Buying a new boat? Think about AIS!

If you are headed to the Minneapolis boat show to buy a new boat or personal watercraft, there are some things you can do to make it less likely that you will be spreading aquatic invasive species (AIS). Plus, buying an “AIS friendly watercraft” today could provide a better resale value later.

Aquatic plants often get caught in trailers when leaving a boat landing, and driving away with these plants on your trailer is against the law. But besides the risk of a ticket, you may be transporting aquatic invasive species. The plants themselves may be AIS, like Eurasian watermilfoil or curly leaf pondweed, but in addition, zebra mussels and other forms of AIS may be attached to the plants.

Responsible boaters take the time to remove the aquatic plants before they leave the landing, but some configurations of boats and trailers make that task difficult. Carpeted bunks on the trailers are harder to clear than rollers, so rollers would be a better choice for your trailer if you have the option.

Carpeted bunks also retain water and may be transporting microscopic zebra mussel veligers. Veligers are the larval stage of the zebra mussels before they get bigger and grow shells as adults. If your bunks are still wet when you are going to launch the next time, you may be transporting live zebra mussel veligers. If you have the option, a better choice is to look for trailers with plastic bunks that don’t retain water.

Look to make sure that the trailer will quickly drain all of the water from any unsealed structural components, otherwise you may unknowingly be transporting water from one lake to another.

The boat manufacturers are starting to get concerned about their boats transporting AIS, but they will get the message more quickly if they hear concerns from their customers. So speak up and ask them to do more. Boats could be designed to drain all the water when they are on a trailer, but unfortunately most are not designed for that today.

As an example, wakeboard boats with inboard ballast tanks do not drain completely when the tanks are pumped out. Several gallons of water remain in each tank, and the next lake will get the water that remains. Decontaminating the boat, and especially the ballast tanks, between lake visits is the most effective way to stop the risk that the wakeboard boat will be spreading AIS.

Please act responsibly by obeying all of the state’s AIS laws, and also make responsible choices for the trailers you buy at the boat show so you are less likely to spread AIS.

Thank you for helping to protect our Minnesota public waters!