A question for Peggy

[Les Blackwell]

Peggy,First, let me say I have appreciated and used your advice in the area of Heads, holding tanks and stuff. It has worked well for the two of us on our Hunter 380.This summer while cruising through the San Juan, Gulf islands and Desolation Sound I have seen a number of large power boats, probably sixty to a hundred and sixty feet. One I know belongs to Paul Allen, another to his sister. One large power boat that has a helecopter on the back belongs to the McCaws of cellular fame.Now for the question! Although Canada does not have a holding tank requirement, Puget Sound does. There are pump out stations at most of the US marinas. What do these large power boats do with sewage? Do they carry an on board treatment plant? What type? I've never seen one advertised for large type boats. Also I notice they all have a Bahamian Flag. Does this exempt them from U.S. requirements?I'm not trying to pick on them, but am sincerely interested. Canada has started to designate certain anchorages as holding tanks only, but the City of Victoria is pouring raw sewage into the St. of Juan do Fuca everyday. So what do these big boats do?Thanks for you past help. Looking forward to hearing from you again.Les

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Almost 100% certainty that...

These boats are fitted with either VERY large (100-300+ gallons) or Type II MSDs--or both. Type II MSDs are considerably more sophisticated--and expensive--than Type I devices, like a Lectra/San Type I MSDs are only legal on boats up to 65' LOA)--boats 66' and up must use either a holding tank or a Type II, and the discharge from a Type II must meet a much higher standard of treatment than a Type I. You won't find Type II systems in the WM catalog...in most cases they have to be professionally installed. As for the Bahamian flag, it doesn't matter where a boat is flagged, it's subject to the regs for any waters it's in. In fact, the Royal Yacht Britannia had to be fitted with holding tanks before it could visit eastern Canada a number of years ago. Btw... Puget Sound is not a "no discharge" area to my knowledge. Although you cannot flush untreated waste directly overboard from the toilet there--it's illegal to do that in ALL US waters--unless something has changed very recently, boats may either use holding tanks or Type I or II treatment devices.

 

[Kurt Madsen]

Head Forward

Peggy, I wrote the question "Head Forward" Can you help me out? how is the forward head in the forpeak set up on a Hunter 45'?

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

I'm not sure what your question is, Kurt

Like all the Hunters that have head forward and aft, There's an electric toilet (most likely a Jabsco) connected to a holding tank that's fitted for either pumpout or dumpout at sea with a macerator. What specifically are you trying to find out that you can't find out by looking at one?