What Boaters Can Do To Be Environmentally Friendly
BOAT CLEANERS
Many products are available for cleaning and maintaining decks, topsides, teak, and brightwork, and their toxicities vary widely. Since much of this kind of maintenance work is done when your boat is in the water, careful use of these substances is essential to keep them from washing overboard. Some cleaners, bleaches, teak cleaners, paint thinners, etc. are toxic and should be handled in an intelligent and safe manner. Read the labels carefully and handle the products accordingly. Do not assume that a product labeled "biodegradable" is safe; some present clear danger to users. A number of maintenance product manufacturers list toll-free "800" phone line numbers on labels; call them with questions about product composition and uses.
ACTIONS
1. Use biodegradable chemical boat cleaners whenever possible.
2. If you use chemical products on your boat, minimize their use while your boat is in the water. If this cannot be avoided, plug your scuppers and wipe up any spills or residue.
3. Buy paints, vamishes, and thinners in sizes you can use within a year. That way you won't have to dispose of any stale product.
4. To learn how to dispose of boat chemicals, unused bottom paint and other household hazardous wastes, contact your local waste hauler or state environmental agency.
ENGINE MAINTENANCE
Maintaining your outboard or inboard engine can pose some special problems, due mostiy to the materials involved-cleaners, oil, transmission fluid and antifreeze, to name a few. Oil can be a particular problem since a single quart, when spilled, can cover an area of up to two acres, equivalent to nearly three football fields of water surface.
The discharge of oil causing discoloration or leaving a film or sheen on the water is prohibited by federal law, and also requires the display of an oil pollution placard on boats 26-feet and longer.
FOR INBOARDS AND OUTBOARDS
ACTIONS
1. Keep your engine well-tuned. It will use fuel more efficiently and reduce your fuel consumption. It will also discharge fewer pollutants into waterways.
2. Inspect the rubber fuel lines regularly. The alcohol content of unleaded fuels has a tendency to deteriorate older fuel line hoses, sometimes in a matter of months. Should signs of deterioration appear-dry and cracked or soft and mushy spots-replace them immediately with any hose marked "USCG type A." The Coast Guard has announoced its approval of an alcohol-resistant fuel line hose, identified as SAE J 1527, which is now commonly in use.
