2025-Sep-05
Pulling Your Boat Out of the Water This Fall? Don't Forget to Clean, Drain, and Dry!
As the boating season comes to a close, remember that invasive species can hitch a ride on your boat and equipment, causing harm to Ontario’s ecosystems.
Species like zebra mussels and spiny waterfleas can spread through boats and equipment. To combat this, the Ministry of Natural Resources requires boat owners to take “reasonable precautions” to remove aquatic plants, animals, and algae before transporting their boats overland.
When getting ready to retrieve your boat this year, remember Clean, Drain and Dry to help keep invasives in check.
What You Need to Do
Before transporting your boat or equipment:
1. Clean: Remove aquatic plants, animals, or algae stuck in or on the vessel and equipment.
-
- As soon as the boat is removed from the water, visually inspect all equipment (watercraft, trailer and gear) for aquatic plants, animals, or mud that may be attached. Remove any mud, sand and plant materials by hand before leaving the shore.
- Rinse, scrub or pressure wash your boat and gear thoroughly.
2. Drain: Drain all standing water from the boat and equipment at the boat launch.
-
- At the retrieval site, remove or open drain plugs and drain all water from the watercraft and
equipment (e.g. bilges, ballasts, livewells, coolers, fish-holding containers). Water must be drained at the waterbody where it came from.
- At the retrieval site, remove or open drain plugs and drain all water from the watercraft and
3. Dry: Allow the boat to air dry or disinfect it to eliminate unseen organisms.
Invasives are sneaky. Remember to check all of the common places they may be hiding on your boat:
Remembering to clean, drain and dry your boat every time you take it out of the water is a simple and effective way you can help prevent the spread of invasive species in Ontario.
Watch the video below to learn more and read more about the Clean, Drain and Dry program here,
Sponsored by: