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Be a Responsible Boater
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Reduce, Reuse & Recycle (3 R's)
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Seek-out & use environmentally friendly
products, practices & procedures
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Freely share environmentally responsible
information with others
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Don't let anything get thrown or blown overboard (use overboard item as
opportunity to practice “person-overboard” procedures)
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Obey all rules, regulations & laws (vessel operation,
littering, discharge, ...)
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Support environmentally responsible marinas
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Encourage boating facilities to
provide trash cans, recycling bins & pumpout services
Contain Trash
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Pack food in reusable containers
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Buy
products without plastic or excessive packaging (plastic is deadly
to fish & birds)
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Do
not toss cigarette butts overboard (filters are cellulose acetate - plastic)
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Purchase refreshments
in recyclable containers
Recycle
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Recycle cans, glass,
plastic, newspaper, antifreeze, oil & lead batteries
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Call 1-800-4-RECYCLE
for locations or visit
Recycling in Maryland Website
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Bring used
monofilament fishing line to recycling bins at marina or tackle
shop
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Recycle Used Shrink Wrap (watercraft, RV's, etc.)
Marine Trades Association of Maryland (MTAM) is working with County Governments
to provide convenient
recycling locations!
Fuel Management
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Check fuel level before heading
out (follow 1/3 rule - 1/3 out, 1/3 return & 1/3 reserve for emergencies)
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Use oil absorbent
material to catch drips from fuel fill & overflow vent
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Fill portable fuel
tanks ashore (spills less likely to occur & easier to
clean up)
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Conserve fuel by operating at maximum of two-thirds (2/3)
throttle (saves money & helps environment)
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Add fuel conditioner (stabilizer)
to tank if engine used infrequently
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Never top-up
tanks (fuel expands as it warms, fill only to 90% on
return or at night)
Bilge Oil Management
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Place oil absorbent
pad under engines & keep oil absorbent sheets or bioremediation
log near bilge pumps
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Check oil absorbent
materials regularly & replace or clean as needed
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Secure fuel hoses to
prevent chafing / leaks & regularly check for
damage (be sure hoses alcohol / ethanol resistant)
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Maintain engine - keep well
tuned & fix leaking seals, gaskets or hoses
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Never discharge bilge
water with sheen - it is illegal
Oil Absorbent Sheet/Pad/Log Management
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If
saturated with gas, allow to air dry. Reuse.
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If saturated with diesel or oil, double bag in plastic -
one bag sealed inside another. Dispose in regular trash.
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Do not seal bioremediation materials in plastic
bags - microbes need oxygen to function. Discard in regular trash.
Clean Gently
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Wash boat
frequently with a sponge & plain water
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Use phosphate-free,
biodegradable & non-toxic cleaners (use detergents
sparingly)
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Wax boat regularly -- a good
coat of wax prevents surface dirt from becoming ingrained
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Clean wood with mild
soap powder & nylon brush -- not harsh chemical cleaners
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Conserve water -- use
spray nozzle on hose
Maintain Your Vessel
Wisely
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Collect all paint
chips, dust & residue. Dispose in regular trash.
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Share leftover paint
& varnish
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Bring used solvents
& waste gas to local hazardous waste collection day
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Keep engine clean
so you can spot leaks
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Slip plastic bag
over used oil filters before removing to capture drips
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Use alternatives to toxic bottom paints
Sewage
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Never discharge raw sewage -
Maryland Pumpout Facilities ($5.00 for up to 50 gallons + $0.10
/ gallon over 50)
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During boating season on-the-water service available:
West/Rhodes Rivers: Thursday - Monday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM:
call 410-533-9002 or hail "Honey Dipper" on VHF Ch 71 (maybe FREE)
Severn River/Spa Creek: Daily 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM: call 410-263-7973 or
hail "Annapolis Pumpout Boat" on VHF Ch 9 or 17
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Use restrooms on shore
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Underway, use
approved Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs)
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Discharge Type I or II
MSDs only in allowed off-shore waters - avoid discharging over oyster bars
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Establish regular
MSD maintenance schedule based on manufacturer’s
recommendations
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Pumpout & rinse holding
tanks regularly
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Use enzyme based
products to control holding tank odor & reduce solids (avoid
using quarternary ammonium compounds (QAC) & formaldehyde)
Dispose of Fish Waste
Properly
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Do not throw fish
waste into marina waters (discard in deep water or in trash)
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Use fish cleaning
stations where provided on docks or at marinas
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Save waste & use as
chum or bait
Protect Sensitive Habitat
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Proceed slowly in
shallow areas
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Do not disturb
wildlife
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Avoid contact with
submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)
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Watch wake -- it
can lead to shoreline erosion & disturb wildlife
Funded in part by National
Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Award No. NA670Z0302
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