Avast ye, mateys! The 21st annual San Diego Boat Show sails into town today, Jan. 8, through Jan. 11 at the San Diego Convention Center. Show manager Jeff Hancock declared that the event is for everybody and anybody – “people who own boats, people who want to own boats and people who just want to look at boats.” And this year, like no other, it’s also for the eco-minded. Hancock added that the show, largest of its kind on the West Coast, features hundreds of vendors and local dealers, showcasing the latest in boats, gear and accessories – at the best deals – from kayaks to mega-yachts and everything that goes with them. “Think of the show like a supermarket,” said Hancock. “If you went to all these dealers individually, it would take a month of Sundays to see everything [offered in the show]. It would be impossible.” The show takes place at the convention center and behind it at the Marriott Marina, featuring outdoor events, including free sailboat rides and the Big Bay Kids Area (sponsored by the Port of San Diego). This area features interactive boating safety puppet shows, boat painting and a chance to meet Skipper, the show’s dolphin mascot. Among the new features is the sure-to-be-popular Wakeboard Stunt Show, from Florida. “It’s a spectacular show of professional wakeboarders and wakeskaters doing tricks on an impressive indoor set–up featuring a pool, rails and ramps,” Hancock said. He added that “they perform jumps, flips, nose-presses. And there’s something called the Kicker, a jump that launches riders 20 feet and propelling them up to 40 feet across the pool.” The Green Boating Zone, another first for the show, promises to help water enthusiasts discover eco-friendly boating. Featured are the latest eco-friendly boats and engines to hit the market; West Marine’s “Go Green” display, outlining the best eco-friendly practices; and the Green Accessory Center, previewing the newest green boating accessories. Former mega-yacht captain Russ Grandinetti – in his new role as Knight & Carver Yacht Center’s “eco-detective” – will hold a seminar entitled “Trends Toward Greener Boating.” The seminar will address what’s new in green marine products and highlight the most effective and useful procedures that make the boating experience more environmentally friendly. Knight & Carver, based in National City, invited Grandinetti to shift careers and help form a new division of the company called Eco Solutions – the first green division in the shipyard industry. “I used to bring yachts in there all the time,” Grandinetti said. “When they asked me to come work for them, they asked what I would like to do – what I was passionate about. “I went to school for marine science and oceanography, but I kind of got away from the research part, and I said that I’d be interested in bringing awareness to people about the environment.” As a captain, Grandinetti was all too familiar with the toxic materials and practices used by boaters. His own concern prompted him to test products and integrate the things that work, slowly changing out toxic products and systems. “Often when you take the toxic ingredients out of products to make them green, a lot of times they don’t work as well,” Grandinetti explained. “So I test them to see how well they work, and if they do, I put them on my recommendation list.” Grandinetti also offers his findings and advice in a regular column for the blueskynews.com, an online newsletter geared toward boating enthusiasts at San Diego County marinas. Admittedly, making major changes to a boat can be quite costly. However, Grandinetti explained that every little bit helps. “Take a look at systems on a yacht: wastewater management, bottom paint, cleaning products, how you dispose of things, exhaust emissions,” he listed. “You switch those out – and there’s plenty of technology to replace these things – then you’re working in that environment as best you can. It’s a practical approach.” The best and perhaps easiest issue to deal with in a more environmentally friendly manner is wastewater. “This is the most important thing, because that can be the most toxic,” Grandinetti emphasized. “If everyone pumped out at the dock, it would not be an issue.” He added that the law currently requires boaters to go out three miles to dump into the ocean; in 2010 that distance will increase to 12 miles out. Grandinetti’s concern is that people will have to go further and use more fuel … if they bother to follow the law at all. “To take care of the smells on board, chemicals are used that contain formaldehyde, so you’re not only dumping raw sewage into the ocean, you’re dumping the chemicals. “If people get tuned in to using different, more eco-friendly chemicals and different systems – or, better yet, pump out at the dock — that’s really a great way to start,” he stated. “Another important issue is bottom paint. Copper-free paint is becoming more affordable.” Grandinetti will be available throughout the show at the Green Zone display as well as at the Knight & Carver booth. For more information, check out the boat show website, or Eco Solutions, www.knightandcarver.com/ecosolutions. Also premiering at this year’s San Diego show is the new Affordability Pavilion, highlight pricing options and showcasing boats that can be financed for $250 or less. The Discover Boating Center & Information Seminars resource center features seminars for the experienced boater or the new enthusiast looking to learn more about the sport and lifestyle. Topics include cruising (both local and Mexican waters), sail handling, fishing and navigation. The show takes place at the San Diego Convention Center and Marriott Marina, 111 West Harbor Drive, today through Sunday. It’s open Thursday and Friday from noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Each night, the marina portion of the show closes at 6 p.m. Adults (16 and above) are admitted for $10; youth (13-15) for $5; and children (12 and under) for free. Tickets can be purchased online at SanDiegoBoatShow.com. For more information, visit the website or call (858) 274-9924.