I followed procedures upon my last return from Lake Powell and wanted to use my boat sooner than the week dry time. I made an appointment at a local Lake state Park in northern UT. I was a bit late, my fault so no problem, I watched as the Tech decontaminated a ski/wake boat with Ballast tanks ahead of me.
He seemed to be doing it as he was taught, boat motors ballast tanks etc., but not much attention to trailer. I know most trailers have many holes for water to enter and drain, I wonder is enough water could be trapped with possible infesters/muscles/veliger's, Could wet carpet on bunkers harbor veliger's? He was very nice, polite and doing his job, but one thing I noticed he was all alone, no one else on duty. When other boats arrived to launch, no one to stop, talk to or check them out. At one point I mentioned that there was a boat waiting for someone and he said when we are doing boats that is our attention so he kept decontaminating. Several boats paused and then proceeded to launch.
One boat operator walked over to the technician. He told him where the boat was last used and was told OK sign the form and display etc. Several others paused but then proceeded to launch without any checking or contact. The boat I was using is a simple all welded 17 aluminum, no live wells bilges etc. so a very simple decontamination process. The boat was dry and had been sitting in the sun for 3 days and the drive home. I think the boat and motor heat up to 150 degrees just sitting outside in the direct sun. He looked it over, then hit the hull with the Hot water, which I had seen him check with a gauge, then ran water through them motor etc. Again not much attention to trailer or boat bunkers. I asked him to hit the inside back of the boat for a few seconds since that is the only area any water at all splashes in and could possibly run up under floorboards. He was not planning on doing that but agreed and did it. The boat was bone dry so it may not have been necessary but I wanted to be extra cautious. I felt the water coming out of the motor and it was what I would call look warm, just for curiosity I felt the water going in to the motor, it was hotter but did not seem that hot?
So the point of this post is I agree on taking the steps and know we need to do something, I wonder if it is working? The people just passing the station could be breaking the rules and often there is no checking or enforcement. I also wonder how effective the decontamination procedure is. Another time I had a decontamination at another lake, halfway through I felt the water and it was not hot, I told the tech he rechecked and shut it down reheated then finished the process. How many times does this happened? I truly wonder if how most decons are done, would it truly kill possible infesters?
I did not mention the day, time or location on purpose. I don't want to throw anyone under the bus. I did go out and catch two limits of Kokes since I was there. Caught a 19" Kokanee, the biggest I have caught in that lake so far.
Mildog out
