BIA Victoria - Trailer Boats All
Trailer Boats, canoes, kayaks jetskis
1. Remove any weeds, animals or sediment from your boat, trailer and gear and put it in the bin – NOT back in the water.
You should check your boat and gear every time you move - even if you are just changing locations while in the water. Check the anchor as you pull it up and check the motor before you move.
When you pull the boat out of the water thoroughly check the entire boat and trailer - hull, rudder, propeller, water intake pipes, anchor, anchor well, ropes, chains, nets, burley and bait buckets. Remove any plants, animals or sediment and put it in the bin – don’t throw it back in the water.
It is important that everything is cleaned off, because a tiny piece of a weed, or part of an animal could regrow into a full specimen – you could start a new pest population in your favourite fishing spot.
Put all unwanted bait in the bin – don’t throw it in the water
2. After each trip rinse your boat, trailer and gear with fresh water, in your yard or at a carwash. If you can’t do this because of water restrictions go to the next step.
The best way to ensure your boat is clean is to clean it with freshwater from a high pressure hose. You should do this after every trip, and make sure that the runoff will not flow into drains or back into the water. Avoid boat ramps, the beach or your driveway – do it on the grass or at a carwash.
In Victoria, using the hose at home is usually not possible because of water restrictions, but most commercial carwashes will still operate. It will only cost a few dollars to wash your boat with the high pressure hose.
If you can’t wash your boat in your yard or at a carwash, remove all visible fouling by hand and then let your boat and all your gear dry completely – including ropes, nets, anchor etc. Between 3 and 7 days of drying is enough to kill most pests.
3. Drain all the water from your boat and gear, but don’t let it drain back into the sea.
Make sure there are no pools of water anywhere on your boat or in buckets. Tiny eggs or plant spores can survive in a damp area for weeks, or even months. You won’t be able to see eggs or plant spores so you need to drain all water to be certain you don’t have live pests on board
4. Dry your boat and gear completely, including ropes and anchors. Tiny eggs and plant spores can survive in a damp area for months.
Leave your boat to dry completely and lay out all your gear to dry as well. This includes ropes, life jackets, buckets and nets.
One week should be enough time to kill most pests.
Your gear can stay damp for months - especially a coiled up rope. Anything damp could be keeping tiny pests, eggs or spores alive. Make sure everything is laid out to dry thoroughly.