Winns (USA): Another member of the Beneteau Group, Four Winns is entering the electric boat market with the H2e, a 22-foot bowrider. This model is claimed to be the first all-electric series production bowrider in the world and is powered by a 180hp electric outboard motor from Vision Marine, promising a top speed of 35 knots. The H2e features two 700v batteries and has a capacity for 10 people.  

• Vision Marine Technologies (Canada): Vision Marine specializes in electric powertrain technology and offers a range of electric boats. Their E-MOTION™ ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN is a high-power 180 HP electric outboard motor. They also produce electric pontoon boats and have achieved a world record in electric boat speed.  

Commercial & Utility Leaders:

• General Dynamics Electric Boat (USA): While primarily known for building nuclear submarines for the US Navy, General Dynamics Electric Boat possesses significant expertise in electric propulsion, suggesting potential for future commercial applications.

• Silent Yachts (Austria): Silent Yachts is a pioneer in solar-electric yachts, offering luxury catamarans with virtually unlimited range thanks to solar power. Their models range from 60 to 120 feet and provide a silent, emission-free boating experience.  

The Electric Boat Market: A Bright Future

The global electric boat market is experiencing impressive growth. Valued at USD 3.80 billion in 2024, it's projected to reach USD 7.79 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 12.77%. This growth is driven by the factors mentioned earlier, as well as increasing demand for recreational boating.  

Regional Insights: Europe is currently the largest market for electric boats, followed by North America, which is also the fastest-growing region. The Asia Pacific region is also showing significant growth.  

Technological Advancements:

• Battery Technology: Lithium-ion batteries are leading the way, offering improved range and performance. Companies are constantly innovating in battery technology, with collaborations between marine and automotive industries becoming more common.  

• Electric Propulsion Systems: Innovation is happening across various propulsion types, including high-performance outboards and efficient direct drive systems.  

• Charging Infrastructure: The development of accessible charging infrastructure is crucial for wider adoption. Companies like Aqua superPower are expanding fast-charging networks.  

• Hydrofoil Technology: Companies like Candela and Navier are pioneering hydrofoil technology, which significantly improves energy efficiency by lifting the boat above the water.  

The Future is Electric on the Water

The marine EV boat market is dynamic and full of potential. As technology continues to advance and environmental awareness grows, we can expect to see even more innovative and efficient electric boats hitting the water. While challenges like initial costs and charging infrastructure remain, the momentum behind electric boating is undeniable. These top companies are not just building boats; they are building a more sustainable and enjoyable future for marine transportation.

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting and evolving industry from The Marine EV Leadership Series!

Charting a Course for the Future: An Interview with René Hansen, CEO of X-Shore

"Ultimately 70% of the decisions we make in life, at least the important ones, are emotional," declares René Hansen, CEO of X-Shore, a company revolutionizing the boating industry with its fully electric, silent, and connected yachts. In this exclusive interview, we delve into René's inspiring journey and explore the innovative spirit that drives X-Shore.

From Snowboards to Sailboats: A Journey of Passion and Purpose

René's career path is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to purpose-driven brands. His journey began in the dynamic world of action sports, where he played a pivotal role in establishing snowboarding as a mainstream sport.

"I learned from the beginning to live in the street of Shibuya or Soho, to pick up on trends that will be coming and creating products and communication from it," he recalls, highlighting the importance of understanding consumer behavior and building brands that resonate deeply with their target audience. This experience instilled in him the importance of understanding consumer behavior and building brands that resonate deeply with their target audience.

René's career evolved beyond snowboarding, taking him to the forefront of sustainability in various industries. He played a crucial role in transforming a major agriculture company, shifting its focus from simply selling fertilizer to nurturing a sustainable food system.

"What happens when a leader changes the perspective so the vision is clear?" René pondered, reflecting on this transformative experience. "What happens down through the ranks when people clearly understand that in this case, they're no longer a fertilizer company, but they actually are a company that feeds, helps feed the world?"

By redefining the company's purpose and emphasizing its role in global food security and environmental protection, René witnessed a remarkable transformation. Employee engagement surged, revenue skyrocketed, and the company's stock price doubled. This experience underscored the profound impact of clear, purpose-driven leadership on an organization's success.

X-Shore: Leading the Electric Boating Revolution

At X-Shore, René is bringing his unique blend of leadership, innovation, and a deep understanding of consumer trends to the forefront of the electric boating revolution.

"I think a lot of brand has lost their soul and they are just become driven by analytics and not really about the core values or purpose or the heart, which is the most important thing," he emphasizes.

X-Shore, in contrast, is built on a foundation of sustainability and a commitment to creating a seamless and enjoyable boating experience. The company's focus extends beyond simply producing electric boats; it's about crafting a lifestyle that aligns with the values of environmentally conscious consumers.

"Ultimately 70% of the decisions we make in life, at least the important ones, are emotional," René asserts. X-Shore recognizes this emotional connection and strives to create boats that not only perform exceptionally but also evoke a sense of adventure, freedom, and connection to nature.

Stay Tuned for More

This is just the beginning of our conversation with René Hansen. In the upcoming parts of this series, we will delve deeper into X-Shore's vision for the future of boating, René's plans for the company, and his surprising insights into the industry.

Subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss parts two and three of this exciting interview.

This is the Green Boater, your champion for sustainable boating.

The Future of Electric Boating: A Conversation with Kahe-Nautic

Electric boating is gaining traction, but affordability and battery concerns remain hurdles. In this interview, we chat with Nicolas Quendez, CEO of Kahe-Nautic, a French company shaking things up with their innovative electric propulsion solutions.

Kahe-Nautic: A Passion for Sustainability

Founded six years ago in Bordeaux, France, Kahe-Nautic is driven by a passion for protecting our oceans while still allowing people to enjoy them. Their core belief? We can explore and discover the wonders of the water responsibly.

Introducing the Kahe Pod: Multifunctional and Sustainable

Kahe-Nautic's flagship product is the Kahe Pod, a versatile electric motor designed for multiple uses. Imagine using the same motor to power your dinghy, transform your kayak into an electric vessel, or enjoy underwater exploration with a sea scooter – all with one device!

Breaking Barriers: Affordability and Recyclable Batteries

Quendez emphasizes that affordability is key to widespread electric boating adoption. Kahe-Nautic tackles this by focusing on efficient design, minimizing energy waste, and keeping production costs in check.

Another major concern – battery recycling – is addressed through their partnership with Gouach, a French startup specializing in easily recyclable battery technology. Their design allows for simple disassembly and cell replacement, extending battery life and minimizing environmental impact.

Looking Ahead: Hydrogen Power and Global Expansion
Kahe-Nautic isn't stopping there. They're working on a hydrogen-powered prototype for the Kahe Pod, aiming for a clean and efficient alternative. Additionally, global expansion is on the horizon, with plans for manufacturing in Europe, Asia, and North America to cater to specific market needs.

Join the Electric Boating Revolution

Kahe-Nautic is a company on a mission. They're passionate about creating sustainable boating solutions that are accessible and versatile. If you're interested in learning more, becoming a distributor, or even joining their team, visit their website at kahe-nautic.com.

~The Green Boater

Evoy AS: Pioneering the Future of Electric Boating

➡️ Watch Live Interview: https://youtu.be/69ch_FLPqhA

Evoy AS, a Norwegian company, is at the forefront of the electric boat revolution. Led by CEO Leif Stavøstrand, Evoy is committed to creating innovative and powerful electric inboard and outboard engines that power a sustainable future for marine vessels.

Challenges and Opportunities As a pioneer in the electric boat industry, Evoy has faced numerous challenges, including educating the market and overcoming initial skepticism. However, the company has also capitalized on significant opportunities, particularly in regions like Norway, where sustainability and electric mobility are prioritized.

