Washing Your Boat – An alternative approach

  By Tim Langer – Lake Sediment/Nutrient Control Subcommittee Chairman

It is that time of year when we are all trying to get our boats cleaned and ready for winter. It seems like a rite of passage for winter to arrive, but a time to get our boats ready for storage. Did you know, soaps and detergents might add nutrients that promote algae blooms? They also destroy the external mucus layers that protect the fish from bacteria and parasites; plus they can cause severe damage to the gills. So, before you grab your old standby cleaner please consider the following;

• Rinse your boat frequently with fresh water to reduce the need for soaps and cleansers, help stop marine growth, and extend the life of the protective coating. Spot clean if needed.
• Use environmentally friendly cleaning products such as baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and borax when necessary. Use all cleaning products sparingly to minimize the amount discharged into the water.
• Use good old-fashion elbow grease.
• Use phosphate-free, biodegradable cleaners such as “Simple Green”. If you use detergents, use them sparingly.
• Avoid cleaning your boat dockside or in your driveway if you have a grate drain which goes to the lake. Wash your boat in an area that allows for infiltration of wash water, such as gravel or grass without a drain directly to the lake.
• Look for the words “phosphate-free and “biodegradable” on the cleaning products used.
• Never dispose of cleaning products by dumping near the lake.

With each of us taking a moment to consider our cleaning methods and products used, we each can BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE.

For more information or to print out a purchasing guide that contains what to look for on labels, toxic ingredients to avoid and how to clean with less please see the following link,

http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Environmental/CleanGreen/LessToxic.aspx