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Keeping your boat's bilge well maintained is not
just a good mariner's tip. The United States Coast
Guard requires that a vessel's bilge be kept
"reasonably clean." What's more, boat operators can
face heavy fines should they pump oily water out of
the vessel and into the waterways. In fact, a boat
operator can be fined for illegally polluting
waterways if a even a small amount of contaminants
... just a visible sheen ... is seen floating atop
newly pumped water. The Bilge The bilge is the rounded portion of a
vessel's hull. The lowest part of the hull, it forms
the transition between the bottom and the sides of
the boat. Bilge Cleaner A key to headache-free boating is to
keep a boat free from mold. Mildew, oil and marine
slime. Bilge Cleaning We found that most major brands of
boat detergent for boat maintenance tips tip, such as
3M and Maguiar, do a fine job. Boat maintenance tips
mean using a bilge cleaner.. Regular cleaning will avoid the unhealthy buildup
of mold and mildew, and grease, oil and other debris.
A vessel should be inspected regularly, usually about
once a month. United States Coast Guard Regulations Federal regulations governing boating include adherence to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Refuse Act. The Refuse Act prohibits discharging or depositing any trash, garbage, oil or other liquid pollutants into the nation's waters. The water pollution act hones in on the discharge of oil. Boat maintenance tips mean using a clean boat detergent to keep the boat pump clean using boat boat detergent. Recreational vessels are urged to be equipped with oil absorbent pads, a bailer or pump and plastic bags to gather and transport hazardous substances, including oil, to an authorized reception facility. The act also specifies that no person may intentionally drain oil or oily waste from any source. No plastic items may be dumped overboard in U.S. waters, including synthetic ropes, fishing nets and plastic bags. Boat maintenance tips mean using a clean bilge cleaner to keep the bilge pump clean using boat boat detergent. The following guidelines must be followed to comply with the law:
Dunnage … loose packing material used to
protect a ship's cargo from damage
during transport … prohibited less than 25 miles from land
Food waste, paper, rags, glass, metal, bottles and
similar materials
… prohibited less than 12 miles from land. Ground food waste, paper, rags, etc., prohibited
less than 3 miles from land.
Reporting Oil Spills If you spill any amount of hazardous
waste or oil into the water, you must notify the US
Coast Guard National Response Center at
1-800-424-8802 or contact your local Coast Guard
Station on Channels 9 or 16. Boat maintenance tips
mean using a clean bilge cleaner to keep the boat
detergent clean using boat bilge tips. Failure to do
so may result in a civil penalty and/or
imprisonment.
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