- Nov 26, 2006
- 7,628
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- 2008 44 Sedan Bridge
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- Cummins QSC-500's
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I still think our goal is to run the rest of the world out of oil - it's social security for our kids.
For those of you with a dog in the Ethanol fight..
- Thread starter gerryb
- Start date
Well. . .. "Formerly boatless" is right on all counts. We MUST be bored (and its only Dec 3rd!) and this might belong in the holding tank.
But yes; there was a long period of time when the Earth was a frozen Ice Planet. There have been eon's of tropical paradise since then. Mars also had flowing water (as proven by the Mars Rovers -> both landed on/near ancient lakes).
I really think that Humanity doesn't know as much as we claim about climate forces.
But one thing I do know: The US strong dependence on fossil fuels is not a good thing from a geopolitical standpoint. The concept of really rich arabs is not really appealing to anyone on this board I suspect.
Alas, coal burning power plants and lots of gasoline engines really isn't good for the Earth (never mind global warming. . .internal combustion engines really are dirty. . .and will become more so as we burn lower and lower quality oils and coals).
BTW: 50% of US electrical production is from coal.
The green alternatives out there don't seem to scale up very well; For example: A good MODERN dutch windmill produces about 2-5MW of power. A power plant produces about 2-5000MW. I don't see us putting in 100,000 windmills across the US. Or a million.
In the long run, I think you will see a return of nuclear power. I would also expect more hybrid cars, and eventually "roofing material" and "solar panels" will become merged; just like our cell phones and MP3 players are merging.
But yes; there was a long period of time when the Earth was a frozen Ice Planet. There have been eon's of tropical paradise since then. Mars also had flowing water (as proven by the Mars Rovers -> both landed on/near ancient lakes).
I really think that Humanity doesn't know as much as we claim about climate forces.
But one thing I do know: The US strong dependence on fossil fuels is not a good thing from a geopolitical standpoint. The concept of really rich arabs is not really appealing to anyone on this board I suspect.
Alas, coal burning power plants and lots of gasoline engines really isn't good for the Earth (never mind global warming. . .internal combustion engines really are dirty. . .and will become more so as we burn lower and lower quality oils and coals).
BTW: 50% of US electrical production is from coal.
The green alternatives out there don't seem to scale up very well; For example: A good MODERN dutch windmill produces about 2-5MW of power. A power plant produces about 2-5000MW. I don't see us putting in 100,000 windmills across the US. Or a million.
In the long run, I think you will see a return of nuclear power. I would also expect more hybrid cars, and eventually "roofing material" and "solar panels" will become merged; just like our cell phones and MP3 players are merging.
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
green power. That's the new joke of the century. Throw a few thousand rusting windmills in the ocean and see how that improves the Eco system. They are also finding that the strobe effect of them in peoples backyards isn't going well with epileptics, not to mention flying ice from the spinning blades.
- Nov 26, 2006
- 7,628
- Boat Info
- 2008 44 Sedan Bridge
- Engines
- Cummins QSC-500's
Straight Drives
My buddy owns a company that produces coatings (like paint) that reflect the suns energy and lower the temperature of the surface of the coated structure by 30 or 40 degrees. He has a 420 Da.
Guys,
Sorry I was away today, I am not going to make a long speech as this is boating related but we really don't need to argue politics on the board. I am going to go ahead and move this to the holding tank. Continue if you will but realize that you can argue your beliefs all you want but you more than likely are not going to change the person that you are argueing with views. We all may disagree on politics but we all agree on Sea Rays (well most of us anyway). There are several political boards to argue polictics if that is what you like to do, lets keep this board to our love for boating. Thanks for your help in this matter.
Sorry I was away today, I am not going to make a long speech as this is boating related but we really don't need to argue politics on the board. I am going to go ahead and move this to the holding tank. Continue if you will but realize that you can argue your beliefs all you want but you more than likely are not going to change the person that you are argueing with views. We all may disagree on politics but we all agree on Sea Rays (well most of us anyway). There are several political boards to argue polictics if that is what you like to do, lets keep this board to our love for boating. Thanks for your help in this matter.
I agree but I thought as the winter months approach it would not hurt to throw that reminder out there....keep up the great job each of you do to make this one of the best boating boards on the net!!! :thumbsup:
There is also a great site to discuss this stuff that Matt (a.k.a. Pirate) alerted me to:
http://www.happyhippie.com/
I think he used them to figure out how to properly put a clothes line on his boat.
http://www.happyhippie.com/
I think he used them to figure out how to properly put a clothes line on his boat.
- Nov 26, 2006
- 7,628
- Boat Info
- 2008 44 Sedan Bridge
- Engines
- Cummins QSC-500's
Straight Drives
I feel that I was the worst contributor here. Wasn't even thinking about messing up the forum - apologies. But don't even get me started on that hil..... (kidding)
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
I'm not debating... just pointing out that if your an epileptic, don't put a windmill in your backyard. first you'll go into a seizure and then while your down, you'll be pelted with flying ice. Just looking out for my fellow boaters.
Pirate
New Member
Now that I have somehow drawn Gary's attention, I feel, like Steve Martin in the Jerk, that I am SOMEBODY. On that note, Gary, how is the receptionist position at your kids' school coming along?
Comsnark- I have always appreciated the 'carbon footprint' section of your signature. May I suggest diesels? You can burn A LOT more fuel with a bigger boat. As for global warming, there are people much more knowledgeable than I am to debate that, but I think we are all hopelessly removed from the facts because of the political media. Unfortunately, my favorite passion, boating, contributes heavily to the burning of fossil fuels. (My eco-queer brother will almost cry when I speak about the fuel burn on Pirate.) In the interim, I try to have late model, efficient, and cleanest burning diesels available...... and go like hell. :grin:
Comsnark- I have always appreciated the 'carbon footprint' section of your signature. May I suggest diesels? You can burn A LOT more fuel with a bigger boat. As for global warming, there are people much more knowledgeable than I am to debate that, but I think we are all hopelessly removed from the facts because of the political media. Unfortunately, my favorite passion, boating, contributes heavily to the burning of fossil fuels. (My eco-queer brother will almost cry when I speak about the fuel burn on Pirate.) In the interim, I try to have late model, efficient, and cleanest burning diesels available...... and go like hell. :grin:
Yeah. . . I have a friend who quips "If it has a gasoline engine, I WANT IT!". He is not a boater. He flies stuntplanes. Burn rate is about 30 gph.
For me. . I have the biggest boat I can afford. If I get a BIGGER boat, then I will need a bigger dock. Which will mean a bigger house. Which I *really* can't afford.
But I supplement my twin 5.7L's with a pair of jetskis (both are two stroke). And two cars -> both V8's. Two lawnmowers (don't ask). Gas powered pressure washer, Gas Chainsaw. I do have a sailboat, but I have an oversized two stroke engine on it.
For me. . I have the biggest boat I can afford. If I get a BIGGER boat, then I will need a bigger dock. Which will mean a bigger house. Which I *really* can't afford.
But I supplement my twin 5.7L's with a pair of jetskis (both are two stroke). And two cars -> both V8's. Two lawnmowers (don't ask). Gas powered pressure washer, Gas Chainsaw. I do have a sailboat, but I have an oversized two stroke engine on it.