| Boating is enjoyable, educational, and relaxing. It's | | | | 3. Perform maintenance on land: Whenever possible, |
| good wholesome fun that the entire family can | | | | avoid doing any sort of maintenance on a boat if it is |
| enjoy. | | | | in the water. Wait until you are back on land. It is far |
| Despite all of the positives, it's important to consider | | | | better for paint chips, fuel, or debris to fall on land |
| the negatives of boating as well. Inconsiderate or | | | | than into the delicate aquatic ecosystem. |
| inexperienced boaters can cause damage to the | | | | If you take your boat out of the water for all |
| environment. When managed improperly, boats | | | | maintenance tasks, this goes a long way toward |
| pollute the water and disturb the ecosystem. To | | | | protecting the environment. |
| ensure that your boating experience is both fun and | | | | 4. Consider paints carefully: You might not think of |
| green, follow these tips. | | | | the toxicity of a paint when you choose what color |
| 1. Bring a trash bag: One of the basic rules of nature | | | | or finish to use, but you should. There are paints that |
| is that you take nothing but memories (or pictures) | | | | are specifically made to be nontoxic and safe to use |
| and leave nothing but footprints. Everything you bring | | | | on watercraft - always choose these. |
| in, you have to bring back out. | | | | Inexpensive paints are often toxic paints. Don't think |
| 2. Prevent fuel drips: Be aware of the potential for | | | | that because the paint will be dry before you go |
| fuel drips when you refuel your boat. Never top off | | | | back in the water that this will be safe for wildlife. |
| the tank. Instead, leave 10% empty to help prevent | | | | Even dry paint can be toxic to marine life. Paint chips |
| spillage. Be careful and go slowly when refueling, and | | | | can come off of the boat and dissolve into the |
| use a rag to stop dripping around the nozzle. | | | | water. |