Do you plan on buying a yacht anytime soon? If so, have you ever thought about sustainability? Owning a large, luxury vessel or any vehicle that uses non-renewable resources will certainly impact the environment in some way. However, as a yacht owner, you can reduce the overall impact by taking certain steps towards a more sustainable luxury lifestyle.

In this article, we will outline seven ways yacht owners can join in environmental efforts. The aim of sustainable yachting is to limit the yacht’s carbon footprint and to minimize its emissions to reduce pollution and water contamination.

Here are some effective ways to introduce sustainability to your world of yacht ownership.

Are Yachts Bad For the Environment?

The truth is, just like any other vehicle that utilises non-renewable fuel, yachts have a large carbon footprint however, yacht owners can reduce their carbon footprint by making certain changes. For example, choosing fractional boat ownership instead of sole ownership is an effective way of reducing your carbon footprint as a yacht owner.

With fractional yacht ownership, one yacht is shared between various yacht owners. Therefore, instead of one person owning a boat, several yacht owners utilise one boat.

Buying a boat through a yacht share network will reduce the amount of fuel used and reduce the overall impact on the environment.

Here are some of the steps yacht owners can take to make yacht ownership more sustainable.

Reduce Energy Consumption

As a yacht owner, you can reduce your carbon footprint by reducing your energy consumption. Turn electrical appliances off when you are not using them and pay attention to the amount of energy you consume each day.

Monitor your energy consumption by purchasing an energy consumption monitoring device. Most energy companies sell them. If you purchased your boat through a yacht share network, you can ask the fractional boat ownership company to provide you with information on how you can reduce your energy consumption as a yacht owner.

2. Boat Sharing

Instead of buying a boat outright as a sole owner, buy one through a yacht share network instead. What is yacht sharing? It’s quite simple, you can either participate in a yacht sharing group by gathering a group of friends who want to purchase a yacht and sharing the cost. Or, you can buy one through a fractional boat ownership company.

The latter is the safer, less stressful way of sharing a yacht. Typically, eight boat owners share the overall cost of the boat plus they split the cost of maintenance. Boat sharing is a more sustainable way of owning a boat, it’s hassle-free and you will also reduce your overall carbon footprint if you share a boat instead of owning one outright.

3. Hybrid Engines

Yacht manufacturers are paying attention to environmental issues and are steering towards a more sustainable future. Hybrid engines are more sustainable because they utilise both renewable and non-renewable sources.

4. Sail With Friends

Instead of sailing alone, sail with friends. Have joint celebrations instead of hiring two separate yachts or venues, combine celebrations to reduce the impact on the environment.

5. Decorate Your Boat with Used Goods

Global manufacturing of household goods is a massive cause for concern. Furniture manufacturing and general household fixtures harm the environment by producing harmful chemical emissions. Buying secondhand goods will reduce your carbon footprint because the goods you purchase will contribute to the overall reduction of goods manufacturing.

6. Turn Your Water Heater Down

Turning your water heater down is a simple yet surprising way to reduce your carbon footprint. Reduce it to about 48 to 49 Celsius. Reducing your water heater temperature will significantly reduce carbon emissions.

7. Regular Check-ups

Regular maintenance checks will help you identify problems that could contribute to excess fuel consumption. If you bought your boat through a fractional boat ownership company, ask them how often you would need to service the boat.

In fact, buying a boat through a yacht share network is the best and most sustainable way of owning a boat. Why? The fractional yacht ownership company will typically handle all maintenance issues. Also, sharing a boat will reduce fuel consumption and in the long run, it will drastically cut the amount of boats manufactured per year.

What is the Carbon Footprint of a Superyacht?

To give you an idea of the impact of superyachts and other sea vessels.

A superyacht with a captain, crew and a helicopter pad for example emits approximately 7020 tonnes of carbon per year. Admittedly, that is a huge amount however, you can reduce this by opting for a fractional boat ownership yacht instead.

Buying a yacht share network boat won’t eliminate the negative impact that boats have on the environment however, it will reduce the amount of boats purchased and manufactured per year.

Final Thoughts

Yacht ownership and sustainability is a major issue that cannot be ignored. As a yacht owner, you can significantly decrease your carbon footprint by following the advice outlined here.

Shared yacht ownership is one of the best ways of reducing your carbon footprint as a yacht owner. Instead of eight people purchasing one yacht each, eight people share one yacht. This means reduced fuel consumption and an overall carbon footprint reduction.

Aside from fractional boat ownership, you can also consider a hybrid engine, turn appliances off when you are not using them, share your boat with friends and purchase secondhand goods for your boat instead of buying brand new items.

These are just some of the steps you can take to contribute to sustainable yacht ownership.

Luxurious Yet Sustainable Lifestyle: 7 Ways Yacht Owners can Join in Environmental Efforts