Check this out! As a sailor and a surfer, I'm all in favor of preserving the pristine coastal resources, but this is out of control! $35 to have your holding tank inspected is bad enough, but now you have to keep a log of boat and head usage, and record all pumpout events! I can't wait to see what kind of scheme these legislators will cook up to control swimmers... tie it in a knot before entering the water! Soon to follow will be legislation to control seagull excrement... we all know the fecal output they can generate. I'd like to see the legislators worry more about balancing & controlling government expenditures than targeting boaters with more ridiculous laws.
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Sounds like some silly military requirements
This sounds like some silly military requirements in the Canadian Armed forces, and if it is the solution is easy. I just filled in a lot of phoney crap; when people check the book they just want to see it filled in - then they move on. Anyone who has "endured" logistical military inspections knows of what I speak.
This sounds like some silly military requirements in the Canadian Armed forces, and if it is the solution is easy. I just filled in a lot of phoney crap; when people check the book they just want to see it filled in - then they move on. Anyone who has "endured" logistical military inspections knows of what I speak.
What if your boat didn't have a head?
If that ever happened around here I guess I would just have to remove my head and holding tank and go back to using a 5 gallon bucket. There's not much they could do if your boat doesn't have a head. Lots of boats don't have them.
If that ever happened around here I guess I would just have to remove my head and holding tank and go back to using a 5 gallon bucket. There's not much they could do if your boat doesn't have a head. Lots of boats don't have them.
You know those white pine plugs
that you are sopposed to tie to each thtough hull? Well------------- What if your boat didn't have a head? There's not much they could do if your boat doesn't have a head. Lots of boats don't have them.
that you are sopposed to tie to each thtough hull? Well------------- What if your boat didn't have a head? There's not much they could do if your boat doesn't have a head. Lots of boats don't have them.
Wouldn't have to if I had the bucket.
Lou, I deleted my responce to Ross's reply at the exact moment that you posted that. I wasn't sure if he was trying to insult me or what. I deleted it because I thought I might be jumping to conclusions. He probably meant nothing more than what you just said.
Lou, I deleted my responce to Ross's reply at the exact moment that you posted that. I wasn't sure if he was trying to insult me or what. I deleted it because I thought I might be jumping to conclusions. He probably meant nothing more than what you just said.
And I Thought The Left Coast Was Bad
Geesh, there must be some real pottie - compulsive folks in that legislature. As an aside, in Avalon Harbor, Catalina Island, a dye tablet is put in the head to assure no discharge. Started doing this decades ago when fecal counts were too high in the harbor. While everyone is pretty OK with this, you can guess the next: counts didn't budge. Seems emissions were from old sewage pipes which are only now being replaced. Only gripes are from the heavy-handed approach to enforcement. Two boaters I personally know were fined and banned after THEY reported minor discharges from defective Y-valves or thru-hulls. One fought the charge to the tune of $2K on principle and won, only to be harrassed for ever more. RD
Geesh, there must be some real pottie - compulsive folks in that legislature. As an aside, in Avalon Harbor, Catalina Island, a dye tablet is put in the head to assure no discharge. Started doing this decades ago when fecal counts were too high in the harbor. While everyone is pretty OK with this, you can guess the next: counts didn't budge. Seems emissions were from old sewage pipes which are only now being replaced. Only gripes are from the heavy-handed approach to enforcement. Two boaters I personally know were fined and banned after THEY reported minor discharges from defective Y-valves or thru-hulls. One fought the charge to the tune of $2K on principle and won, only to be harrassed for ever more. RD
It's actually pretty common on inland lakes
to be required to keep a pumpout log onboard that can be matched with marina pumpout records. It's been required on Lake Lanier in GA (where I was for more than 20 years) for more than 10 years. However, I never met or even heard of anyone whose logs were ever checked, and I doubt if they ever will be in RI either...'cuz it's just too labor intensive/expensive to match up the handwritten logs on a zillion boats against the handwritten logs of a dozen marina and mobile pumpouts. The $35 inspection fee is a bit much though....and it's gonna take years to inspect every boat! AR is inspecting and "certifying" every boat too. There aren't 1000 boats in AR big enough to have a toilet...after 3 years, two state employees whose full time job is boat inspections STILL haven't inspected all of 'em. A ridiculous waste of manpower and tax $$ IMO.
to be required to keep a pumpout log onboard that can be matched with marina pumpout records. It's been required on Lake Lanier in GA (where I was for more than 20 years) for more than 10 years. However, I never met or even heard of anyone whose logs were ever checked, and I doubt if they ever will be in RI either...'cuz it's just too labor intensive/expensive to match up the handwritten logs on a zillion boats against the handwritten logs of a dozen marina and mobile pumpouts. The $35 inspection fee is a bit much though....and it's gonna take years to inspect every boat! AR is inspecting and "certifying" every boat too. There aren't 1000 boats in AR big enough to have a toilet...after 3 years, two state employees whose full time job is boat inspections STILL haven't inspected all of 'em. A ridiculous waste of manpower and tax $$ IMO.
Part of the Problem is Boaters
A lot of boaters at marinas use the head at the slip and pump it overboard. One guy I know has a 2 gallon holding tank on a 27' boat. He was technically legal but in reality pumped his shit overboard into the marina. He is a great guy but I really don't like his stuff floating around my boat. Simularly it would be real tempting to pump the holding tank overboard instead of going to a pump-out station. With all of the new pumpouts being built and a lot of boats inquiring minds are wondering why the pumpout stations aren't being used. Here in Alabama they have a law that it is illegal to stay at a dock that doesn't have a pumpout station if your boat has a holding tank. It is also illegal not to have a head on boats over a certain size. While I agree that boaters aren't a major source of water pollution it is a filthy habit to pump shit overboard in mainas and anchorages in near shore waters where people swim. You get ridiculous laws when people fail to act responsibly. But I also don't want to catch hepatitis is some other disease from swiming or eating oysters because some awful person shits in the water.
