Jeff wrote:
But before you get "holier than though," when last I traveled through
the south, it was virtually impossible to get a pumpout anywhere,
even at places that advertised a free pumpout with a fillup.


I wasn't being "holier than thou" just pointing out the facts.

And I have cruised the East Coast and found pumpouts not too
difficult to find. It's not as easy as it should be, but
it's very far from impossible.





That's strange becasue alal three of the big marinas in New Bern have
working pump-outs and with a low tidal sluggish waterway, the idea
that someone would be actively pumping straight to a river system that
is already overflowing with pllutants irks me no end.

Same here.

Our marina has a cart pump-out and makes it very easy, in
addition to the pump-out next to the fuel dock.

Liveaboards are subject to some extra fees but they also get
a free monthly pump-out (and if they come pump out the
holding tank and nothing comes out, the dockmaster takes a
close look at their plumbing). The only punishment I know of
in the last few years has been one guy who was kicked out
for many reasons, that being the official one.



We didn't make it up to New Bern. I suspect that a tenant of a marina
has a much easier time of getting a pumpout than a transient. And an
obvious traveler who is only stopping for fuel has less of a chance. Its
easy to believe that a kid would rather say "Its broken" or "The guy who
does that isn't here now" than deal with the pumpout.

I've heard that too, and always reported the "broken
pump-out" to the relevant coastal anti-pollution regulatory
agency.

If a marina pump-out has been installed with tax money, and
the marina owner gets a tax incentive for having it, then
reporting it broken (even if it really is broken) means they
are cheating the coastal taxpayers as well as boaters. Let
the IRS become the enforcement arm for these rules!


.... Or maybe they
think "They brought it here, they can take it elsewhere." The jokes on
them of course, because the frustrated boater probably hits the "eject"
button the instant the kid turns his back.


I've never done thatn although I've been tempted. Makes you
understand why some waters have rules that the overboard
plumbing must be disconnected & disabled, not just shut off
with a valve.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King