A portion of this information was distilled from “Sound Information - A Boaters Guide © Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. For more information please call 206-297-7002 or email psa@pugetsoundkeeper.org

Many of us also have boats we use for work or pleasure, and in the process have developed an intimate relationship with the marine environment. With the use of our boats comes a great responsibility for caring for the waters and the marine life that surrounds us. 

Of course, recreational boaters are only one of many sources of pollution, but multiplied by the many boats moored or traveling through our waters, the combined effects of our individual actions have a direct impact on the health of the ecosystem. That impact does not have to be negative, however, if we follow some sound boating practices.

In this article we’ll present some ways every boater can care for the environment.

Keeping It Clean: Common Sense Practices

1. All trash should be disposed of properly on shore. Remember, plastic kills.
   

2. Sewage must always be kept in a porta-potty or a holding tank until it can be properly pumped out or disposed of in a sanitary sewer at the dock. Coast Guard approved marine Sanitation Devices (MSD Type I and II) should only be used when underway - not at anchor or in a marina.
   

3. When winterizing your boat, fill the fuel tank to avoid condensation and use an additive to keep the fuel useable until spring.
   

4. Recycle used antifreeze. Keep it separate from oils, etc. until it can be recycled on shore.
   

Practices to Prevent Contamination

Reduce Nutrients

1. Boaters can help reduce nutrients (that cause algae blooms damaging other species) by limiting the release of greywater, and not disposing of food scraps into the water.
   

Reduce Oils

1. Oils in the water are toxic. Waste oil is even more toxic, and any spilled oil is persistent in the environment. Prevent any drips from entering the water while fueling. If oil is spilled into the bilge or into the water use bilge pillows and/or absorbent pads to get it out.  Dispersants and soaps must never be used to hide an oil sheen.  This emulsifies the oil by breaking it into smaller droplets that are harder to see. These smaller droplets are actually more damaging to sensitive marine life and using a dispersant or soap to hide an oil sheen is also illegal. Report ALL oil or fuel spills immediately to 1 (800) OILS 911 and 1 (800) 424-8802.
   

2. Two stroke engines discharge as much as 30% of the fuel and unburned oil into the water. Replace older two stroke engines with newer EPA approved models or four cycle engines.  Older two stroke engines discharge as much as 30% of the fuel and unburned oil into the water. they also create more smoke, making boating less pleasant.
   

3. Keep a clean bilge. Use a drip pan with absorbent pads under the engine. If the bilgewater becomes contaminated, put absorbing pads in first to soak up the sheen, and don’t use detergents or bilge cleaners, which act as dispersants.
   

1. A quick fresh water rinse when you return to the dock is a great way to reduce major cleaning needs later. Avoid or minimize the use of soap, which is toxic to fish.
   

2. Read the label: look for the words “phosphate free” and “non-toxic” on the label. Biodegradeable sounds good but doesn’t necessarily mean the product is non-toxic.
   

3. Baking soda and vinegar are each great all purpose cleaners and less toxic than most commercial products.
   

Don’t Let it Slip off the Slip!

No paint or varnish is environmentally safe so its critical to use good practices to avoid contamination while using these products. For hull repairs or larger projects, take the boat to a permitted boatyard haul-out facility and do the work on land.

Some rules of thumb for slip-side work:

1. First of all, limit your slip-side work to no more than 25% of the deck and superstructures
   

2. Be prepared in case of a spill. Have clean rags and absorbent pads ready.
   

3. Contain all debris by tarping off the work area or suspending a tarp between the dock and your hull if necessary.
   

4. Don’t mix paints and varnishes on the dock – or at least have a tarp under the mixing process that can catch any spills.
   

5. Limit what you have open at any time to under a gallon and place those open cans in a secondary containment device such as a rubberized tote.
   

6. Don’t work on the water side of the boat – turn it around and reinstall the dockside tarp.
   

7. Clean up quickly when you’re done, or daily at a minimum, to avoid spreading any debris from sanding or painting/varnishing. Postpone sanding projects if there are high winds. 
   

Paint Can Kill

1. Most anti-fouling bottom paint types often depend on heavy metals and/or biocides to kill organisms and a certain amount of paint wear. But the paint that wears off still contains the biocide and can keep killing marine life.
   

2. Try alternative biocide-free non-fouling paints. These paints work by making surface the hull slick to prevent growth. Your boat will probably run better with less friction and the marine life will be safer. Check with an expert to see if this could be right for your boat.
   

For more information contact Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, 206-297-7002 www.pugetsoundkeeper.org

For a list of certified Clean Marinas see www.cleanmarinawashington.org

Boaters - Love The Water!