The Plastiki is a plastic boat that has set sail to raise awareness of the all the pollution from plastics that’s sitting in our oceans and it looks like they are off on an exciting trip!
The purpose, said expedition leader David de Rothschild, is to draw attention to the health of the oceans and to demonstrate the value of recycled plastic bottles. De Rothschild and his crew of five hope to sail to Australia, a voyage of about 11,000 nautical miles.
The Plastiki, named in honor of Norwegian explorer Thor Hyderdahl’s raft Kon Tiki, is a boat like no other in the world. Besides the hull of recycled plastic water and soda bottles, the vessel is made of a hardened plastic called PET.
The boat is a twin-hulled catamaran rigged as a ketch. It will rely on the wind for propulsion and has only a small auxiliary engine. No such boat has ever made an ocean passage before.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/20/BAIO1CILMT.DTL
You can take the Plastiki Pledge.
Cleaning your boat requires removing residue from the body, organizing the interior, and maintenance of the motor. Washing the hull must be done weekly to prevent dirt and salt buildup. Avoid using abrasive chemicals and equipment that may scrape or ruin the boat’s finish. When cleaning the vinyl interior of your boat, avoid using strong cleansers that can instantly or slowly cause damage. If necessary, use a cleaner that is specially made for boat interiors for removing stains, mildew, grease, and other tough stains.