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The Environmental Leadership Dinner
Audubon Achievements: Clean
Boating Tips
Helping to keep the Sound a clean place
to boat and fish is simple. Here are just a few tips so you
can join the growing number of boaters and marina operators
making Sound choices to improve their boating environment.
- Winterize and Commission Your Vessel
Wisely ~
• Use a dust-less or vacuum sander, or a drop cloth
to collect all paint chips, dust and residue.
• Bring used maintenance products and chemicals to
local hazardous waste collection sites.
• Use less-toxic propylene glycol antifreeze (usually
pink).
- Clean Responsibly ~
• Wash your boat frequently with a sponge and plain
water or use phosphate-free, biodegradable cleaners.
• Avoid cleaners with bleach, ammonia, lye or petroleum
distillates.
• Wax boat to prevent dirt from becoming ingrained.
- Fuel Cautiously ~
• Prevent spills by filling fuel tanks slowly and
carefully.
• Never "top off" or overfill your fuel
tank. Leave 10% of tank empty for fuel to expand as it warms
up.
• Use absorbent material to catch drips from the fuel
intake and the vent overflow.
• It is illegal to use soap to disperse fuel or spills.
• Report spills promptly to CT DEP’s Spill Response
at (860) 424-3338 and USCG at (800) 424-8802.
- Maintain Your Engine & Bilge
~
• Slip a plastic bag over used oil filters to prevent
drips when doing oil changes.
• Keep your engine well tuned to prevent fuel and
oil leaks.
• Check fuel lines for damage. Replace with alcohol
resistant hoses.
• Never discharge bilge water with an oily sheen (it’s
illegal).
• Place absorbent material in the bilge and under
the engine. Check them often.
- Properly Dispose of Absorbent Materials
~
• If pad is saturated with gas, air dry and reuse.
• If pad is saturated with diesel or oil, boaters
may double-bag pads and discard in the trash.
- Contain Trash ~
• Secure trash on board.
• Pack food in reusable containers.
• Don’t toss cigarette butts overboard; filters
are plastic and deadly to birds and fish.
- Recycle ~
• Recycle cans, glass, plastic, newspaper, antifreeze,
oil filter and oil. Recycle spent lead acid batteries where
you buy them and bring used monofilament fishing line to
tackle shops for recycling.
- Handle Sewage Appropriately
~
• Use marina restroom facilities when at the dock.
• Use and maintain a U.S. Coast Guard approved Marine
Sanitation Device (MSD).
• Use a holding tank (Type III MSD) in No Discharge
Areas. These areas prohibit the use of Type I and II MSDs.
• Rinse holding tanks regularly with fresh water to
reduce odors.
• Avoid using additives like formaldehyde in your
holding tank. Use safer enzyme-based products.
• Use pumpout stations and DEP funded pumpout
boats.
- Dispose of Fish Waste Properly
~
• Freeze fish waste and reuse as chum or bait.
• Do not throw fish waste into marina waters.
• Discard waste offshore or in the trash.
- Protect Sensitive Habitat ~
• Proceed slowly in shallow areas; avoid contact with
underwater vegetation.
• Do not disturb wildlife.
• Watch your wake. It can cause erosion.
- Leave Nuisance Species Behind
~
• Remove weeds and plants from your trailer and boat
before leaving boat launch.
• Drain bilge and bait wells when hauling your boat
to prevent spread of invasive species.
• Share live bait or dispose of properly – don’t
release in the water.
• Wash boat before leaving boat launch to remove any
“hangers-on” to prevent spread of invasive species.
- Be a Clean Boater ~
• Learn about environmentally safe products and practices.
Share the information with other boaters.
• Obey laws governing littering, sewage, discharge,
and no wake zones.
• Encourage your marina to provide recycling bins
and pumpout stations.
• Support CT Clean Marinas.
• Take a Clean Boater Pledge.
• For more information please contact the Boating Division of the CT DEP at (860) 434-8638.
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