A lot of boaters at marinas use the head at the slip and pump it overboard. One guy I know has a 2 gallon holding tank on a 27' boat. He was technically legal but in reality pumped his shit overboard into the marina. He is a great guy but I really don't like his stuff floating around my boat. Simularly it would be real tempting to pump the holding tank overboard instead of going to a pump-out station. With all of the new pumpouts being built and a lot of boats inquiring minds are wondering why the pumpout stations aren't being used. Here in Alabama they have a law that it is illegal to stay at a dock that doesn't have a pumpout station if your boat has a holding tank. It is also illegal not to have a head on boats over a certain size. While I agree that boaters aren't a major source of water pollution it is a filthy habit to pump shit overboard in mainas and anchorages in near shore waters where people swim. You get ridiculous laws when people fail to act responsibly. But I also don't want to catch hepatitis is some other disease from swiming or eating oysters because some awful person shits in the water.
I've been advocating...
...mandatory pump out for years. It's very simple. Pump out required BEFORE you get fuel at the fuel dock. Upon pumping out, they put a florescent dye into the holding tank. Any further overboard discharge will be immediately visible.
...mandatory pump out for years. It's very simple. Pump out required BEFORE you get fuel at the fuel dock. Upon pumping out, they put a florescent dye into the holding tank. Any further overboard discharge will be immediately visible.
Good point about swimming.
I like to swim a lot, from my boat and from the shores. If ever you are thinking of overboard pump out think first of the people who like to swim in that area. Think of the children playing along the shore. It's easy to get around the law. They can monitor your head and holding tank but they can't monitor your 5 gallon bucket. The law is impossible to enforce. If you are using a bucket, use one with a lid and put some blue porto potty liquid in it which treats it and keeps it from smelling. It will last over a week and not even smell. Then take it to shore and dump it. Dumping it on shore is better than dumping it in the water. Human fecal matter in the water is no joke. It's poison. It can kill people. Don't laugh it off like it's nothing. I used a bucket for many many years when cruising. Even my guests used it. It's no different than a porto potty. But you have to dispose of it properly, either on land or far off shore. Keep the water clean for swimming.
I like to swim a lot, from my boat and from the shores. If ever you are thinking of overboard pump out think first of the people who like to swim in that area. Think of the children playing along the shore. It's easy to get around the law. They can monitor your head and holding tank but they can't monitor your 5 gallon bucket. The law is impossible to enforce. If you are using a bucket, use one with a lid and put some blue porto potty liquid in it which treats it and keeps it from smelling. It will last over a week and not even smell. Then take it to shore and dump it. Dumping it on shore is better than dumping it in the water. Human fecal matter in the water is no joke. It's poison. It can kill people. Don't laugh it off like it's nothing. I used a bucket for many many years when cruising. Even my guests used it. It's no different than a porto potty. But you have to dispose of it properly, either on land or far off shore. Keep the water clean for swimming.
Inland lake pumpouts
I'm not really sure how many marinas on our lake even offer the service or even if there is any other than the marina I use. The only one that I know of charges $27.50 and they won't do it on a weekend ... I have to make time to do it on a weekday. Alan, your idea works great for powerboats and I like the mandatory dye idea. I'd feel better if I knew that all those powerboats on our lake pumped out as frequently as they fill-up. However, don't many boats carry a holding tank that can't be discharged to the water (head discharges directly) so dye in the holding tank wouldn't give any evidence of an illegal discharge anyway? The few sailboats on our lake that have holding tanks probably only fill up once a season though, if that. Besides, I have to jerry can my fuel because nobody sells diesel. We rarely sail more than a few hours at a time and nobody has ever done No 2 on our boat since we've had it, so the frequency of pump out is not often at those prices!
I'm not really sure how many marinas on our lake even offer the service or even if there is any other than the marina I use. The only one that I know of charges $27.50 and they won't do it on a weekend ... I have to make time to do it on a weekday. Alan, your idea works great for powerboats and I like the mandatory dye idea. I'd feel better if I knew that all those powerboats on our lake pumped out as frequently as they fill-up. However, don't many boats carry a holding tank that can't be discharged to the water (head discharges directly) so dye in the holding tank wouldn't give any evidence of an illegal discharge anyway? The few sailboats on our lake that have holding tanks probably only fill up once a season though, if that. Besides, I have to jerry can my fuel because nobody sells diesel. We rarely sail more than a few hours at a time and nobody has ever done No 2 on our boat since we've had it, so the frequency of pump out is not often at those prices!
Hey, Alan:
...that may work where you are, but on the left coast, most marinas are a short hop to 3 miles, so why would we wouldn't want a charge when most of the time our tanks are empty. RD PS: most new marinas are being built with pump-outs for every few fingers (so the municipality doesn't have to pay for or maintain them, natch) and some even sport a connection at each slip. Hard to figure how that doesn't turn into a maintenance nightmare over time tho.
...that may work where you are, but on the left coast, most marinas are a short hop to 3 miles, so why would we wouldn't want a charge when most of the time our tanks are empty. RD PS: most new marinas are being built with pump-outs for every few fingers (so the municipality doesn't have to pay for or maintain them, natch) and some even sport a connection at each slip. Hard to figure how that doesn't turn into a maintenance nightmare over time tho.
Pumpout
Alan...I fail to see the correlation between the pumpout requirement and getting fuel. The use of the head is not proportional to the amount of motoring done/fuel burned.
Alan...I fail to see the correlation between the pumpout requirement and getting fuel. The use of the head is not proportional to the amount of motoring done/fuel burned.
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