Keep a Clear Head
The Keep a Clear Head program was created by the Punta Gorda Boaters’ Alliance to encourage boaters to protect their local environment. The program was inspired by Interlux’s nationwide challenge and competition for groups to develop programs that will make a difference in their waterfront environment.
The Boaters Alliance wanted to develop a program that would involve the boating community; that could be replicated in other boating centers; that would educate those involved; and that would make a difference in our local water quality.
The Keep a Clear Head program recognizes the fact that some boaters do not understand the negative impact that illegal overboard dumping of holding tank wastes has on the quality of our local waters. The purpose of the program is to encourage the use of pump-out facilities.
The newly introduced program creates an awareness, educates the boating public and rewards those who properly dispose of their holding tank wastes. The benefits of the program are many;
- Boaters will learn important information about the problems that result from illegally dumping holding tank wastes.
- Responsible boaters who do the right thing, use local pump-put facilities, will be recognized for their action by receiving rewards at local participating businesses.
- Participating marinas with pump-out facilities will benefit from increased utilization of their products and services.
- Participating businesses will benefit from increased traffic and sales and be recognized for their support.
Ultimately, the environmental health of our local waters will be improved as a result of reducing illegal discharges.
How does the program work? It’s simple,
- Local marinas with pump-out facilities issue Reward Cards to responsible boaters each time they pump-out
- Boaters redeem their Reward Cards for a discount at participating businesses.
Program success will be tracked by monitoring marina pump-out logs.
Who are the participating businesses? Three local marinas and one yacht club will be issuing Reward Cards:
Fisherman’s Village Marina
Laishley Municipal Marina,
Burnt Store Marina
Isle Yacht Club
Participating businesses who will redeem Reward Cards include:
- Fisherman’s Village Marina
- Porto Bello @ Burnt Store Marina
- Laishley Municipal Marina
- King Fisher Fleet
- Burnt Store Marina
- Fourwinds Enterprises
- Isles Yacht Club
- Punta Gorda Marina
Boaters, take advantage of this great new program. Do the right thing. Use our local pump-out facilities and benefit from rewards and “Keep a Clear Head”.