Be A Responsible Boater

• Learn about products and practices which are environmentally safe

• Share the information with other boaters

• Help guests understand that, on your boat, no trash is thrown overboard

• Obey laws governing speeding, littering and discharge

• Encourage boating facilities to provide trash cans, recycling bins and pumpout stations

• Support marinas that are environmentally responsible

Contain Trash

• Do no let trash get thrown or blown overboard

• If trash blows overboard, retrieve it--consider it “crew-overboard” practice

• Pack food in reusable containers

• Buy products without plastic or excessive packaging--plastic is deadly to fish and birds

• Do not toss cigarette butts overboard--they are made of plastic (cellulose acetate)

• Purchase refreshments in recyclable containers

Recycle

• Recycle cans, glass, plastic, newspaper, antifreeze, oil and lead batteries

• Call 1-800-4-RECYCLE for locations or visit http://www.mde.state.md.us/was/

• Bring used monofilament fishing line to recycling bins at your marina or tackle shop

Fuel Cautiously

• Remember, fuel expands as it warms up

• Fill your tank just before leaving on a trip

• If you fill your tank upon your return to port, fill it only 90%

• Use oil absorbent material to catch drips from the fuel intake and the vent overflow

• Fill portable fuel tanks ashore--where spills are less likely to occur and easier to clean up

• Add a fuel conditioner to your tank if you use your engine infrequently

Control Oil In The Bilge

• Keep your engine well tuned--no leaking seals, gaskets or hoses

• Place oil absorbent material or a bioremediating bilge boom in the bilge

• Place an oil absorbent pad under the engine

• Replace oil absorbent materials regularly

• Check fuel lines for damage--replace with alcohol resistant hoses

• Secure fuel hoses to prevent chafing and leaks

• Never discharge bilge water with a sheen--it is illegal

Properly Dispose of Oil Absorbent Materials

• If the pad is saturated with gas, allow it to air dry. Reuse.

• If the pad is saturated with diesel or oil, double bag it in plastic--one bag sealed inside another. Dispose in your regular trash.

• Bioremediating bilge booms should not be sealed in plastic bags--the microbes need oxygen to function. Discard in regular trash.

Clean Gently

• Wash your boat frequently with a sponge and plain water

• Use detergents sparingly

• Use phosphate-free, biodegradable and non-toxic cleaners

• Wax your boat--a good coat of wax prevents surface dirt from becoming ingrained

• Clean wood with a mild soap powder and a nylon brush--not harsh chemical cleaners

• Conserve water--put a spray nozzle on your hose

Maintain Your Vessel Wisely

• Collect all paint chips, dust and residue. Dispose in regular trash.

• Share leftover paint and varnish

• Bring used solvents and waste gas to local hazardous waste collection day

• Keep your engine clean so you can spot leaks

• Slip a plastic bag over used oil filters before they are removed to capture drips

• Use premium two-cycle engine oil

• Use alternatives to toxic bottom paints

Sewage

• Never discharge raw sewage in Maryland waters

• Use restrooms on shore

• Under way, use approved Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs)

• Discharge Type I or II MSDs only in allowed off-shore waters - avoid discharging in over oyster bars

• Establish regular maintenance schedule for your MSD based on manufacturer’s recommendations

• Pumpout and rinse hold tanks regularly (free on-the-water pumpout available)

• Use enzyme based products to control odor and reduce solids in holding tanks

• Avoid holding tank products that contain quarternary ammonium compounds (QAC) and formaldehyde

Dispose Of Fish Waste Properly

• Do not throw fish waste into marina waters

• Use fish cleaning stations where provided on docks or at marinas

• Discard waste over deep water or in the trash

• Save waste and use as chum or bait

Protect Sensitive Habitat

• Proceed slowly in shallow areas

• Do not disturb wildlife

• Avoid contact with submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)

• Watch your wake--it can lead to shoreline erosion and disturb wildlife

Funded in part by National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA670Z0302