Vermont Boat and Marine Association

VERMONT BOAT AND MARINE ASSOCIATI0N

PO Box 9207 South Burlington, Vermont 05407

The Vermont Boat and Marine Association was founded in 1991. It was formed as a safeguard to protect boaters' rights in the wake of the Public Trust Doctrine. The Association has evolved to become the state’s marine trade group. We count among our members; marinas, boat dealers, yacht clubs, boating associations, as well as boat repair facilities, chandleries, marine canvas shops, boat rental and charter companies, and marine surveyors, in short, everyone who makes their living in the marine trades. Our membership includes many businesses, in state and out, who act as wholesale suppliers to the marine trades.

Don’t “P” in the Lake

In the summer of 2007 the Vermont Boat and Marine Association introduced its Zero Phosphate Initiative. This program called for a voluntary ban on all phosphate boat soaps, deck cleaners, bilge cleaners, dish soaps as well as personal hygiene products used by boaters on Lake Champlain.

All the members of our group which includes marinas, boat clubs, and boat dealers have pledged to remove all phosphate soaps from our shelves and to educate boaters on “green” alternatives. Luckily there is a wide choice of phosphate free cleaning products which are just as effective as conventional soaps at the same cost. To us this is a “no brainer.” The boating public has been very responsive.

We are delighted to find the State Legislature of the same mind. In January 2008 Representatives Mitzi Johnson and Ira Trombley introduced H632 which forbids the use of phosphate products on board boats. Unfortunately with budget constraints and other pressing issues this bill did not make it to the floor this session. This is unfortunate but, never the less, kudos to the sponsors. We are 100 percent behind this legislation and have in contact with the legislators and committee members as well as lead researchers from National Resources and Water Quality.

The following is a partial list of phosphate free boat soaps. More “green” products are being introduced all the time so this list will be somewhat incomplete. Please read your labels.

Phosphate Free Boat Soaps (listed alphabetically by manufacturer)

303
Boatlife
Mary Kate - SuperSuds, Roll Away and Spray Away cleaners
Mequiars - Boat Wash and Gel Wash
Roll-Off
Sea Choice - Boat Wash
Simple Green
Starbrite - Sea Safe boat soaps and Super Green
Tuf Enuf

Phosphate Free Bilge Cleaners

Boat Life
Mary Kate - Bilge Bully
Or Pine
Sea Choice
Starbrite - Sea Safe
Tuf Enuf

We recently sponsored an economic impact study which has just been completed. Sport fishing, pleasure boating, and sailing, as well as the summer influx of cruising vessels, from out of state and Canada, adds up to over 750 million dollars generated into Vermont’s economy every year.

The function of the VBMA is to advance the marine trades in Vermont. This is being accomplished in many ways. The organization acts as a forum for the free exchange of information between members. We also send representatives to the New England Marine Trade Association meetings. We are currently closely monitoring EPA initiatives in southern N.E. to collect and recycle bottom washing runoff.

We have hired a lobbying/public relations firm to maintain a presence for us in the state legislature. Currently we are working with the Legislature on a bill to reduce phosphate use by the boating public in an effort to clean up the Lake. We are also sponsoring workshops this Spring and Summer that deal with boating safety.

If you are in the marine trades and didn’t get an application, our apologies.
You may download the Membership Application. If you have questions or comments please get in touch with us.