After months in the elements, the urge to clean our boats in spring in strong. However, we cannot attack the grime with such force that we propel pollutants into our waterways. While the majority of boaters are more now eco-aware, most of us can be cleaner and greener with a few tweaks to our products and routines.
Shrink wrap
Don’t rip off and discard shrink wrap; it’s a petroleum-based material that gives off harmful greenhouse gas in a landfill. Instead, ask your marina or boatyard if it does on-site bulk shrink wrap recycling. If not, check with the sanitation or environmental department of your town or village. Always remove accessories such as strapping, buckles, vents, snaps, and zippers before recycling.
Effective Cleaning
Ask boaters you know to recommend effective cleaning products; tossing out ineffective products both wastes your time and money and adds to landfills.
When it comes to formulations and/or delivery methods, choose those you can apply directly to sections instead of spraying in a wide area.
Don’t put cleansers into your cart because they proclaim they are green, eco-friendly, or all-natural, as there are no standards for these words. Steer clear of items with ammonia, lye, phosphates, bleach, petroleum distillates, methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, and trichloroethylene. Reject any product that comes with a skull and crossbones symbol or an application caution. If you need a warning to apply it, what happens to the marine life forced to live in it?
Sometimes a gentle cleaner isn’t always the best solution. For example, when it comes to mold, soap won’t eliminate it. Turn to a pro or knowledgeable retailer for a proven product and then apply sparingly.
Packaging materials
Also look at packaging materials — opt for products packaged in recyclable or compostable containers. If those choices don’t exist, seek simple wrappers, not extraneous plastic packaging.
Scrub don’t spray
It’s tempting to blast away grime by dousing the boat in cleanser and directing a hose towards it at full blast. Don’t! The runoff of cleaners, dirt, and debris, along with anything else on the ground, soaks in, spills into sewers, and flows into nearby waters. Lay a waterproof or absorbent ground covering under your boat (be mindful of how you dispose of this if it’s not reusable) and utilize elbow grease to remove grunge one section at a time.
Address that bottom
If your boat was in the water all winter, a short haul is in order for responsible bottom cleaning and repainting. Don’t chip off or sandblast the old paint and hose it away as that contributes to contamination. To comply with green practices and anti-pollution laws, many marinas and boatyards prohibit DIY’ers from scraping off and reapplying paint on premises. Employees or tradespersons who are licensed pesticide applicators must be utilized to scrape off the old and apply the new bottom paint.
Choose a marine-life friendly, copper-free brand of bottom paint.
Not everything is trash
Substances and materials including batteries, oil, oil filters, and antifreeze need special handling and careful disposal. Place items back into their original packaging and keep apart to prevent cross-contamination. Ask your marina manager, municipality, or a local service station about proper collection and recycling practices.
Don’t toss outdated flares — they can still go off and harm sanitation workers or bystanders. Check with the police or fire department for disposal, or contact the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons® (America’s Boating Club®) to see if they want the expired flares for training.
