Page 10 - TRLCC Boat Smart 2021 Digital Version

CLEAN WATER

Green Boating: 5 Best Practices for Boaters

1. Prevent oily discharges.
No matter what type of power system your boat has, for oil changes:
Use an oil change pump to transfer oil to a spill-proof container;
Then take the used engine oil to a recycling facility;
When you remove the oil filter, wrap a plastic bag or absorbent pad around it
to prevent oil from spilling.

2. Keep your engine well-tuned, maintained, and inspected.
A well-tuned and maintained engine will maximize fuel efficiency. Not only
does this help reduce your carbon footprint, it also saves you money since
you’ll go farther and faster on every gallon of gas. Also be sure to visually
inspect parts of the boat’s propulsion system, like fuel tanks and supply lines,
that have the potential to leak as they age.

3. When fueling, stop the drops!
Prevent fuel spills by filling fuel tanks slowly and using absorbent rags to
catch drips and spills. Don’t "top off" or overflow your fuel tank. Leave the
tank 10 percent empty to allow fuel to expand as it warms. If you do spill fuel
(or oil), never use soap to disperse it. It increases harm to the environment. In
the case of fuel spills, notify the marina management for immediate assis-
tance. They should have the equipment on hand and a procedure in place to
act quickly to address the problem.

4. Dispose of trash and hazardous waste properly.
Keep trash contained on board and dispose of it properly. Do not throw your
trash overboard. If it’s organic like banana peels or fish guts, you may be able
to toss it if you’re far enough offshore, but in harbor or anchorage, nobody
wants to swim in your lunch. Plastic never goes overboard under any circum-
stances. Just as important is where hazardous waste ends up. Batteries,
antifreeze, cleaning products, oil, oil filters, old fuel, etc., need to go to the
proper local facilities, not the trashcan in the marina parking lot.

5. Clean, Drain, Dry: Stop the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
Hitch-hiking invasive species can jump from one body of water to another via
your boat. The best way you can help prevent this is to "Clean, Drain, Dry":
• Inspect your boat for plants and remove them immediately.
• Wash the boat down thoroughly between trips.
• Dry for several days before launching the boat in a different body of water.
• Also, be sure to drain the bilge, livewell, raw water wash-down system, and
anything else that may hold water.

10 Boat Smart Table Rock Lake