Washing procedures

 

 

The washing of motorized and non-motorized boats must be carried out by the user by performing the following steps:

1. Visual inspection: consists of going around the equipment connected to the boat, i.e.: the hull of the boat, its trailer, the motor as well as all other equipment and accessories that will come directly or indirectly in contact with the water. During the inspection, we will look for the presence of animal or vegetable organisms that may be attached to the equipment or the boat;
2. Manual cleaning of equipment: consists of manually removing the undesirable organisms identified in the first step and disposing of them in the waste garbage can for burial (not compost or recycling);
3. Propeller cleaning (motorboat): involves cleaning and removing plants or other unwanted organisms wrapped around the propeller.
4. Tank Emptying: involves emptying any type of water container (ballast tanks, water tanks, livewells, bait containers, etc.) at a site away from a lake or watercourse where the residual water can seep into the ground;
5. High pressure washing: consists of washing the boat and its equipment and accessories with a hot water set (60 degrees Celsius) at high pressure (2,600 PSI minimum) in order to dislodge the most resistant organisms.

Every piece of equipment that comes into contact with water represents a source of contamination for another body of water or watercourse. For this reason, it is important that all equipment (fishing rods, oars, life jackets, etc.), accessories and toys be treated in one of the following ways, as zebra mussel larvae are not visible to the eye:

1. Dry equipment in the sun, making sure there's no moisture left before putting it in contact with water in another body of water or stream;
2. Use a small amount of bleach mixed with water (100 ml/L), brush the equipment and allow it to dry;
3. Use a little vinegar mixed with water (75 ml/L), brush the equipment and allow it to dry.

 

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