Peggie Hall wrote:
Terry Spragg wrote:
I empty mine by...opening the "Port / Sea" through hull valve,
closing the vent lines ball valves and then, after donning my lucky
shower cap, safety goggles, filter mask and raincoat, pressurise the
tank...

Suuuure you do, Terry...and you're always offshore at least 3 miles to
do it, too.

Being offshore has nothing to do with this technical matter.

Besides, I do not dump "ballast" casually. When neccessary, I wait
for night, and an outgoing tide. The system is capable of the
behavoir described, and preserves options, including about a grand
in the bank, considering the alternatives.


However, on the off-chance that you AREN'T pulling our leg, it may not
be the dumbest idea I've heard this year, but it's a contender--an
excellent way to crack a tank...or worse.


Thank you. I sent you the plans for this system over 3 years ago, I
think. You didn't like it then, either. Scaredy cat. I take no
offense, it's an understandable fear.

I built the tank in poly glass and epoxy for about 50 bucks in
materials, plus leftover scraps, etc. It has been pressure tested to
a head of 4 feet, with no signs of cracking, or even swelling. It
has been frozen to -30 odd degrees, with some water remaining
inside, undamaged due to it's shape, in a purposeful test. It's 1/4"
thick, except on the top, for a reason. I do not fear a poop bomb in
the slightest, especially since, after all, we each harbour hundreds
of square feet of internal surface in our gut that are very happy
indeed with the presence of semi processed food, the only portion of
which being released from our bodies is essentially inert and
useless to us except for benign bacteria in healthy people, with
most of the active materials being resorbed by the process of
ailimentation, upon which our lives depend. The castoff nourishes
the greater biosphere, which would perish without it. It is shameful
to poison it.

We must learn to love our digestive symbiots, as they love and need
us. Our lack of success so far is no reason to give up.

Our poop is pure gold to the external world, ambrosia to the soil,
emotive arguements notwithstanding. Well, mine is, I don't know
about yours.

This is not an effective method for damaging any reasonable tank or
pipes. If it were effective in any wise, that tank would have been
due to crumble into dust, anyway, and I would rather watch it
explode while purging it than have it disintegrate unnoticed at sea
or moored unattended. It gets pumped up to about 4 pounds of
pressure on relatively infrequent occasions, so far with no mishaps.
You should be wishing me good luck!

I'm the guy who actually keeps his pooper through hull closed, most
of the time.

As a roadie tech for rock 'n roll bands including my own, I, and all
of similar ilk, agree that if it's easy to break, I don't want it
anyway. Bust it if you can. Be prepared.

Those with an interest in commercially "legal" current defecatory
receptacles have an interest in maintaining the status quo, and
press their disagreeable cases to the maximum extent so as to
protect their market share. Peggy, I believe you are a little
conventional in this regard, having at least a personal bias, apropo
simple habit and possibly genuine misplaced concern and fear for my
health.

I *am* pulling whatever legs are presented, in that I do not bother
with the personal protective gear to which I previously alluded. It
is unneccessary. The rest is truth.

The system works, is independant of the scandals revolving around
marina suction style pumpouts, regulations and availability, and is
convenient and cheap. Millions of RV users dump out at mall plazas,
every year. Why not my boat? What I really need is a pipe thread cut
into the pooper through hull and a chunk of old firehose, for max
convenience and lowest pressure dump. I see no reason why I
shouldn't use my boat and it's facilities on it's trailer as an RV.

How do most boaters handle their head's effluent problem? Thousand
dollar "legal" chewy pumps in stain-less steal, rotting in their
personal plumbing miasmas, with few pumpouts available, many of
those broken, or of restricted availability, or expensive? Most
cannot dump out cheaply, easily or freely at a mall RV plaza, but
with this, they could. Our local mall has dozens of RVs parked in
the parking lot every morning, waiting for the mall doors to open.

The stupid and inhumane failure of downtown authorities to provide
adequate public facilities for fear of attracting "undesirables" has
promoted suburban retail malls to premiereship in the mass
travelling shopping public market, even amongt those who travel on
foot.

Where do the homeless "go"? Need we, should we, restrict this
freedom to wander at will, forcing them into "homes" and lifestyles
they do not want?

Tourism is one of the leading leisure industries ashore, but is not
so easy afloat. Most boats are small, not yachts, and all require
that some form of facilities be available. I offer a system that
could serve conveniently and cheaply those who would enjoy such an
advance. Nobody promotes it because it does not offer them a way to
bilk the public.

I prefer to deal reasonably and responsibly with my boat's effluent
in my own way.

Damn the torpedoes! Fame as an unsuccessful poop bomb builder is
better than no fame at all.

Terry K

Wow! Sure feels good to vent. -tk