There’s a lot of advice available for boating enthusiasts who need to prepare their vessels for the colder months, from flushing the cooling system to liberally lubricating the boat. This is all well and good in terms of keeping a boat shipshape.
But what about the marina?
Are you “harboring” environmental hazards in your boatyard or aboard your watercraft that could wreak havoc in the harbor where your boat is stored?
Here’s how to protect the marina along with the boats:
- Treat Your Bilge Best. FiberDuck Oil-Only Sump Skimmer Booms and FiberDuck Oil-Only Bilge Booms are lengthy names for an easy and economical way to clean water in sumps, or reduce contamination from bilge discharge. Designed to work while floating, Bilge Booms repel water indefinitely and are safe and simple to use.
- Sock It to Them. If you do discover an oil leak or minor oil spill, FiberDuck Oil Absorbent Socks will quickly absorb the problem. These socks meet or exceed industry standards for absorbing hydrocarbons such as crude oil, diesel oil and gasoline. They’re made from highly absorbent hydrophobic fiber and will float indefinitely. And, their durable polypropylene skin is UV, chemical- and tear-resistant.
- Go Home. To help minimize your environmental impact, do as much of your boat maintenance as possible in the boatyard. If you own the marina, encourage those who store their vessels with you to handle maintenance in the shipyard whenever possible.
- Leave the Soap in the Washroom. As you’re doubtless aware, soap’s a scourge for spills: it actually harms the environment. Instead, keep a bag of XSORB Oil Select Absorbent handy, which safely absorb four times its weight in petroleum-based products in the marine environment, leaving only clean water behind.
Now you’re ready for winter, knowing your boats — and water — are protected.