Global Expansion and Battery Technology Evoy's vision extends beyond Norway, with plans to expand globally. The company is focused on supplying systems to boat builders and retrofitting existing vessels. To achieve this, Evoy is closely monitoring advancements in battery technology, aiming to improve range and performance while reducing costs. While the company currently sources batteries from established suppliers, it may explore developing its own battery packs in the future.

The Future of Electric Boating Evoy envisions a future where electric boating is the norm. To achieve this, the company is prioritizing user experience, connectivity, and efficiency. By focusing on features like plug-and-play systems and user-friendly interfaces, Evoy aims to make electric boating as convenient and enjoyable as possible.

Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Sustainability is a core value at Evoy. The company is committed to reducing its environmental impact through responsible sourcing, efficient manufacturing processes, and the development of zero-emission marine products. By transitioning to electric propulsion, Evoy's boats can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution.

A Passion for the Water Leif Stavøstrand's personal passion for boating and the environment drives Evoy's mission. He emphasizes the unique experience of electric boating, characterized by quiet operation, reduced maintenance, and a deeper connection to nature.

As Evoy continues to innovate and expand, the company is poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of sustainable marine transportation.

Evoy's Vision for the Future of Electric Boating

Evoy's vision extends beyond simply providing electric propulsion systems. The company is dedicated to creating a seamless and enjoyable boating experience. By focusing on user-friendly interfaces, advanced connectivity, and efficient charging solutions, Evoy aims to make electric boating accessible to a wider audience.

Key areas of focus for Evoy's future:

• Enhanced User Experience: Evoy is committed to improving the user experience through intuitive controls, digital displays, and advanced features like remote monitoring and diagnostics.

• Advanced Connectivity: By integrating cutting-edge connectivity technologies, Evoy enables boaters to connect their vessels to smartphones and other devices, providing real-time information and control.

• Efficient Charging Solutions: Evoy is working on developing innovative charging solutions to make charging electric boats as convenient as charging electric cars. This includes partnerships with charging infrastructure providers and the development of onboard charging systems.

• Sustainable Manufacturing: Evoy is dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact throughout the entire product lifecycle. This includes sourcing sustainable materials, optimizing manufacturing processes, and implementing recycling programs.

By addressing these key areas, Evoy is confident in its ability to drive the adoption of electric boating and contribute to a more sustainable future for marine transportation.

~The Green Boater Blog

Growing the Electric Wave: A Conversation with RAD Propulsion's CEO, Dan Hook

Watch Full Episode. Dan Hook: Future Proof Strategy for Marine EV

The Green Boater is thrilled to dive deeper into the exciting world of marine electric vehicles. We sat down with Dan Hook, CEO of RAD Propulsion, a UK-based company at the forefront of this technological revolution.

A Visionary Journey

Dan's passion for marine technology is deeply rooted. Having trained as a Naval Architect at the University of Southampton, he gained invaluable experience in small craft propulsion systems. This early exposure ignited a spark, leading him to co-found RAD Propulsion in 2018.

The company's mission is clear: to reduce carbon emissions and revolutionize the boating industry. By developing cutting-edge electric propulsion systems, RAD Propulsion is empowering boaters to enjoy a cleaner and quieter boating experience.

Navigating Challenges and Embracing Opportunities

While the journey has been marked by challenges, including the global pandemic, Dan's unwavering optimism and strategic approach have propelled RAD Propulsion forward. The company has successfully navigated the complex regulatory landscape and technical hurdles to develop innovative electric propulsion systems.

A Sustainable Future for Boating

RAD Propulsion is committed to building a sustainable future for boating. By focusing on energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and promoting responsible manufacturing practices, the company is setting a new standard for the industry.

• Key areas of focus for RAD Propulsion:

  • Advanced Battery Technology: Investing in research and development to improve battery performance and range.

  • Innovative Charging Solutions: Exploring wireless charging and other efficient charging methods.

  • Sustainable Manufacturing: Adopting eco-friendly practices throughout the production process.

  • Industry Partnerships: Collaborating with key players in the marine industry to accelerate the adoption of electric propulsion.

A Call to Action for Boaters

If you're considering making the switch to electric boating, here are some tips:

• Do Your Research: Explore the different types of electric boats available and their suitability for your specific needs.

• Consult with Experts: Seek advice from experienced boaters and marine professionals to make informed decisions.

• Consider Your Boating Style: Whether you're a weekend cruiser or a serious angler, there's an electric boat to fit your lifestyle.

• Embrace the Future: Join the growing community of electric boat owners and contribute to a more sustainable future.

As the demand for cleaner and quieter boating solutions grows, electric boats are poised to become the norm. With companies like RAD Propulsion leading the charge, we can look forward to a future where boating is more accessible, sustainable, and enjoyable for everyone.

Revolutionizing Marine Solar Power: A Conversation with Simon Angus

[Watch The Full Interview: The Future of Marine Solar]

The Problem with Traditional Solar Panels

Before we dive into the innovative solutions offered by Open Waters Solar, let's address the shortcomings of traditional solar panels in marine applications.

• Aesthetics: Traditional solar panels can often be bulky and unsightly, detracting from the sleek design of modern boats.

• Durability: Marine environments are harsh, with exposure to salt, water, and extreme weather conditions. Traditional panels may not withstand these challenges.

• Efficiency: The orientation and shading of solar panels on a boat can significantly impact their performance.

Open Waters Solar: A New Era of Marine Solar Power

Simon Angus, the visionary CEO of Open Waters Solar, is determined to change the way we think about marine solar power. His company's innovative approach focuses on three key areas:

1. Durability: Open Waters Solar panels are built to withstand the rigors of marine environments. They are encapsulated in a durable fiberglass composite laminate, making them highly resistant to impact and water damage.

2. Efficiency: The company's panels are designed to optimize energy output, even in challenging conditions. They carefully consider factors like shading, orientation, and voltage to maximize performance.

3. Aesthetics: Open Waters Solar panels are sleek and customizable, seamlessly integrating into the design of any boat.

The Future of Marine Solar Power

As the marine industry shifts towards more sustainable solutions, solar power is becoming increasingly important. Hybrid boats, in particular, rely on solar energy to extend their range and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Open Waters Solar is at the forefront of this revolution, providing innovative solutions that empower boat owners to enjoy the benefits of clean energy.

By addressing the limitations of traditional solar panels, Open Waters Solar is setting a new standard for marine solar power. With their focus on durability, efficiency, and aesthetics, they are helping to shape the future of sustainable boating.

Transforming Marine Propulsion - A Reason For Intelligent Optimism?

Over the past 3 months, I've had the extraordinary opportunity to interview 12 CEOs at the helm of companies pioneering marine electric propulsion. These industry leaders, each with their unique approach, are united by one shared passion: to revolutionize boating and safeguard our oceans.

From quiet, emission-free recreational motors, boats and yachts to clean, energy-efficient and powerful, commercial vessels , these companies are pushing the boundaries of marine technology. Their innovative solutions promise to transform the boating experience, making it more sustainable and enjoyable for generations to come.

As I delve deeper into these inspiring conversations, I'm filled with a sense of optimism - call it ‘Intelligent Optimism’. I only recently saw this term on the internet. And, upon a quick search, discovered an organization dedicated to IO. On their website, intelligentoptimism.com, it is defined as:

…all about being thrilled, excited, and optimistic about the future in an informed and rational way based on statistics, data, evidence, facts, science, and empirical evidence. There are remarkable people out there achieving remarkable things. Intelligent Optimism requires us to pay more attention to the well-deserved good news. It’s about understanding that the future is what we make of it and through science, technology, reason, and rationality, we have the potential to make extraordinary things happen.”

(source: https://www.intelligentoptimism.com/about)

Each Marine EV Leader we've spoken with embodies Intelligent Optimism. They assembled brilliant teams, pioneered innovative manufacturing processes, built new supply chains, and driven innovation grounded in data, evidence, and scientific fact. Truly, they're achieving remarkable feats in the development of Marine EV solutions.

