Nature provides a playground for many types of recreational activities. Some outdoor activities have little impact on natural surroundings ?? such as cross-country skiing, hiking, biking, birdwatching, catch and release fishing, and canoeing. These activities are primarily self-propelled and non-consumptive. Although you may need to travel in order to take part in these activities, they themselves do not require fossil fuel inputs, nor do they directly release greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Motorized activities, on the other hand, can have a number of negative impacts on water, land and air. Motorized recreational vehicles include snowmobiles, sea-doos, powerboats, and off-road vehicles (also called ATVs or trikes).

Two-Stroke Pollution

The engines that most commonly power outboard motors, snowmobiles, lawnmowers and chainsaws are called "two-stroke" engines. Although two-stroke engines are relatively light and powerful they are very noisy and extremely polluting. Anywhere from 30 to 50% of the fuel that passes through the combustion chamber of a two-stroke engine remains unburned. And in the case of outboard motors, this unburned fuel (and oil) is exhausted directly into the water. Considering that there are about three million watercraft in Canada and that one litre of oil can contaminate up to two million litres of water, this is serious pollution! Old two-stroke engines are also known to exhaust nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and a mix of cancer-causing aromatic hydrocarbons.

Did you know?

• The type of two-stroke engine found in many snowmobiles and some ATVs emits as much smog-producing chemicals in seven hours of operation as are emitted by driving a 1998 car for 100,000 miles (160,000 km).11
• About 65,000 off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles are registered in Alberta.12
• A 70-horsepower two-stroke outboard motor emits the same mass of hydrocarbon pollution in one hour as a new car does driving 8000 kilometres.13
• In Canada, emissions from non-road sources, like power boats, lawn and garden equipment, and construction vehicles make up approximately 20% of all smog produced by mobile sources. 14

Four-Stroke Solutions

Fortunately, new, more efficient engine technology – the four-stroke engine – is now on the market. Four-stroke engines burn 40-80% less fuel, consume up to 50% less lubricating oil and reduce hydrocarbon emissions by up to 90%, compared with two-stroke engines. Four-stroke engines cost up to 20% more than conventional two-strokes, but Canadians seem to be favouring their quieter, cleaner and more efficient qualities. In 1999, clean engines accounted for 21% of new sales in Canada and by 2002, sales of four-strokes had climbed to 56% of the outboard engine market. 15

Clean Technology

In August 2002, Environment Canada added a $7.2-million Vehicle Handling Facility to the Environmental Technology Centre in Ottawa. The facility will be used to test new vehicles as well as small two and four-stroke engines, motorboats, lawnmowers, personal watercraft and all-terrain vehicles. These engines have not been subject to emissions regulations in the past so there is a lot of room for improvement.

Environment Canada, like the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is also moving to phase out two-stroke engines in favour of the cleaner four-stroke engines. In January 2002, Environment Canada signed a voluntary agreement with the Canadian Marine Manufacturers Association to sell outboard engines and personal watercraft that comply with US emissions standards.

If you are in the market for a new outboard motor, however, beware. Just because the engine has an EPA sticker, it does not mean it is a top environmental performer. Because the EPA program allows manufacturers to apply "averaging" to their product lines, the outboard motor that has an EPA sticker may actually be on the low end of efficiency. Check with your dealer on the engine's efficiency.

Rent It!

Most motorized recreational activities are seasonal. Why have your snow machine or your watercraft sit idle for much of the year when you could just rent on demand? Renting motorized toys allows you to enjoy your favourite recreational activity without having to store, move, and maintain these vehicles year-round.

---

11. Source: California Air Resource Board http://www.arb.ca.gov/html/aqe&m.htm
12. Source: Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association http://www.aohva.com/
13. Source: Environment Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca/envirozine/english/issues/32/feature3_e.cfm and Environment Canada http://www.taiga.net/yourYukon/col330.html
14. Source: Environment Canada http://www.ec.gc.ca/envirozine/english/issues/32/feature3_e.cfm
15. Source: Fact Sheet, Clean Air Foundation, Ontario; http://www.cleanairfoundation.org/marine_exchange/html/
e_me_quickfacts.asp