Be a Responsible Boater

• Learn about and use environmentally safe products and practices

• Freely share environmentally responsible information with others

• Reduce, Reuse & Recycle (3 R's)

• Ensure nothing is ever thrown or gets blown overboard

• Obey laws governing speeding, littering & discharge

• Support environmentally responsible marinas

• Encourage all boating facilities to provide trash cans, recycling bins & pumpout services

Contain Trash

• If trash blows overboard, retrieve it (use opportunity to practice “person-overboard” procedures)

• Pack food in reusable containers

• Buy products without plastic or excessive packaging (plastic is deadly to fish & birds)

• Do not toss cigarette butts overboard (filters are cellulose acetate - plastic)

• Purchase refreshments in recyclable containers

Recycle

• Recycle cans, glass, plastic, newspaper, antifreeze, oil & 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

• Recycle Used Shrink Wrap removed from boats, watercraft, RV's, etc..

  The Marine Trades Association of Maryland (MTAM) in partnership with Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Cecil, Kent, Talbot, and Queen Anne's Counties are working to provide convenient recycling locations!

Fuel Management

• Check fuel level before heading out (follow 1/3 rule - 1/3 out, 1/3 return & 1/3 reserve for emergencies)

• Use oil absorbent material to catch drips from fuel fill & overflow vent

• Fill portable fuel tanks ashore (spills less likely to occur & easier to clean up)

• Conserve fuel by operating at two-thirds (2/3) throttle (saves money & helps the environment)

• Add fuel conditioner (stabilizer) to tank if engine used infrequently

• Never top-up fuel tanks (fuel expands as it warms up)

• If you fill tanks on return, fill tanks only to 90%

Bilge Oil Management

• Place oil absorbent pad under engines

• Maintain engine - keep well tuned & fix leaking seals, gaskets or hoses

• Keep oil absorbent sheets or bioremediation log near bilge pumps

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

• Check oil absorbent materials regularly & replace or clean as needed

• Check fuel lines for damage (be sure hoses are alcohol / ethanol resistant)

• Secure fuel hoses to prevent chafing & leaks

Oil Absorbent Sheet/Pad/Log Management

• If saturated with gas, allow to air dry.  Reuse.

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

• Do not seal bioremediation materials in plastic bags - 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
  Maryland Pumpout Facilities charge $5.00 for up to 50 gallons + $0.10 a gallon over 50

  During boating season on-the-water Pumpout service available:

  West/Rhodes Rivers - Thursdays through Mondays from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM by calling 410-533-9002 or using VHF Ch 71 to hail the "Honey Dipper"(maybe FREE)

  Severn River/Spa Creek - Daily 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM by calling 410-263-7973 or using VHF Ch 9 or 17 to hail the "Annapolis Pumpout Boat"

• 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

• 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 (NOAA) Award No. NA670Z0302