We could simply restate a Marine EV version of Intelligent Optimism as:

being thrilled, excited and optimistic about the future of marine propulsion in an informed and rational way…” and that “…understanding the future of boating is what these leaders make of it. Through their science, technology, reason and rationality, Marine EV Leaders, have the potential to make extraordinary things happen to transform the marine propulsion industry

It's clear that the future of marine propulsion is electric, and these pioneers are leading the charge. They each believe it's not a question of IF but WHEN.

We can find ourselves excessively consuming negative news about the deteriorating state of our oceans and find skepticism surrounding the transition to electric marine propulsion. This tendency, is known as "doom scrolling," and can involve spending an inordinate amount of time reading or watching distressing content, particularly on the internet. Wiki defines doom scrolling as

the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large quantities of news, particularly negative news, on the web and social media. This is both dangerous to our mental health, contributing to heightened anxiety, stress, fear and isolation AND offers little to help find solutions.

When we constantly focus on the negative aspects of a problem, without addressing solutions, it can lead to a sense of despair. I've certainly experienced this myself. As a boater for over 50 years, I've developed a deep love for the ocean. Like many of us, I've witnessed firsthand the increasing pollution, misuse, and harmful impact on marine life. Therefore, I'm thrilled to learn about a dedicated group of visionary leaders who are taking collective action to address one of the major contributors to ocean pollution: fossil fuel propulsion.

This positive shift is also influencing the next generation. When young children see leaders actively working towards solutions, it has a profound impact on their outlook, fostering a more optimistic perspective. Consider this personal story shared by Emil Finne, CEO of Elvene Boats, during his recent visit to Vancouver:

…my daughter often joins me when I’m out testing our boats, so we spend time together on the water. She’s been doing so for the last couple of years, and she’s 5 now, so her boat experience [is entirely on] electric [powered] boats.

One day when we met another boat in a quite narrow passage, she got a bit annoyed and said “here comes one of those loud and smelly boats again”. She divides all boats into two categories; loud and smelly boats or her Dads boats.

I sincerely hope that as you listen to these Marine EV Leaders share their inspiring stories and innovative solutions, you'll also embrace a sense of Intelligent Optimism about the future of marine propulsion.

Join me as we delve deeper into the promising world of electric boating through our Marine EV Leadership Series on The Green Boater TV.

Stay tuned for our upcoming episode featuring an in-depth interview with René Hansen, CEO of X Shore!

~Bruno Hoffman
The Green Boater

---

Participants in The Marine EV Leadership Series (to date)

• Leif Stavøstrandt, Co-Founder & CEO Evoy AS, Norway

• Nicolas Quendez, Co-Founder & CEO, Kahe Nautic, France

• Dan Hook, Co-Founder & CEO, RAD Propulsion, UK

• René Hansen, CEO, X Shore, Sweden

• Thorsten Irgang, KAEBON GmbH, Germany

• Emil Finne, CEO & Founder, Elvene Boats, Finland

• Anthony Liu, CEO, Acel Power, Canada

• Alex Dong, CEO, ExploMar, China

• Adrian Patzak, Co-Founder & COO Melabo GmbH, Germany

• Alex Bamberg, Director, Osprey Charging Network, UK

• Peter Brechter, CEO Remigo North America, USA

• Frank Heidinger, CEO, Halevai, USA

The Evolving Landscape of Marine Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The maritime industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the global imperative to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices. As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain traction on land, the demand for marine EV charging infrastructure is rapidly increasing.

The transition to electric propulsion in the marine sector offers several environmental benefits, including reduced air pollution, noise emissions, and greenhouse gas production. However, widespread adoption of marine EVs hinges on the availability of reliable and accessible charging infrastructure. This necessitates the development of charging stations that can accommodate the unique requirements of marine vessels, such as higher power capacities and compatibility with diverse battery chemistries.

One of the primary challenges in implementing marine EV charging infrastructure is the variability of marine environments. Factors like saltwater exposure, temperature fluctuations, and the need for mobile charging solutions can complicate the design and installation process. Additionally, the integration of charging infrastructure into existing marine facilities requires careful planning to ensure safety, efficiency, and compatibility with other operations.

Despite these challenges, the market for marine EV charging infrastructure is experiencing substantial growth. Companies like Aqua Superpower (UK), Heliox Energy (NL), Plug (Norway), Enel X (Italy), and Kempower (Finland) are at the forefront of developing innovative charging solutions tailored to the marine industry. These companies are investing in research and development to address the specific needs of marine EVs, including the development of high-power charging stations, intelligent grid integration, remote monitoring capabilities and ship to shore decarbonization technology.

As the maritime industry continues to embrace electric propulsion, the demand for marine EV charging infrastructure will only intensify. By addressing the challenges and capitalizing on emerging technologies, industry leaders can play a crucial role in driving the transition to a more sustainable and electrified future for marine transportation.

Setting Sail for a Sustainable Future: Why Marine Electric Vehicles are Making Waves

The vast expanse of our oceans is under threat. Climate change, pollution, and overfishing are all taking a toll on this vital ecosystem. But there's a beacon of hope on the horizon: the burgeoning market for marine electric vehicles (MEVs).

Why are MEVs Crucial for a Healthy Ocean?

Traditional marine vessels rely on fossil fuels, which pump harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides into the atmosphere. These emissions contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accelerating climate change and impacting ocean health.

MEVs, on the other hand, are powered by electricity, significantly reducing emissions. This not only helps combat climate change but also protects marine habitats. Cleaner air means less acidic ocean water, which is crucial for coral reefs and other marine life sensitive to pH levels.

Beyond Emission Reduction: The Ripple Effect of MEVs

The benefits of MEVs extend far beyond emission reduction. Here's how they can create a healthier marine environment:

• Reduced Noise Pollution: The loud engines of traditional vessels disrupt marine communication and can harm marine mammals that rely on sound for navigation and hunting. MEVs operate much quieter, minimizing this disturbance.

• Improved Water Quality: Accidental oil spills and leaks from traditional ships pose a major threat to marine life. MEVs eliminate this risk, protecting delicate ecosystems.

• Sustainable Fishing Practices: Electric motors provide precise control for fishing vessels, minimizing bycatch and promoting more sustainable fishing practices.

The Future is Electric: A Thriving Marketplace Sets Sail

The market for MEVs is on an exciting upswing. From electric ferries and cargo ships to autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for research, a diverse range of electric vessels are being developed and deployed. Governments around the world are also implementing policies to encourage the adoption of MEVs, recognizing their environmental and economic potential.

The transition to a sustainable maritime industry will require collaboration between governments, shipbuilders, and technology companies. But with the growing awareness of the threats facing our oceans, the future of marine transportation is undoubtedly electric. By embracing MEVs, we can ensure a healthier future for our oceans and the incredible life they sustain.

Barnacide - The Solution For The Last Big Problem in Marine Coatings

It's a pleasure today to have a chat with the inventor of Barnacide, Dr. Reed Phillips, and we are going to have an opportunity to learn about Barnacide and also a little bit of a story for how Barnacide came to being. But most importantly, I want to just welcome Dr. Reed Phillips and this conversation that we have, which I think is going to be timely and very interesting for our Green Boating community. Welcome, Dr. Phillips.

Dr. Phillips

Hello, Bruno. It's a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about the research that I have been doing.

TGB

Wonderful. Well, listen, we appreciate the time and let's get right at it. So for the benefit of boaters who don't understand and even those new to boating and long term boaters, we all know that there's all kinds of issues in the ocean. And one of the biggest issues is the problem that boaters have, which is on the bottom of their boats. Tell us what the problem is that we are trying to address with products like Barnacide.

