With the rumors floating about, I wanted to get it straight from the expert, Peggy! Is it true that we have to cable tie our y valves so that they will not (and cannot function)? As we do not use the y valve at all, I have all ready done that anyway. However, many people seem to think that the whole valve MUST be removed completely, before sailing in Canadian waters. Still others say that if your boat is boarded and they find it is not done properly, the CCG can seize your boat. What do you know about all of this? As always, thanks for all your help and advice!!
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I had to remove the valve completly
I sail in lake Ontario and had to remove my valve completly, if they catch you with a diverter valve in place it could cost you $5,000.00 or your boat.
I sail in lake Ontario and had to remove my valve completly, if they catch you with a diverter valve in place it could cost you $5,000.00 or your boat.
Remove the handle.
Jay: There are too many American cruisers that spend time in Canadian waters. I cannot believe that you have to remove ANYTHING when you travel north. I would remove the handle from the thru hull and wire the Y-valve to the deck position. Mike O from Cleveland spends each summer up north, maybe he can give you some insite.
Jay: There are too many American cruisers that spend time in Canadian waters. I cannot believe that you have to remove ANYTHING when you travel north. I would remove the handle from the thru hull and wire the Y-valve to the deck position. Mike O from Cleveland spends each summer up north, maybe he can give you some insite.
You can't legally use it, so why not remove it?
If your boat is permanently "floated" on the waters of the Great Lakes, there's only one reason why you'd want to keep a y-valve and/or tank discharge macerator: you intend to use it illegally. All the waters of all the Great Lakes are "no discharge," which makes the use of y-valves and macerators illegal on all permanently moored vessels on them, both US and Canadian. For Canadian vessels, Canadian law makes it illegal even to have them installed. However, Canadian law does not apply to US registered vessels...so as long as they're secured as required by US federal law, you're ok--at least as far the the Canadians are concerned...but maybe not in US waters. That depends upon how the law reads in your state. If it also makes it illegal even to have a y-valve or macerator, then it has to be removed. The only exceptions would be transient vessels from coastal waters or abroad, or those that summer on the lakes and winter in FL or the Caribbean where they can legally use them at sea.
If your boat is permanently "floated" on the waters of the Great Lakes, there's only one reason why you'd want to keep a y-valve and/or tank discharge macerator: you intend to use it illegally. All the waters of all the Great Lakes are "no discharge," which makes the use of y-valves and macerators illegal on all permanently moored vessels on them, both US and Canadian. For Canadian vessels, Canadian law makes it illegal even to have them installed. However, Canadian law does not apply to US registered vessels...so as long as they're secured as required by US federal law, you're ok--at least as far the the Canadians are concerned...but maybe not in US waters. That depends upon how the law reads in your state. If it also makes it illegal even to have a y-valve or macerator, then it has to be removed. The only exceptions would be transient vessels from coastal waters or abroad, or those that summer on the lakes and winter in FL or the Caribbean where they can legally use them at sea.
It's illegal to dump a tank or flush directly
overboard in ALL US and Canadian inland waters. There may be indeed be a number of cruisers who go into Canadian waters, but the only waters in which there's any valid reason to have y-valves and macerators at all in either the US or Canada are coastal waters that offer immediate access to open sea beyond the "3 mile limit," which does not include the Great Lakes.
overboard in ALL US and Canadian inland waters. There may be indeed be a number of cruisers who go into Canadian waters, but the only waters in which there's any valid reason to have y-valves and macerators at all in either the US or Canada are coastal waters that offer immediate access to open sea beyond the "3 mile limit," which does not include the Great Lakes.
you can do it now or pay later
Colin, hit the nail right on the head, i read an article about 4 months ago about the very thing, and i did ask the lovely Peg what she knew about it. the greatlakes are a no discharge zone, is your $ or better yet your boat worth the chance. right now there are more law enforcesment boats on the great lakes than at any time in history,and all they have to do is stop and check you for a I-68 ( another story) and find an illegal head. is it worth it!
Colin, hit the nail right on the head, i read an article about 4 months ago about the very thing, and i did ask the lovely Peg what she knew about it. the greatlakes are a no discharge zone, is your $ or better yet your boat worth the chance. right now there are more law enforcesment boats on the great lakes than at any time in history,and all they have to do is stop and check you for a I-68 ( another story) and find an illegal head. is it worth it!
