x-no-archive:yes Peggie Hall wrote:

Terry Spragg wrote:
As I understood it once, long ago, regulations required
commercial marinas to offer free pump out as part of their
licensing procedure.

Not true. However, a maximum charge of $5 was/is a condition of
receiving a federal grant to install a pumpout under the Clean Vessel
Act of 1992.

Contrary to what many people believe, maintaining pumpout equipment is
VERY expensive. Boat owners are highly destructive to self-service
pumpouts...minimum wage dock hands aren't much better...and except in
marinas that have access to sewer, the cost of pumper truck service for
the inground storage tanks can run several thousand $$ a month. Why do
you think so many pumpouts on any body of water aren't working half the
time? Ask your marina manager what it costs him to operate and
maintain his pumpout equipment...the number will stagger you.

In Maryland (according to our first marina owner) the state gave him a
grant to put in the equipment and get rid of what he collected and in
return he could not charge more than $5.00 per pumpout. He also had
to keep records of who he pumped out I think. Before this went into
effect, or for marinas that didn't buy into the program, they could
charge what they wanted to. I know one across the river (still in
Maryland - we were on the Patuxent then) that charged $20.00 @



grandma Rosalie