Dr. Phillips

OK, this this basic problem, which is still really unsolved as far as a really acceptable solution, is that when you submerge a boat in water, fresh water or marine water,(...) things like growing on the bottom, it could be algae, it can be barnacles, it could be other types of seaweed, it could be other something called shipworms or marine borers. And in freshwater, you have invasive muscles. They're similar to barnacles. They're called quagga mussels and tiger mussels.

And these things can be very, very destructive.

Dr. Phillips

Aside from damaging and obstructing and corroding piers and intake pipes and vents on stationary structures, with respect to boats,(...) when these organisms start coating a boat,(...) they greatly increase the friction between the boat and the running water adjacent to it, which is supposed to be a low friction, smooth process.(...) If you increase the friction considerably, that slows the boat down. You got to hit the throttle more. Your fuel consumption goes up as much as 40 percent.(...) And this is where I got interested in it because of that increased fuel consumption. Your greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emission goes up too.(...) Biofouling, which is the name applied to all these organisms, is probably responsible for about the second or third cause of greenhouse gas emissions among industrial sources in the world. It's a real problem. It's contributing to climate change and so forth. So if one can prevent these plants and animals from growing on the surface of boats, small and large, up to the super tanker, you're going to basically clean up the atmosphere.(...) Now you'll also make a boater much happier because won't have that cosmetically awful gunk growing on the boat, which is unsightly.(...) And everybody wins.(...) Now how does this this biofouling develop?(...) Well as soon as you put a boat in water, within 24 hours, you got like a slimy layer growing on it. That's bacteria, fungi,(...) all sorts of one-cell organisms like that.(...) And then it's replaced by algae that start growing in larger quantities.(...) Within a week, you got a larvae from barnacles settling in on it.(...) And within three weeks to four weeks, you already have visible and fairly sizable barnacles growing on the surface. And once the barnacles are on the surface,(...) they adhere with a potency equal to mankind's greatest glues.(...) You can't just rub them off.(...) They make the surface unsightly, rough,(...) and the engine efficiency of your boat starts plummeting. That's it in a nutshell. The process, if left to itself, is complete within four weeks.(...) You start off with a brand new shiny boat, just leaving the factory in four weeks. You got this mess growing on your hull.

Dr. Phillips

So this is the major engineering problem that's still unsolved in the marine industry. How do you prevent this effectively without damaging the environment?(...) Those of us who have boats have seen this. We see it this, you know, every year that we do a haul out, we see it when we're walking by our boat and we look into the water, we can see the water line and all the things. We see the little biosystem that's under there.(...) And also in my boat, I notice maneuverability. It really slows me down there. Definitely it's what you mentioned, the friction is slowing down. So boating. There are millions. When you apply it to the propeller, when the stuff gets on the propeller,(...) then you have all sorts of vibratory problems in the propeller gets transmitted up your engine shaft and now you start to have physical damage to your engines.(...) Yes. And I've done some work with some of the folks in our local area who are working with marine biologists to reduce cavitation noise from propellers. So that's marine life can, you know, they're not, they're, you know, whales, dolphins, things like that. They can, you know, they're not bothered by the noise. So cavitation increases when you've got things growing on your prop. All right, let's switch to then the problem that exists. We've done that.(...) How is it solved? How is it solved today? There are millions of boats on the water. How are they doing it to solve this problem? Well, there are a couple of different schemes available.(...) Let me talk about the one that is predominant in the marine industry.(...) The procedure that they use, the mechanism they use is something called ablative anti-fouling paints.(...) What does that term mean?(...) Well, basically,(...) you put a biologically active chemical agent inside the paint matrix.(...) You place it on the boat.

And as the boat goes through the water,(...) the chemically active agent is leeches out from the paint into the water.(...) The chemical agent or agent, sometimes there are multiple, actually kills the algae and the immature barnacles that are trying to settle on the surface by poisoning them in the water adjacent to the hull.(...) Okay,(...) that fact is going to be very important to distinguish what we do because we do it totally differently.(...) Now, obviously, if something is poisoning organisms in the water near the hull, those chemicals are going to go everywhere.(...) And hence, it's environmentally toxic.(...) The type of chemicals that are usually used, the most common version, is something called heavy metals.(...) The original version was something called TBT, also known as tributyl tin, which came out in the mid-50s and was the most effective chemical known to prevent biofouling. It also turned out to be, by the 1980s, it was found to be the most toxic substance ever released into the ocean, and it was banned by the International Maritime

Organization in 2003. So it's against the law in more than 150 countries to use it. So the replacement for that was another heavy metal. Instead of tin,(...) they decided on copper. Why copper?(...) Because some people noticed when they went back to history that the British prevented biofouling to slow up their wooden ships by taking plates of copper and putting it on the deck,(...) on the hull, which prevented that. Copper was phased out of Britain because when they shifted over to steel boats,(...) you couldn't have copper on the bottom and a steel boat because you'd get a chemical reaction between the two. But copper did inhibit barnacles,(...) algae, and other things.

Mostly barnacles. It's not so good against algae. So when TBT was banned, they had to come up with replacement, and going back from history, they picked on copper.(...) So most of the paints that are ablative, and I'll define that term a little bit more in a moment because it's important to know what that term is precisely,(...) most of today's ablative anti-fouling paints have copper compounds of some form or another.(...) And the copper compound is released into the surrounding seawater, surrounding the hull, reacts with the seawater, and produces a compound that is lethal to barnacle larvae trying to settle on it.(...)

Now ablative paint come in two forms, and they're equally bad, but it's just a different set of problems.(...) One is called a hard ablative paint, where the paint stays on the boat,(...) but the biologically active chemical agent, which is usually copper, is released from the paint, and the paint gradually loses its reservoir of chemical agent,(...) and after one or two years has to be replaced with a new layer.

(...)

And typically that new layer is painted on the old now inert layer, and that can go on for about five years. You know, each year you put another layer on, after five years it gets so thick, you got to get it off the boat, okay, for good, because for various mechanical structural reasons, and you have a heavy scraping job, you have an environmental problem, what are you going to do with all the toxic stuff that you scrape off the boat, what are you going to do with it?

(...)

The other type of paint is soft ablative paint,(...) where not only does the chemical leach out to the water for its anti-biophiling effect, but the paint matrix, the paint itself, reacts with the seawater to dissolve and go into the ocean.(...) Now that has the advantage, of course, that the paint is always what they call self-polishing, the paint is always new with the layer of chemical agent on it, but obviously that is really toxic to the environment to have all that paint products just(...) dissolved into the ocean.(...) It's all sort of plastic breakdowns because the plastic, it's a polymer, what they call a technical term, an acrylic copolymer paint that breaks down in contact with seawater to release both the paint and the chemical agents into the seawater. So really in effect, Reid, we've got toxins, poisons that are leaching into the water from our hulls all the time and these toxins, they just don't disappear, they are attached already to organisms that are then introduced into the biosphere and consumed by other(...) organisms and now we've got these poisons going everywhere into perhaps even our food systems.

(...)

Fortunately, copper is not too toxic to us. It takes a lot for a human being to be copper toxic, but that's not, and so if it enters our food chain as the chief predator, apex predator they call it, it's no harm to us, but that's not true of plants and fish and other type of things like lobsters and and crabs and so forth. It's a real problem. Well, you know, the pictures sometimes I paint in my brain when I see, when I hear about this again and it's just as you're talking through this, it's just churning my stomach, but you might as well just go to your paint store, walk down to the marina at the end of the marina and just pour it into the ocean. I guess that's in effect what we're doing because I know on my boat every year I pull it out and I have soft ablative and when I pull it out there's big chunks of it missing and it has lost all its efficacy and it's gone.

TGB

So, you know, I've got what four gallons of this stuff on my boat. I mean literally I have this picture that I'm just pouring this paint into the water and if you were ever caught doing that in some states you'd be thrown in jail.

