A Greener Marina

Ah, the wild blue waterways. What a wonderful way to spend a summer day, especially when it’s 90º (or more) outside. And if you own a marine business, such as fishing or island tours, you’re no doubt quite inclined to take very good care of our waterways.

But sometimes the inevitable happens: an oil leak or fuel spill.

Because marine spills can happen even to the most responsible boat owners, it pays to be prepared. Here are five smart steps to a greener marina this summer:

  1. Stay tuned. Not to your favorite radio station or podcast, though you’re certainly welcome to bring your earbuds along for the ride. Keeping your vessel ship-shape is key. A boat engine requires the same care as a car engine; maybe more, since it’s doing duty in the water. By keeping it well tuned, you’ll prevent oily discharges from the bilge. A FiberDuck Oil-Only Bilge Boom is the ticket here. A FiberDuck Bilge/Sump Boom is a safe, economical way to reduce contamination from bilge discharge. Designed to work while floating, Bilge Booms repel water indefinitely and are safe and simple to use.
  2. Bring the right kind of socks. Who wears socks on the water? Not many people. But if you’re a boat? Yep, socks are a thing. You’ll want FiberDuck Oil Absorbent Socks on hand to quickly absorb hydrocarbons such as crude oil, diesel oil, and gasoline. These water-repellent socks are constructed of highly absorbent hydrophobic fiber and will float indefinitely. They’re also designed to contain spills around machine bases.
  3. Don’t top off. It’s a no-no at the fuel pump on land, and equally so on the water: don’t overfill your tank. Leave your boat tank about ten percent empty, because the fuel will expand as it heats up — and given the heat we’re in for this summer, expansion is going to be robust.
  4. Leave the soap in the bathroom — or on TV. You may love a long, hot shower or a sappy soap opera, but soap for spill clean up? Not a good idea. Using soap on a spill actually harms the environment — and is illegal for spill containment. So when it comes to our waterways, stick to products developed specifically for marine spill clean up.
  5. Be a maintenance landlubber. We know you have a marine heart and the skills to prove it, but do your repairs on solid ground. Handling routine maintenance dockside reduces your environmental impact and ensures your boat will be seaworthy once you set out.

Enjoy your time in the wild blue! 

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