Gulf Oil Spill - Common Sense Guide for Boaters

[Ocean Girl]

**Please lets make this thread about the practical guide for the folks boating in the Gulf.**

I wanted to start a thread about how:

1) How a boater can prepare their boat for the oil spill while berthed in a marina.

2) How a boater can prepare their boat to sail/ motor in oil spill areas. For example, our friends on See Yawl Later are trying to get home to Texas from the Exumas.

3) any and all links to websites, phone numbers, etc. for the Gulf boater pertaining to oil spill. For example, websites with tips for clean up, port closings, restricted travel areas, latest oil spill sightings etc.

This thread has zero interest in blame or complaints, this thread is to help spread the word about what we can do to protect our boats, and travel safely in the gulf waters.

[Ocean Girl]

　
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_spill
　
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill
　
Great tip from interlux for hulls and bottom paint
http://murrayyachtsales.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/oil-spill-cleanup-tips-for-boaters-from-interlux%C2%AE-and-awlgrip%C2%AE-tech-hotlines-also-open-interlux-800-468-7589-awlgrip/


http://www.boatus.com/oilspill/ ~~probably the best place for a boater to get info (so far)

Boat US article:

What can I do to protect my boat?
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) recommends the following tips for recreational boaters:
If your marina or boat club puts oil containment booms in place, do not attempt to cross the booms with your boat. This will only spread the oil and damage the booms or possibly your vessel’s running gear.

If there is oil in your marina, refrain from running engines or other devices that have seawater intakes such as air conditioners or refrigerators.

Hauling out your boat will prevent damage, but as of press time it was not clear if these costs will be reimbursed by British Petroleum (BP).

If the spill is sighted coming toward your marina or already there, call the BP Community Information Hotline at 866-448-5816 to make a report.

If your boat comes in contact with the oil, call your insurance company to file a claim. Uninsured boaters can call the BP Hotline at 800-440-0858 to file a claim.

Damage to a BoatUS insured’s vessel that is caused by the oil spill is covered. BoatUS members are directed to call 800-937-1937 to file a claim.
　

[Ocean Girl]

I have read that an engine run in oil spill waters needs to be serviced ASAP but haven't found what that service includes (flushing?).
Anyone know?

[Ocean Girl]

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Tracks the spill, some boater info too.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

I have read that an engine run in oil spill waters needs to be serviced ASAP but haven't found what that service includes (flushing?).
Anyone know?

more than just flushing. This happened to a boat I used to crew on, and we had to take the heat exchanger to a radiator shop.

[Ocean Girl]

What needed done to the heat exchanger? gasket replacement? soak the thing in solvents? Heat exchanger is basically metal and gaskets right? (sorry for my ignorance, it has been years since I have even touched a heat exchanger let alone worked on one) Thanks for the input Bash.
Erika

[anjou]

Does the oil give off any flamable fumes if its heated by sun or accumulates in confined spaces?
Would a spark cause an explosion?
What effects do the chemicals have on gelcoat?

[Ocean Girl]

Anjou, from what interlux says it will stain paint jobs and clogg up your bottom paint so it may not function properly. Haven't seen anything about gelcoat, but instinct tell me that it would be worse because how porous it is.

Don't know about the flammability, they are burning it offshore but maybe they add a chemical to do that??

[hummingway]

Oil has a high flash point so requires something as an igniter I believe.

[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by anjou

Does the oil give off any flamable fumes if its heated by sun or accumulates in confined spaces?
Would a spark cause an explosion?
What effects do the chemicals have on gelcoat?

Most of the volatile components of crude flash off quickly leaving behind weathered oil that is not flammable under ambient conditions. You could not ignite it. What the CG approved as a burning agent is similar to napalm and is extremely difficult to sustain (a fire) because of the large heat sink created by the water column. In the absence of a very think layer of oil, sustaining burning is very difficult.

[Ocean Girl]

Wow, Thanks s/v Illusion, that is great to know that there isn't an added fire hazard (if I understand you correctly).

This is a direct link to NOAA's emergency response, waterwayguy posted it on another thread and thought I'd add it here too. It seems to have info about port closures and such.

NOAA emergency response

[SabreKai]

Ummmm I would think that if oil is going to clog up the bottom paint, then by definition nothing will grow on it. You might be ok to leave it alone for a while.


Sabre

[Serenity_]

Don't know if this was covered yet but this might be something to consider for your boat if you are in the impacted oil spill zone/area and can't get your boat out of there or on the hard.

Oil Absorbent Booms


I think placing these around your boat should be able to protect it from floating oil and keep your boat clean of oil. Just an idea

Here is an article I found that might help also.....
How to Protect Your Boat from the Oncoming BP Oil Spill - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

[Ocean Girl]

Serenity, thanks for the link and suggestion, just what I was hoping people would post.
Erika

[captain58sailin]

Good idea Erika, some great thoughts coming in here.