Dr. Phillips

That is the best analogy and I've been doing this for four and a half years. This is the best analogy anybody has ever said to me about this. Yes, we are literally pouring the paint into the water. I will use that from this point on. I promise to you. So, okay, now we've got the majority and there are millions of boats out there doing all this and it's not being addressed. So, as you said, it has a huge impact all over the place and I appreciate the time you took to do this.

Let's talk about what some of the systems are that people have tried to address this that perhaps because there's all kinds of new stuff coming out and I've interviewed folks on this channel as well.

TGB

So, how are some of the attempts being made to address this problem before we start talking about the way in which you've gone in solving this problem?

Dr. Phillips

Okay, sure.(...) Once you look for other solutions,(...) what people have come up includes several different items.(...) One thing that's getting a big play now is silicone-based systems.

(...)

Um,(...) silicone-based paints rely on the ability of extremely low surface friction,(...) the slippery feeling that these types of paints produce to prevent, uh, barnacles and other organisms from adhering to the surface. Sort of like the Teflon in our frying pans.(...) Precisely. Although there is a coating and, uh, it's actually one of our(...) mechanisms that actually is a Teflon, but we'll get to that point later. Um, it actually functions like a Teflon and as the boat moves, anything that did manage to attach to it generally gets shaken off.(...) But here's the problem with this. A boat that stays at mooring(...) for more than a week or two just simply allows the organisms to take all their time to get attached.

(...)

Now these organisms will go through anything. They don't care if it's steel, concrete, fiberglass of the boat. They're not choosy. They'll go through anything. So these silicone coatings don't work(...) on boats that are largely stationary,(...) boats that are very slow going like sailboats, for instance. Okay. Big problems.(...) Another method of dealing with biofouling was to produce electrical systems that would produce a very low voltage of electricity surrounding the boat, which would act unfavorable to the barnacles.(...) These systems never turned out to be reliable economic enough to work.(...) Is that the same read as the ones that produce a vibration? Is that same? Now there's another type of mechanism where instead of an electrical voltage, they'll use(...) what they call piezoelectric crystals,(...) sound wave transducers to produce a high frequency sound wave(...) in the vicinity of like 20 to 30,000 Hertz cycles per second, which is very unpleasant for the barnacles. They just haven't worked sufficiently well.(...) The Australian Navy had tried, because you know with large ships, you also have the problem on its internal plumbing as well as the hull, the inboard equipment and so forth. They tried chlorine gas to gas them, but the toxicity of that, that took care of that problem.(...) Then you get a variety of other tries,(...) biological(...) mimicries,(...) I'll call them. Shark skin.(...) Barnacles stick to whales and turtles under the water, but they don't stick to shark,(...) because shark skin has a certain structure that prevents them from doing it. So they have devised, and even there's some patents on it, to produce coatings that look like shark skin.(...) Prohibitively expensive.(...) I mean even compared to your most expensive paints which can go upwards to $500 to $1,000 a gallon.(...) Another thing was what you mentioned, the use of a protein to prevent it. Now proteins come in a wide variety, and I haven't told you my two careers yet, so I'll in a little while let you know what happened a little bit about this stuff.

They come in the form of plant toxins,(...) they come in the form of antibodies,(...) they come in the form of certain compounds that are in been seen in certain plants that birefouling doesn't grow on. You take large algae,(...) barnacles will attach to that too, but certain algae they don't attach.(...) Unfortunately with all of these biologicals, they're either too expensive because they got to be produced for very minute amounts, you know if you're extracting them from plants, or if you're chemically synthesizing them, it's just too expensive. So they haven't gotten much traction.

(...)

Then another idea was the antibacterial compounds that you spray on a sink surface to get rid of bacteria on your sink. Somebody got the brilliant idea of incorporating those chemical compounds in a coating.(...) Great idea.(...) They actually asked me for some advice on the subject.(...) When they did it, it simply didn't work.(...) So you can see that all of the various things going on here, while there's quite a variety, either it's too expensive or it doesn't work. There has been no replacement for the use of copper compounds.(...) In fact, jurisdictions that try to ban copper, such as California,(...) Washington,(...) the state of Washington, they've delayed putting those laws into effect because there's no replacement.(...)

There's a similar problem in the European common market, the European Union.(...) But the trend is that if you can replace copper,(...) everybody's going to get on the bandwagon to outlaw it.(...) So it's just a matter of time who does the job.(...) Well, there's all kinds of pressure. Certainly the environmental groups are creating pressure.(...) Our environment itself is telling us the ocean cannot absorb this any further. There's also an economic factor because the cost of fuel, I know for my, I have a diesel, a vintage diesel trawler, and the fuel prices are just astromonical now. And so efficiency, we're trying to get efficiency out of burning the fuel, but also trying to get efficiency out of actually moving my vessels through the water

TGB

And I know when I've come out of a haul out where all the running gear is smooth and the hull is smooth, I've got an extra one and a half knots on the trawler.

Dr. Phillips

You can actually feel that, is that true?

TGB

Oh, absolutely. Oh yeah, absolutely. And the Pacific Northwest here where I have my boat, we have these muscle fresh hits and you can actually almost see the muscle socks grow. It's crazy. Like from week to week.

Dr. Phillips

What do you have growing there? Muscles.

TGB

So muscles will grow in the form of, if you're in a marina where there's a current,(...) like a tide that's pulling current across your marina, the muscles will attach themselves in what looks like a sock, looks like a stocking where it'll start, it'll start in a localized area, usually around a through-hull because the blade of paint is already worn off. And then it'll actually form a sock that comes down and sideways because it's following the current. And these socks will grow, sometimes they'll grow two or three feet.(...) And by that time, they've... Because the water is really fresh water in that way. It is, it is. But as soon as, but it's full of organisms. Like if you want, if you go scuba diving into the Pacific Northwest, the plant life down there is fantastic. It's way better than Hawaii or any of the tropics, right? We don't have colorful fish. We've got colorful plants. And I appreciate what you said earlier about anything you stick in the water after a week, it's already got film, then it's algae, and then it's got all kinds of stuff. Well, there are certain times of the year here where it's called muscle freshet, where there's just a lot of muscle spores in the water and they will find anything to attach to. And if there's already algae growing on there, that's their little magnet.(...) And these things will just grow like crazy. And so, and they'll grow also more on the sun side of your hull. So if you're pointed east, west in your marina,(...) wherever the sun is shining, it will just grow like crazy along the water line. You get a crust of the stuff.

Dr. Phillips

Do these organisms, these muscles, do they form shells?

TGB

Oh, absolutely. Oh yeah. Okay.(...) And it's actually, if you're a person who loves to eat muscles,(...) all you have to do is take a muscle sock off and break it open and you'll never eat muscles again, because they absorb all of the effluent in the marina. And even though people say, "I never flush in a marina," that's not true. Because all you have to do is open up a muscle sock and crack these things. And these shells can be sometimes two, three inches long and they're massive. And they also are very damaging to your boat.

Dr. Phillips

You mentioned that they penetrate. Do you know if these are quagga muscles or tiger muscles or similar?

TGB

They can be. Yeah, they can be. But I can send you a picture of some of the stuff that's come off. I don't know. Any information you got on that.

Dr. Phillips

Well, I'm familiar with tiger and quagga in the Great Lakes and Lake Mead and so forth. What you're describing is interesting. Any information can send me. I appreciate it.

TGB

I had my boat in a, up a river, which was still tidal water. And so the water was very brackish. And that developed a whole different type of organism. I had my dinghy, left it in the water over the course of a year. And I pulled it out. This is my little hard bottom fiberglass dinghy. I had to almost, well, I had to take the gel coat off. This, the organism that grew on there, went right into, through the gel coat and started eating into the fiberglass. They attached itself to the fibers of the fiberglass. There's no way that you can just scrape that stuff off and slops. And you, I mean, it's just a horrible, horrible stuff. So, you know, it's surprising the power of nature.(...) My dad, who is now 91, built boats his entire life. And he said to me, he said, Bruno, nature eventually will win. Because it's so powerful.

Dr. Phillips

All the time. It's, it's, it's, it's dissolved every trace of prior civilizations.(...) Do you ever learn a new problem? It's a growing problem. It's an economic problem. It's a financial problem. It's an environmental problem.

(...)

Regulatory bodies want to, as you said, they want to impose restrictions because they care, but there hasn't been a solution today. Because boaters will flock there.

TGB

If I didn't have to take my boat out of the water for five years or four years, it saves on cost and pressure on my hull. It saves, and I can then, it saves on fuel. I can also ethically boat without knowingly poisoning the ocean. This is huge. It's a huge, huge problem with a, a, a market, if you will, that's just dying. So let's talk about your story.(...) I read a little bit on your website, so you actually didn't start in this area. You started somewhere else. Tell us a little bit about your, about your background, Reed.

Dr. Phillips

All right.(...) Now, basically, this is a very surprising to hear this, but my primary career is I'm a medical oncologist.(...) Okay. I treat cancer patients and I try to cure them. And that's what I've been doing most of my life.(...) I also have a second interest,(...) physics.(...) And when I was five years old, I got knocked over by a huge wave and I almost drowned.(...) And I thought that it's amazing how much energy is in the waves. So my rest of my life, every time I'm at the beach, I said, gee, couldn't we put to use some of this energy, make clean electricity?(...) I got the chance about 10 years ago when I slowed up a little bit on the medical oncology piece and I devoted half my time to go back to physics.(...) And I created some equipment that harvests the energy of ocean waves and converts it into clean emission free electricity.

(...)

Even got a dozen patents on it, you know.(...) And one day an engineer said to me, he said, Phillips, I really like your technology. It's really good stuff.(...) But I think you didn't take into consideration one little item.(...) And I said, oh, what's that?(...) He said,(...) barnacles.

(...)

I never owned a boat. So I looked at him funny. Barnacles? What I'm doing here, what does that have to do with that?(...) I said, you own a boat? He said, yeah. And then I got it real quickly. The barnacles start growing on the moving parts of a submerged electrical generator. In no time, the equipment will be destroyed.(...) So I knew I had to find a solution.(...) And at that time, I first investigated it.(...) And I saw that there was no credible solution available for this sort of thing. Okay. Especially on a piece of electrical generator operating on waves. You can't paint that every year. You don't like to do with a boat. So there was no solution. So I kept it in the wings. I kept quiet about it.(...) Moved the clock back four years later. I'm taking a vacation down the southwest with my wife and a few other couples. We were exploring the parks.(...) And we're in Lake Mead,(...) which of course has a quagga muscle problem.(...) But I knew nothing of this.

(...)

I go out to get some coffee. My wife wanted coffee. She didn't like the huge heat. So she stayed, walked to the hotel. I went outside because I wanted to see what was going on. And I saw this park ranger. And if this tale is too long, you can edit it. Oh, this is good stuff. No.(...) I saw this park ranger and he was setting up something that looked to be like a lecture in the field.(...) And he had this weird chair sitting there, you know?

(...)

It looked like a plastic chair. So I go over to look at it. And it's covered with what I thought was seashells. So I thought it was an antique chair covered with seashells. And I'm starting to touch it and see what's going on. Why would anybody want to do something like that? It's not an antique, you know?

(...)

So a guy, the forest ranger comes over to me. Please, sir, don't touch that. It took two years to produce.(...) I said, this is a PVC chair with seashells on it. Somebody's trying to make an antique chair out of it. So, oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. We put this chair in Lake Mead two years ago. And this is what grew on it.(...) And I'm giving here a lecture to show a bunch of college students

(...)

what is happening.(...) So I said to myself, oh, boy, I hit pot, you know, right away the memories came back. I hit pot luck. I said, can I sit on this one?(...) She said, oh, sure, sure, sure. Can I ask some questions as you give the lecture? So 50 college students pile in.(...) And I'm in the audience in the back.(...) And he starts giving the election. They were all looking, checking their emails, checking their laptops. No one's paying attention. But as he's talking, I'm raising my hand asking questions. This, that, this, the other thing. After a while, everybody put away their equipment. They're listening. Okay. While this guy was talking,(...) I said to myself, hey, I can solve that problem.(...) It's not too much different than eliminating cancer cells versus eliminating barnacles. Well, at that time, muscles, because it was muscles. I wasn't directing myself at the barnacles.(...) There's not that much difference in eliminating cancer cells versus eliminating quagga muscles and later to find out tiger muscles as well. Okay. I can do that. You just have to use the principles of chemotherapy to do that. But you have to do it in an environmentally safe way.

(...)

Not like putting toxic stuff into the body to kill cancer. So I knew I could solve the problem. Okay. But who's going to work on that unless you get some kick in the rear end? It so happens one of my friends, when I explained the story to him about two weeks, two weeks later, came over to me and said, look,(...) I'm interested in having you start a company with me to try to come up with a coating that can be environmentally friendly using the principles that you use in human oncology to eliminate barnacles, seaweed, shipworms, and everything else that can grow on there, including some of those other interesting organisms, which you'll give me information on.

(...)

And I said, okay, if you think I can do it, I think I have the knowledge to do it. Let's go do it. And that's how the company, Redjack, which is our company, was formed.(...) And I did my testing.(...) Many, you know, I tried different combinations, of course, on the available possibilities that could be used.(...) A local marina was very nice, gave me one of his docs said, I'm going to charge you for it. You can use it for your testing.(...) And the coatings worked.(...)

TGB

So let's, can I just roll the story back just a little bit? And can you help me connect the dots, the dots here between cancer treatment and why it would solve the problem with fouling, biofouling in layman's terms? How did, how did that, how can we make that connection?

Dr. Phillips

Okay. The way you, the way you eliminate a cancer cell from the body is to introduce a compound.(...) Any compound could be chemotherapy, could be immune therapy, could be anything, a compound that gets into the cell and interferes with the function of one or more parts of the cell.(...) If that happens, the cell dies.(...) However, human cancer cells are extremely good(...) in developing immunity. If you use one medication, it'll find a workaround in the same way that if you are in a car and you have a detour that's not letting you go down this road, you will learn how to get home anyway by taking a detour. Cancer cell does the same way.(...) So the principles of chemotherapy and cancer therapy are that you use multiple drugs and you attack the cell by multiple different mechanisms.(...) And by that means the cell isn't able to get immune that easily and you have a much better success rate.(...) Okay. So you employ the same principle dealing with barnacles and muscles.(...) Barnacles and muscles are, it's a varied population. It's a varied population.(...) If you use a single drug or chemically active substance, some will be resistant, some will be sensitive to it, some will find a workaround the problem.

(...)

So you use multiple different agents,(...) multiple different chemicals to make the environment so unpleasant for the biofouling that it just can't get started. Okay. Okay. That's a great, great connect the dots story. I understood that. Let's talk about barnicide. So you mentioned your company. Now you started a number of tests to see if you can make a viable product. So help us understand the basics of barnicide. And then we'll talk about its ability to solve the problem and then how we apply it and where we can get it. So first about Barnacide, tell us a little bit about the product itself.(...) Okay.(...) Barnacide is an anti-fouling coating system.(...) It's not about a particular type of chemical.(...) It's not about a particular type of polymer paint.

(...)

It's a system that can use a multitude of different possible agents and can use a multitude of different possible polymers for the paint matrix. You can mix them up in any order you want as long as it accomplishes three goals.

(...)

