Few Marinas Earn State's "Clean" Designation
The Hartford Courant (CT)-- Harry Ruppenicker, a longtime marina owner in Westbrook, began this year's boating season with an ultimatum for his customers: Go green or get out. His edicts went beyond recycling paint cans and used oil. Ruppenicker required boaters in the 76-slip marina to use a copper-free, eco-friendly paint on the hull of their vessels. The effort, he said, would help protect aquatic life and fight pollution, and possibly lower the cost of cleaning contaminated sediment. It was a business gamble, said Ruppenicker, who has run Harry's Marine Repair for 43 years. One customer ended up leaving the marina. But the majority of boaters responded the way Ronald Klattenberg did -- he willingly bought a can of nontoxic Epaint, and coated the bottom of his 27-foot Albin trawler. "The few people that were reluctant, eventually converted," Klattenberg said. "I thought Harry should be commended for making such a bold move."
Harry's Marine Repair is one of the few marinas in the state that flies the "Clean Marina" flag. It was the state's first full-service marina to earn the designation from the state Department of Environmental Protection five years ago. Read More
