Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron
By: Greg Clark

Water restrictions and boat maintenance

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the governor of Georgia will continue to disagree and battle over the water control for our lake. In the meantime, boaters have to deal with maintaining their boats within the limits of the law. Ignoring a boat, allowing mold dirt and grime to accumulate, can quickly depreciate the value. A dirty boat bottom increases drag slowing the boat and adding to your fuel use and costs. With statewide water restrictions in effect, boat washing and maintenance may seem out of the question. There are steps that you can take and still play by the rules.

Many boats are lake bound due to their size. These larger cruisers, sailboats, and houseboats require a lot of water to wash. Using city water is not permitted. Filling your water tanks with dockside water and using onboard pumps and wash down systems is not a clever way around the rules. You are permitted at this time to use pumps that pull from the lake and then feed back to the lake. Several marinas are now providing portable pumps for their tenants to borrow. You must use biodegradable soaps. Maintaining a clean, working bilge isn’t just good boating practice, it’s the law. Federal regulations require that boat owners keep their vessel’s bilge reasonably clean and in working condition. Washing out the bilge into the lake is not permitted under any circumstances. If you do need to wash your bilge, you must deactivate any automated bilge pumps first to avoid accidentally pumping oily water into the lake. Oil left in the bilge will eventually be pumped into the lake if oil absorbent marine products do not trap it. Oil left in contact with the bilge decking can penetrate the fiberglass and increase blistering on the bottom of the boat.

Commercial detail and boat washing services are permitted to operate at this time. The boat owner is still responsible if the commercial service spills oil or contaminants into the lake. Washing from a bucket is also allowed in some counties, but it is not practical for most large boats. Everyone is encouraged to reduce the frequency needed to wash boats. This can be accomplished using the proper boat polish and waxes. Waxes popular for cars are destructive to boats. While they may appear at first to create a beautiful shine on the surface, the harsh chemicals become trapped under the wax and accelerate the breakdown of gel-coat and fiberglass. This will increase chalking over time. Wax finishes last less than half the time of any good marine polish on fiberglass boats. Summer heat, ultraviolet light and harsh water wear down wax much faster than polished surfaces. Saltwater conditions are even more abrasive. The surface of fiberglass and gel-coat is porous. Polishes will fill these small voids that normally trap dirt making the surface less subject to staining and sun damage. A good polished surface can often be rinsed quickly with water and require much less cleaning. Wax products are more suited for metal constructed houseboats and other painted metal boats that are similar to car finishes. There is a significant difference between car wax and marine wax products. Small boat owners have the option to use commercial car wash facilities, but they should be encouraged to conserve and not to wash the boat with every use. Bottom paints are effective in maintaining a clean boat, and protecting the fiberglass from blisters.

Gregory D. Clark handles  public relations for the Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron. The Atlanta Sail and Power Squadron is Atlanta’s boating club for everyone. You do not have to own a boat or have experience to join. Safe boating is fun boating. Call today and come visit the next meeting. Help make Lanier a safer place for everyone. Telephone: 404-262-7288/Email: usps-atlanta@comcast.net or on the local website www.usps-atlanta.org/.