A clean boat is a shore thing

Imagine dropping anchor in your favorite cove on a warm summer afternoon. The water is clear, the kids are already splashing around, and everyone is ready for a swim. As you hop in, your hand brushes against the side of the boat and you feel the slick layer of algae and lake grime clinging to the waterline. Since you're already in the water, giving it a quick scrub with a little soap seems like the easiest thing to do.

While it may seem harmless, washing your boat while it is in the lake can have lasting consequences for water quality and aquatic life. Many boat soaps, hull cleaners, waxes, and degreasers contain surfactants, solvents, phosphates, fragrances, and other chemicals designed to break down grease, algae, and organic matter. When those products are used in the lake, the chemicals are released directly into the water where they can be toxic to fish, aquatic insects, zooplankton, and other organisms that form the base of the aquatic food web. Some ingredients also contribute nutrients that promote excessive algae growth, reducing water quality and placing additional stress on the ecosystem.

Beyond the environmental impacts, washing a boat in Lake Winnipesaukee or any New Hampshire waterbody is also against state law. Under RSA 485-A:13, it is illegal to discharge waste, including wash water, detergents, soaps, antifreeze, or other pollutants, into the waters of the state without a permit from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.

The law is designed to protect New Hampshire's lakes, rivers, and groundwater from pollutants that can degrade water quality and harm aquatic ecosystems. Both boat owners and marinas share the responsibility for ensuring that boat cleaning and maintenance activities do not pollute state waters.

Even products labeled as "green" or "biodegradable" are not necessarily safe for use in the lake.

A study by the BoatUS Foundation evaluated 20 boat cleaning products marketed as environmentally friendly and found that several were among the most toxic to aquatic life despite their claims. There are currently no federal standards governing the use of terms such as "biodegradable" or "environmentally safe" on cleaning product labels. Even products bearing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice label contain ingredients that have been screened for certain human health and environmental hazards, but they are not specifically tested or approved for direct use in lakes or other aquatic environments.

The best place to clean your boat is on land, where waste water can be collected and properly treated. Many marinas offer designated wash stations designed to capture wastewater, and a commercial car wash is another good option. If you need to remove a little surface grime while you're out on the water, skip the soap and simply rinse with lake water until you can properly wash the boat on shore. A bilge sock is another inexpensive way to help protect water quality by absorbing oil and fuel residues before bilge water is discharged.

The same principle applies to everything that comes in contact with the lake. Whether you're rinsing off a paddleboard, kayak, fishing gear, or even your dog after a swim, keep soaps, shampoos, and other cleaning products out of the water. Before moving boats or equipment between waterbodies, always remember to Clean, Drain, Dry to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Protecting Lake Winnipesaukee doesn't always require a major investment. More often, it's the small decisions we make every day that add up over time. Choosing to wait until you're back on shore to wash your boat is one simple step that helps keep pollutants out of the lake and protects the clean, healthy waters we all enjoy.