It's environmentally safe.(...) It's effective.(...) And the coating system will last several years. These are the three objectives.(...) Okay.(...) And we settled on a set of a set of biologically(...) active chemical agents that satisfied this situation.(...) But it's not just a chemical coating system consisting of one layer.(...) There's two layers to it.(...) And both coatings are different because they're functioning in different manners. What we attempt to do with our coating system is to make the surface so unpleasant for(...) the barnacle and other organisms to settle on that they want to go someplace else.

(...)

Our coating system is not designed as a pesticide.(...) It's not designed to kill, eliminate animals.(...) It's designed to protect the surface by making them go elsewhere.(...) So how do we do this? Well, like I said, we use a two layer system.(...) The first layer has one or more biologically active chemical agents that when present in the in the coating,(...) when the barnacle larvae, which are little organisms like tiny tadpoles, if you want to call them, when they try to settle on the surface,(...) they feel, if you want to put it in human terms,(...) they feel like a sting, an unpleasantness.(...) They don't like it.(...) So instead of settling in and starting to grow, they lift themselves off and they go someplace else, providing the protection to the coating and the ship hull underneath it.(...) Now, like human beings are genetically different. If you give a thousand people the COVID vaccine,(...) 900 of them will be quite protected by the COVID vaccine. But because of genetic differences between people or hundred people won't have any effect from the COVID vaccine.(...) Well, the same thing occurs with barnacles.(...) The first coating layer will repel almost all the barnacles coming at it, but a few because of their internal makeup and their genes won't be bothered by the first coating.(...) So under the first coating, we have a second coating with a different set of one or more biological age, chemically active agents.

(...)

And if the tiny immature barnacle gets through the first layer,(...) and when it gets through the first layer, it's still tiny, only maybe a tenth of a millimeter in size. So you can barely see it. If it gets to the second layer and touches that second layer, it comes in contact with it, and that second layer eliminates the barnacle, the juvenile barnacle, as we like to call it.(...) It can't settle there and eventually falls off.

(...)

The hole is so tiny that because of the pliability of the coating, the pliability of the coating tends to just seal off the area. And so between the mechanisms operating on the first layer and the mechanisms operating on the second layer, not much hangs around.(...) Again, see the analogy with the cancer chemotherapy, multiple mechanisms affecting the organism.(...) So how happy are you with this product and the performance? Did you achieve what you wanted to achieve?(...) Yes, as a matter of fact, yes. I could even send you some pictures if you'd like.(...) If I knew that, maybe I could have even had the pictures and display it. We'll put that into post.(...) I can send that to you.(...) Panels that were not painted with it were covered with the biofouling like you'd expect.(...) Panels that were not covered with it,(...) excuse me, panels that were covered with it were squeaky clean.(...) Now,(...) you know, you got to do some maintenance on the coating. I mean to maintain that squeaky clean look.

(...)

What I used to do with my panels, and my panels were put into the worst possible area, a stagnant water in a marina.(...) This panel's never moved.(...) So every two weeks I would,(...) using just a dry paper cloth wipe, just wipe the surface off, just to get rid of some of the biofilm that could accumulate.

(...)

And the panels remained squeaky clean.(...) Now, as a test, I also ran what would happen if you didn't bother to do any maintenance on the boat. And the boat just sat there for a long time. Well, at the end of two and a half years, I let this test run.(...) Okay.(...) The boat surface didn't look cosmetically great.(...) There were a few algae in there.(...) It wasn't lustrous anymore, the coating. It wasn't cosmetically exciting, but no barnacles.

TGB

Fantastic. No barnacles.

Dr. Phillips

Yeah. So, I mean, to use our coating properly, it doesn't mean, "Oh, I don't have to have any more maintenance on my boat. I could just let it sit there and never touch it," and so forth. You still have to treat your boat as an important instrument and treat it nicely because you want it to be cosmetically beautiful, as well as free as barnacles.(...)

TGB

So, how have you addressed the environmental side of it? So, I understand the principle of how it works, but when you talk about in the second layer, a barnacle going in or a muscle going in and penetrating, then it doesn't like it and falls off. Is it taking any kind of toxins with it? Anything that could harm the environment?

Dr. Phillips

No. And here's the reason why.(...) Generally, the biologically active chemical agent in the inner coating is much more powerful than the outer one.

(...)

And it can even, if we wanted to, doesn't have to, but it can contain containing compounds also.(...) But you see, that layer never gets in contact with the environment because it's covered by the outer layer, which has chemicals that are environmentally safe. So, it's also protecting the under layer. It's protected. Exactly. And as I said, the tiny little hole that gets made, because one person did ask me, "Well, didn't that one, that little tiny hole, couldn't that cause some seepage?" Well,(...) I said, disregarding the fact that this hole is 0.1 millimeter in diameter, if it shed anything, you got to compare that with the entire hull of a boat that's shedding it.(...) But I said, like I say, the hole tends to seal itself up because of the surrounding polymer, just the pressure of it. It's pliable. It just seals itself up. So, that inner layer is completely separated from the outer water. Okay? Yes.(...) Now, so what's going on on the outer layer, though, that makes it environmentally safe?(...) The biologically active agents that are picked are picked in such a way that they're insoluble in water.(...) They are locked up into the lattice structure of the polymer. They're locked into the paint.(...) The agents don't go into the water to eliminate the barnacle, like the... The ablatives. Anti-fouling ablative paint still. Okay?(...) The barnacle larva land on the coating,(...) the feet of the lar... What's called feet? It's not the technical term, but they have feet,(...) you know, to our comprehension. When they touch this coating,(...) the receptors in the feet of the barnacle larva feel things they don't want to feel, and that causes them to butt out and leave.(...) Nothing goes into the water.(...) Because of this structure and the use of certain polymers that last multiple years, we believe we can get five to ten years worth of action out of it, which of course cuts down the environmental toxic.

Toxicity of scraping off the paint and eliminating all those paint residue waste products and shipping them off to the toxic dumps,(...) landfills.(...) So as a result, the ocean does not pick up any environmental toxicity at all.

TGB

Can we talk about how the product is applied? So let's go through a day in the life. So a boat like mine, mine's wood, happens to be wood, but there's most of the boats out there are fiberglass, so let's talk about that. So if I had a fiberglass boat and I had a traditional anti-fouling coating,(...) what were the steps would be to, first of all, prepare my boat for Barnacide and then how do I apply Barnacide?(...)

Dr. Phillips

Okay, well, whether or not using Barnacide or an anti-fouling, a blade of paint, you don't just apply it directly to the fiberglass.

(...)

It's generally recommended you use a primer first, usually an epoxy primer. You put a layer or two of that on and then you put your anti-fouling coating on.(...) Now, if it's an ablative coating,

(...)

I think a lot of people recommend two coats,(...) even of two different colors.(...) So if you see the outside coat giving out before it starts working on the fiberglass and gel coat of the hull, you see that the inner layer is coming through in a different color and that's telling you it's time to repaint.

(...)

In the case of the arc coating,(...) the inner coating is such that it could actually be a primer itself. So you can put that on first.(...) Right on top of the epoxy layer or directly on the fiberglass? You can do either one. Okay. You can do either one. But you'd have to remove, if there is already a blade of paint on there, you'd need to remove that obviously first.(...) Not totally, not totally. There can't be any loose flakes.(...) It should be sanded down well,(...) like you would if you were to apply another coating of ablative paint. You can't have any loose areas, all the solvents, residue,(...) sand, everything. You want a strong mechanical bond. You want a strong mechanical bond. That's true of both systems.(...) I personally,(...) look, ours is a new product. Okay.(...) It's still undergoing some testing. I would probably be personally conservative and recommend that it be put over a standard epoxy primer. Okay. As a recommendation initially.(...) Okay. I don't believe it'll turn out to be necessary.(...) Where it is necessary though,(...) is if you're using an aluminum or steel hull,(...) you don't want a situation where let's say if copper was used on the inner epoxy coating,(...) you don't want it to come in contact with aluminum or steel hulls because you can get a galvanic or otherwise known as electrical reaction, chemical reaction between the two metals. And that is not good. That is not good. There are also a certain copper compounds that you use in the inner layer that do not react with aluminum or steel and you can get around that problem. Seahawk makes use of a compound that you can put directly on aluminum. Okay. So the surface of the boat is prepared properly, nice and clean,(...) making sure you can get a good mechanical bond. There's no chemical agent so how then is is barnicide applied?(...) Each layer is a two component part A, part B system.

