Clean Boating - How to do Your Part

Bioremediating bilge booms may be disposed in your regular trash as long as they are not dripping any liquid. Because the microbes need oxygen to function, do not seal them in plastic bags.

Emissions Control

Marine engines--especially 2-stroke outboard motors--produce the highest average level of hydrocarbon exhaust emissions after lawn and garden equipment. Hydrocarbon emissions contribute to ground level ozone, a known health risk. Follow these tips to help your engine operate as efficiently as possible:

Use the gas to oil ratio recommended by the engine manufacturer. Too much oil can foul spark plugs and too little can lead to increased engine wear or even failure.

Use premium two-cycle engine oil (TC-W3 or TC-W4).

Premium oils improve engine performance and reduce pollution because they burn cleaner, contain more detergents, and prevent formation of carbon deposits.

Use gasoline with the octane level recommended by the engine manufacturer.

Preventative Equipment

Products are available commercially which can help you prevent spills and reduce emissions:

Install a fuel/air separator along your vent line. These devices allow air, but not fuel to escape through a vent opening. Attach a safety nozzle to portable gas cans used to fill outboard engines. These nozzles automatically stop the flow of fuel when the receiving tank is full.

To prevent oily bilge water from being discharged, install a bilge pump switch that leaves an inch or two of water in the bilge.

Alternatively, connect a bilge water filter to your vessel's bilge pump. Filters will remove oil, fuel and other petroleum hydrocarbons from the water.

When it is time to buy a new engine, select a fuel efficient, low emission model.

Attach a container to the external vent fitting to collect overflow. There are products on the market that may be attached to the hull with suction cups. A rubber seal on the container fits over the fuel vent allowing the overflow to enter the container. Fuel captured in this manner can be added to the next boat to fuel.

In Case of a Spill

Stop the flow.

Contain the spill.

Call the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center at (800) 424-8802.

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