Harry’s Marine Repair, Westbrook, CT

In July 2003, the Connecticut DEP awarded Harry’s Marine Repair of Westbrook, CT, the designation of Connecticut Clean Marina, the first full-service boatyard in Connecticut to be honored with this certification.  To achieve this distinction, this boatyard on the Patchogue River, had to embrace a variety of environmentally friendly practices outlined by the state DEP.  Harry’s Marine didn’t stop there, however, because being a clean marina is a way of life.  In the fall of 2007, Harry Ruppenicker, took another bold step in response to the challenges presented by using copper-based antifouling paints.  Copper-based paints are extremely effective as antifouling agents but the copper and associated heavy metals that leach out of the paint are toxic to the environment.  An increasing number of jurisdictions, Connecticut included, are putting the use of copper-based paints under a microscope, requiring wash water to be collected and treated, lift well and channel sediment tested for heavy metals, water containment systems to be implemented, etc.  The cost of complying with these requirements is expensive and the environmental damage of copper paints is of concern.  Harry decided that the best way to combat the “copper problem” was to get rid of it.  He informed his customers that the following year, 2008, Harry’s Marine was “going green,” so they had to “go green or get out.”  Harry’s solution to copper paints was requiring all the boats in his 76 slip facility to make the switch to ePaint’s line of copper-free, environmentally preferred products.  According to Harry “when I implemented the copper-ban there was some initial grumbling amongst boat owners; but now that they have seen how well the ePaints work after a full season, they are all on board and happy to be contributing to make Westbrook waters cleaner.  The ePaint works as well and it doesn’t cost any more than the copper stuff” Harry’s Marine is proud to be copper-free and an eco-friendly model to other boatyards in the area. After a very successful first year with ePaint bottoms, Harry is looking forward to another successful season in 2009.