They are overkill. That is just what some desire to stop the boaters from dumping in the water.
left behind a Grey Whale that has been feeding. I would never follow a whale in a boat. You talk about polluted water.
Likely would fail a CG inspection, eh?I've seen the cloud
Probably okay. I don't think there are any coast guard regs about direct discharge.
I used 5200 to glue a small padeye to the hull just below the handle of the discharge seacock. It doesn't need to be structural, it's only an attachment point for a zip tie to satisfy the regulations. Locate the padeye directly under the seacock handle to protect it from bumps.
Are you saying you don't have any Y-valve at all? It is always direct overboard? Or always direct to tank? Many Great Lakes boats are always direct to tank with no overboard discharge.
Right. So you need to disable the maceration discharge so that it cannot be accidentally used in NDZ waters. If there is a shutoff valve, I think securing it in the closed position with a zip tie would be acceptable. Otherwise you would probably need to disconnect the wires or add in a safety interlock switch that can be secured against someone simply turning it on.
Has anyone here ever been cited for an open or “unlocked” discharge valve? The last time a coastie was aboard the valves were closed but not tied. I was advised to zip tie ‘em as they left. Think of it. If you’re at the Island and need to dump, go out 3 n.mi., snip off the zip tie, open the valve, discharge, close the valve, attach new zip tie, and then return. Do that again in two or three days.
True. There is none.
Not whales, sea lions or people, etc. Marine scientists are still trying to figure the general viability of enteric bacteria (E. coli) in seawater. It can live for a while, divide, but not form colonies. You’ll get sicker eating contamiated lettuce than swallowing a little seawater, likely. Also, there are many species out there that feed on bacteria. However it gets into the water, it would be the same amount of bacteria. So, in terms of unhealthful exposure or impact, what’s the difference?If someone wants to deliberately violate the NDZ law there is really nothing the CG can do unless they catch you in the act. It's really more of an honor system.It’s hard to imagine an “accidental” discharge unless the thru-hull valve was left open “accidentally”, in that “I ‘accidentally’ forgot to close (and tie) it” when we got within 3 n.mi. of shore. I think they want the thing (valve handle) locked closed so if you are about to be boarded you cannot pop below to quickly close AND lock it if open illegally. Putting on a zip tie that’s secure would take a few minutes, etc. That’s assuming the CG really wants to catch you in violation in the first place, which I sometimes doubt.
The ties are irrelevant as to do or not to do. If you are not discharging illegally, you do not need to rotate through zip ties to stop you from doing what you are not doing already. Someone does not “accidentally” open a tru-hull valve to discharge. If you are discharging illegally where the valves are open, or being opened to discharge then closed but not tied, it’s hard “prove” if not tied, that it was not open to discharge a few minutes earlier, etc., than when inspected. As you say, the law is hardly enforceable most of the time.
