Cleaning & antifouling
Cleaning your boat
Did you know?
- Detergents containing phosphates can cause local oxygen depletions and may result in the localised suffocation of aquatic life
- Products used on boat hulls and decks may contain chlorine, ammonia, potassium hydroxide and solvents, all harmful to the aquatic environment
- Degreasers dry the natural oils that fish need for their gills to take in oxygen
- Most cleaning products contain chemicals which disrupt the reproductive cycle of fish
Advice
- Use fresh water or non-toxic solutions to clean your boat wherever possible – see the list of alternatives below
- If you use cleaning products select environmentally sensitive ones – see The Green Directory for our product directory and product reviews
- Minimise the amount of soaps and detergents used in onboard sinks, showers and washing machines. The sink on your boat needs to be treated differently to those in your home.
- Keeping your hull clean before going to a new area will not only be more fuel efficient but also avoid the transfer of non-native species
- Avoid using products which contain chlorine and bleach which are toxic to flora and fauna, phosphates which can encourage algal growth and triclosan. Use formaldehyde free treatments in toilets.
- If you do use a washing machine onboard switch to a detergent free wash ball. This is particularly important in inland waterways.
Useful information
Some possible alternatives to toxic products are listed below:
Toxic product Alternative
| Detergent and soap |
Fresh water and a lot of elbow grease |
| Bleach |
Hydrogen peroxide |
| Scouring powders |
Baking soda or salt |
| Floor cleaner |
¼ cup of white vinegar in 2 litres of water |
| Window cleaner |
1 cup of white vinegar in 1 litre warm water |
| Varnish cleaner |
Wipe with ½ cup of vinegar and ½ cup water solution |
| Head cleaner |
Brush with baking soda |
| Shower cleaner |
Wet surface, use scouring cloth with baking soda |
| Aluminium cleaner |
Use 2 tablespoons cream of tartar in 1 litre of water |
| Chrome cleaner/ polish |
Apple cider vinegar to clean, baby oil to polish |
| Fiberglass stain remover |
Baking soda paste |
| Drain Opener |
Disassemble and replace; avoid toxic products |
| Mildew Remover |
Paste of equal parts lemon juice and salt |
| Wood polish |
Use 3 parts olive oil and 1 part white wine vinegar; almond or olive oil (interior unvarnished wood only) |
Find out about green claims and green labels from The Shopper's Guide to Green Labels
The Green Blue website lists alternative cleaning products. See www.thegreenblue.org.uk for our product directory and product reviews.
Renewing your antifouling
Did you know?
- Topside and antifouling paints and varnish including used brushes, rollers and trays are now classified as hazardous waste
- Anti-fouling paints work by releasing toxic chemicals into the water. They are regulated as pesticides.
- Copper biocides in anti-fouling are toxic to water fleas, dragonfly and fish larvae, and cause contamination to be passed up the food chain
- Fouling on your propeller can reduce its effectiveness by 50%!
Advice
- The key is to prevent anti-fouling from unnecessarily entering the water. Skirt the hull and use a tarpaulin. Don’t leave a coloured patch under your boat!
- Dust from sanding paint and antifouling coatings is toxic. Using a dustless vacuum sander will also protect your heath.
- If you use scrubbing piles, only scrub off the fouling and not residue paint – be careful not to let old or new paint enter the water.
- Select a marina, club or boatyard which has a ‘scrub-off’ facility which collects residues and wash down.
- Select the right type of antifouling for your area and boat usage – take advice from your chandlery. Use water-based paints where possible, or low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds).
- Look into environmentally friendly bottom paints, such as vinyl, silicone or Teflon, which are suitable for in-water hull cleaning systems.
- Apply the right amount of antifouling required and do not spill it – when applying use a sheet to collect drips.
Useful information
Download the Rough Guide to Antifouling
Make sure you are using the right type of anti foul for your boat and maintaining it in the best possible way for the environment – A – Z of anti foul
Find out rules and regulations from The Environment Agency: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
A useful website with expert advice straight from the manufacturers can be found at www.boatpaint.co.uk
Read about the potential effects of antifouling in the marine environment at www.ukmarinesac.org.uk/activities/recreation/r03_03.htm
The Green Blue's environmental boat checklist
This month's edition of Yachting Monthly features an article about green sailing with The Green Blue talking to journalist Tom Cunliffe about what we can all do to start making a difference when on the water.
To start you off, we have produced a 'Green Blue boat checklist'. The toolkit walks you through the major environmental issues you face as a boat owner and gives you some advice about the next steps you can take to reduce your environmental impact while out on the water. Try to score as honestly as possible, this is not a legally binding document but the more honest you are with yourself the better the outcome will be for you and the environment!
