Boat Wash Stations Are For Kayaks, Too
Watercraft Inspection Steward Julia Roy performs a decontamination on a kayak.
By Julia Roy, Watercraft Inspection Steward
August 19, 2026
A few weeks ago, a paddler pulled into my boat wash station in Speculator, NY. She wanted to enter two different lakes that day and stopped to ask if we could wash her kayak. She told me she'd always assumed the wash stations were just for big powerboats — that a kayak on a car roof didn't really count. I was delighted to tell her otherwise. I washed her kayak right there on top of her car and even knocked the bugs off her windshield while I was at it.
She posted about it afterward on the Paddling In The Adirondacks Facebook group, and her last line stuck with me: "My little part in not spreading invasive weeds." That's exactly it! So, I want to clear up the same misunderstanding for anyone else who's ever driven past a boat wash station thinking it wasn't meant for them.
Powerboat, canoe, kayak, paddleboard — we wash them all.
Our boat wash stations are for every kind of watercraft. Motorboat, sailboat, canoe, kayak, paddleboard, even a little inflatable — if it's been in the water, it can carry aquatic invasive species to the next lake, and we're happy to clean it.
Why bother when it's "just" a kayak?
Invasive species don't care how big your boat is. A single fragment of Eurasian watermilfoil tangled on your hull, a spiky water chestnut nutlet wedged into a strap, or a bit of standing water in the bottom of your boat with spiny water flea can be all it takes to introduce something new to a lake that doesn't have it yet. Once an invasive species moves in, it's nearly impossible to get rid of and it can change the fishing, swimming, and the whole character of a place we all love.
The good news? Most Adirondack lakes don't have any invasive species, and most invaded lakes only have one or two. Every clean boat helps to keep it that way.
What actually happens at a boat wash station?
If you've never stopped before, here's the whole (painless) routine:
○ It's completely free.
○ The full wash typically takes less than 15 minutes.
○ We use high-pressure hot water (120–140°F) on hulls and trailers to remove and kill anything hitchhiking. We then use a gentle low-pressure flush for sensitive spots. Fishing gear, anchors, dock lines, and life jackets can get a hot-water soak too.
○ We'll work right alongside you, so nothing gets damaged.
○ There are no lectures or judgments — just a friendly hand to help clean your boat and maybe a chat about where the fish are biting.
There’s more you can do!
Even when a steward isn't around, you can protect these waters yourself with three simple words: Clean, Drain, Dry. Clean off any plants, animals, and mud. Drain every bit of standing water. Let everything dry before your next launch. It's the easiest habit no matter your watercraft, and it works.
But when you do see one of us at a launch or boat wash station, please stop and say hello — kayak, canoe, or cruiser. Pull on up! We’ll be glad to wash it for you.
Find your nearest free boat wash station here:adkwatershed.org/boat-wash-stations
The work of the Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute’s Stewardship Program is made possible through the support of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
Thanks to kayaker Judith for sharing about her stop at the Speculator boat wash station and for “doing her little part” to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.