Depends on the Canadian waters
In many areas of Canada, sewage - or blackwater - is prohibited from being pumped overboard. This applies to ALL waters in the Province of Ontario, a specific list of waters in the Province of Manitoba, and numerous lakes and coastal waters in the Province of British Columbia. Regulations are simple in these restricted waters - you must have a proper sized and constructed holding tank with proper pump out and vents on your vessel. If your boat happens to have a piping system that allows discharge of sewage directly from a toilet overboard by bypassing the holding tank, or from the holding tank overboard, then you MUST visibly disconnect and close the system so as to prevent the possible discharge of sewage from the craft. For more details, go the the Canadian Coast Guard site - www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca
In many areas of Canada, sewage - or blackwater - is prohibited from being pumped overboard. This applies to ALL waters in the Province of Ontario, a specific list of waters in the Province of Manitoba, and numerous lakes and coastal waters in the Province of British Columbia. Regulations are simple in these restricted waters - you must have a proper sized and constructed holding tank with proper pump out and vents on your vessel. If your boat happens to have a piping system that allows discharge of sewage directly from a toilet overboard by bypassing the holding tank, or from the holding tank overboard, then you MUST visibly disconnect and close the system so as to prevent the possible discharge of sewage from the craft. For more details, go the the Canadian Coast Guard site - www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca
I phrased something badly...
When I said "However, Canadian law does not apply to US registered vessels"...I only meant that it's not necessary to remove equipment to sail in Canadian waters...NOT that US vessels don't have to follow Canadian laws pertaining to "no discharge." A US registered vessel coming from waters where a Type I or II MSD is legal would not have to remove it, but he would have to install a holding tank if the boat doesn't already have one. Nor is it necessary to remove any y-valves or overboard discharge pumps, it's only necessary to secure them them as prescribed by US law. There are a number of ways a system can be secured; which are legal for your boat depends upon whether your boat is equipped with a Type I or II MSD (treatment device) or a Type III (holding tank). If equipped with both, each would have be secured in the legally accepted manner prescribed by CFR 33 159.7: If your toilet is connected to a Type I or II MSD, acceptable methods of securing the device include -- (1) Closing the seacock and removing the handle; (2) Padlocking the seacock in the closed position; (3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold the seacock in the closed position; or (4) Locking the door to the space enclosing the toilets with a padlock or door handle key lock. If your toilet is connected to a holding tank, acceptable methods of securing the device include -- (1) Closing each valve leading to an overboard discharge and removing the handle; (2) Padlocking each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position; or (3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position. It's all in my book...
When I said "However, Canadian law does not apply to US registered vessels"...I only meant that it's not necessary to remove equipment to sail in Canadian waters...NOT that US vessels don't have to follow Canadian laws pertaining to "no discharge." A US registered vessel coming from waters where a Type I or II MSD is legal would not have to remove it, but he would have to install a holding tank if the boat doesn't already have one. Nor is it necessary to remove any y-valves or overboard discharge pumps, it's only necessary to secure them them as prescribed by US law. There are a number of ways a system can be secured; which are legal for your boat depends upon whether your boat is equipped with a Type I or II MSD (treatment device) or a Type III (holding tank). If equipped with both, each would have be secured in the legally accepted manner prescribed by CFR 33 159.7: If your toilet is connected to a Type I or II MSD, acceptable methods of securing the device include -- (1) Closing the seacock and removing the handle; (2) Padlocking the seacock in the closed position; (3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold the seacock in the closed position; or (4) Locking the door to the space enclosing the toilets with a padlock or door handle key lock. If your toilet is connected to a holding tank, acceptable methods of securing the device include -- (1) Closing each valve leading to an overboard discharge and removing the handle; (2) Padlocking each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position; or (3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position. It's all in my book...
Thanks, Peggy...........I ordered a couple of your
books, too. Hopefully, I will learn something and be able to retain the information. Here' hoping that your book will find it's way into everyone's floating library! A Best Seller would be good
books, too. Hopefully, I will learn something and be able to retain the information. Here' hoping that your book will find it's way into everyone's floating library! A Best Seller would be good
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