(...)

You mix it together in appropriate amounts and then it can be applied by brush, roll or air spray. The application of it itself, other than mixing a two component

(...)

mixture together, is the same as any other paint product you would apply.(...) Obviously

(...)

ablative anti-fouling paints that are one component,(...) you just don't have to mix a part A, part B. It's a little simpler.(...) On the other hand ablative you got to paint more than one coat of each for the reasons that I specified because it's ablative.(...)

In our case, since it's not ablative, you just have to do those two coats, the inner coating with its biological agents and the outer coating with its biological agents. So it's something that for a do-it-yourself boater who's used to mixing epoxies or mixing two-part paints, standard stuff, this isn't something that you would need special training for. It's standard kind of thing.(...) We do need to take proper precautions. You don't handle this without gloves. You should wear a mask when you're doing it. If you're indoors in a garage, let's say painting a boat,(...) you can't be sloppy with it because poxy by definition, if you want to talk about the inner layer, by definition is toxic if you're not careful with. In terms of its application, so how much time to dry, how much time between layers, it's important because when you're paying to have your boat hauled out, you're paying for all the time that's on the hard.(...) How much time would it take between layers of drying and reapplying and then curing?(...) If you wanted to put more than one layer on for various reasons, you can do that within four to six hours of the original layer.(...) When you're talking about putting down the inner layer first and then the outer layer next,(...) eight to 24 hours separating.(...) If you wait longer,(...) you can wait longer, you can wait a week, but then it might be advisable to get, because you want the proper, not only chemical adhesion, but mechanical adhesion. You might want to do a very light sandpapering of the surface if there's an extraordinary amount of time, between layers.(...)

TGB

Okay, and so where are you with the ability, you mentioned testing, so where are you in the life cycle of the product right now? When will it, in your estimation, will be ready for the marketplace?(...)

Dr. Phillips

Okay,(...) we are estimating the commercial availability of it within six to 12 months.(...) We are doing, we're hoping to do a complete final testing on it within the next six months allowing for some slippage of scale, which sometimes happens because it vents out of your control. It could be as long as 12 months, but it could be six months we're aiming for, 12 months we ought to definitely do it.

TGB

Yeah, wonderful.(...) And does it come in any color except black, like Mr. Ford said?(...)

Dr. Phillips

Yeah, you know, that's interesting.(...) You know, it originally came in white,(...) okay, and the first person that was going to test it said, "Oh, I can't put that on my boat because it's got to be blue." Okay, and we learned a little bit about marketing on that one. Okay, actually we have the capability of making it in any reasonable color by adding the necessary pigment.(...) I have been joined in addition to my business friend and myself,(...) I did tell you about our third specialist that joined us, an organic biochemist, excuse me, an organic chemist, PhD organic chemist with a 30-year history of coatings experience with major paint companies whose specialty is bringing prototype products like I made into the commercial sphere.(...) So he said, "Look, at first we're going to probably come out with one color. We can't cater everybody, you know, on day one, but in short order we should be able to supply any reasonable color, white included."(...) Sure, sure, wonderful. Well, you know, this is really encouraging because the science that you've explained, I understand, and it makes sense. I certainly understand the problem as a boater and anybody who has a boat, especially in areas where there is fast-growing algae, mussels, barnacles. I mean, if there's one thing that's the bane of boating, it's this, it's the underbelly. And it's also the biggest problem, you know, people talk about, "Oh, let's avoid single-use plastics." Okay, that's a big problem. This is way bigger.

TGB

How do we follow the progress of your company and the product?

Dr. Phillips

We do have a blog capability on our website, which you've been to at barnicide.com. We do have a blog capability, which we're going to use to post such information.

TGB

So this will be on our podcast and we'll put it out. Dr. Phillips, I so appreciate the time that you've taken to just walk step by step. And it's fascinating. And we are all pulling for you.(...) I am looking forward to one day walking into a chandelary and seeing the product there. And I will happily buy it and put it on my boat and shout it from the mountaintops because this is a serious problem.

Dr. Phillips, thank you for your time. I look forward again, as I said, to more things coming in the development of the product as it becomes a commercial product.

Dr. Phillips

All right, Bruno, pleasure being here.

Eco-Friendly Coffee Makers on a Boat

Introduction

As a boater, you probably already know that many of the things we use on boats are not environmentally friendly. However, that doesn't mean we can't make small changes to reduce our carbon footprint. One way to do this is by using eco-friendly coffee makers on board. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of using such coffee makers, and present some of the best eco-friendly coffee makers available on the market.

Benefits of using eco-friendly coffee makers

Eco-friendly coffee makers are designed to consume less energy and produce less waste. They are also made with materials that are biodegradable, recyclable, or made from renewable resources. By using an eco-friendly coffee maker, you help reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner environment.

Another benefit of eco-friendly coffee makers is that they are often more durable and require less maintenance than traditional coffee makers. Many of them also have a sleek, modern design that looks great on any boat.

Best eco-friendly coffee makers for boats

1. AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker - This compact and durable coffee maker is made with BPA-free materials and requires no electricity. You can use it to make both coffee and espresso, and it comes with a reusable metal filter that eliminates the need for paper filters.

2. French Press Coffee Maker - French press coffee makers are a classic choice for boaters. They are simple, require no electricity, and are made with glass or stainless steel. They are also easy to clean and produce a delicious, full-bodied coffee.

3. Wacaco Minipresso is an eco-friendly coffee maker that is perfect for boaters. It is compact, lightweight, and requires no electricity, making it easy to use on board. The Minipresso uses a manual pump to create pressure and extract coffee, eliminating the need for electricity or disposable pods. Additionally, it is made with durable and recyclable materials, making it a sustainable choice for environmentally conscious boaters.

4. The Moka pot is easy to use and produces a strong, flavorful coffee that can rival that of expensive coffee shops. Its compact size makes it easy to store on a boat, saving valuable space that can be used for other necessities. Additionally, the Moka pot is easy to clean and maintain, making it a convenient choice for boaters who may not have access to a lot of cleaning supplies.

5. A phin (or phin filter) is a Vietnamese coffee filter that is typically made of stainless steel and consists of a small cup with tiny holes, a screw-on lid, and a filter chamber. It is used to make Vietnamese-style coffee, which is a strong and flavorful coffee that is often served with sweetened condensed milk. The phin filter is known for its simplicity and portability, which makes it a popular choice for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. It is another option for making coffee in an eco-friendly way on a boat.

6. A briki is a traditional Greek coffee maker that uses a simple design to make a strong and flavorful coffee. It is made of copper or stainless steel and consists of a small pot with a long handle and a spout. To make coffee with a briki, you simply add coffee grounds and water to the pot, and then heat it over a stove or flame. As the coffee boils, it creates a thick and creamy foam that is unique to Greek coffee. While a briki is not specifically designed for boating, it could be a good option for boaters who want to make coffee in a traditional way.

Conclusion

Using eco-friendly coffee makers on a boat is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a cleaner environment. By choosing coffee makers made with sustainable materials and designed to use less energy, you help protect the oceans and marine life that make boating so enjoyable. We hope this blog post has given you some ideas for eco-friendly coffee makers to try on your next boating trip. Happy sailing!