holding tank required?
 

Been shopping around for sail boats here in Calif. One guy has one at a
great price, but it was built in 1970 and "doesn't have a holding tank."
Does that mean that your crap flushes straight into the ocean? Is that even
legal? Can a holding tank be fitted easily or would that be super
expensive? I plan on leaving the thing at anchorage and on moorings, not in
a marina. But I don't want to be arrested when big turds bob to the surface
around my boat (I inhale a lot when I eat). Do anchorages require holding
tanks?

I must admit I know next to nothing about marine sanitation.

Thanks!

"Falky foo" wrote in message
m...
Been shopping around for sail boats here in Calif. One guy has one at a
great price, but it was built in 1970 and "doesn't have a holding tank."
Does that mean that your crap flushes straight into the ocean? Is that
even
legal? Can a holding tank be fitted easily or would that be super
expensive? I plan on leaving the thing at anchorage and on moorings, not
in
a marina. But I don't want to be arrested when big turds bob to the
surface
around my boat (I inhale a lot when I eat). Do anchorages require holding
tanks?

I must admit I know next to nothing about marine sanitation.

Thanks!

I like the thought of you leaving a trail of big bobbing turds.

I believe that Federal Law says that you cannot discharge untreated sewage
within 3 nautical miles of shore. I would assume that your anchorage or
harbor would be within that distance. Your options would be a type 1, type
2, or a type 3 treatment system. If your area is classified a "No Discharge
Zone" then only a type 3 would be legal.

Type 1 & 2 are treatment plants (LectraSan and others) while a type 3 is a
holding tank.

If you direct discharge then your discharge valve is required to be locked
while within the 3 mile distance. If the Coast Guard were to board you for
a routine inspection and your head is not legal you could be finned.


"Falky foo" wrote in message
m...
Been shopping around for sail boats here in Calif. One guy has one at a
great price, but it was built in 1970 and "doesn't have a holding tank."
Does that mean that your crap flushes straight into the ocean? Is that
even
legal? Can a holding tank be fitted easily or would that be super
expensive? I plan on leaving the thing at anchorage and on moorings, not
in
a marina. But I don't want to be arrested when big turds bob to the
surface
around my boat (I inhale a lot when I eat). Do anchorages require holding
tanks?

I must admit I know next to nothing about marine sanitation.

Thanks!

On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 04:08:00 -0500, "Rick"
wrote:

I believe that Federal Law says that you cannot discharge untreated sewage
within 3 nautical miles of shore. I would assume that your anchorage or
harbor would be within that distance. Your options would be a type 1, type
2, or a type 3 treatment system. If your area is classified a "No Discharge
Zone" then only a type 3 would be legal.

Type 1 & 2 are treatment plants (LectraSan and others) while a type 3 is a
holding tank.

If you direct discharge then your discharge valve is required to be locked
while within the 3 mile distance. If the Coast Guard were to board you for
a routine inspection and your head is not legal you could be finned.

There are harbor based restrictions. For example, you must have all
discharge vents closed and locked when entering into Newport and other
RI harbors plus Mystic and a bunch of NY ports.

All the best,

Tom
--------------

"What the hell's the deal with this newsgroup...
is there a computer terminal in the day room of
some looney bin somewhere?"

Bilgeman - circa 2004

"Rick" wrote in message
...
snip
a routine inspection and your head is not legal you could be finned.


....and if that's not bad enough you could be fined too.
;-) -DanO

"Falky foo" wrote in message
m...
Been shopping around for sail boats here in Calif. One guy has one at a
great price, but it was built in 1970 and "doesn't have a holding tank."
Does that mean that your crap flushes straight into the ocean? Is that
even
legal? Can a holding tank be fitted easily or would that be super
expensive? I plan on leaving the thing at anchorage and on moorings, not
in
a marina. But I don't want to be arrested when big turds bob to the
surface
around my boat (I inhale a lot when I eat). Do anchorages require holding
tanks?

I must admit I know next to nothing about marine sanitation.

Thanks!



You need the law to know the right thing to do? Maybe you should opt for an
RV, not a boat.

Then my turds would be covering the LA freeways.


You need the law to know the right thing to do? Maybe you should opt for
an
RV, not a boat.

"Falky foo" wrote in message om...
Been shopping around for sail boats here in Calif. One guy has one at a
great price, but it was built in 1970 and "doesn't have a holding tank."
Does that mean that your crap flushes straight into the ocean? Is that even
legal? Can a holding tank be fitted easily or would that be super
expensive? I plan on leaving the thing at anchorage and on moorings, not in
a marina. But I don't want to be arrested when big turds bob to the surface
around my boat (I inhale a lot when I eat). Do anchorages require holding
tanks?

I must admit I know next to nothing about marine sanitation.

You cannot discharge untreated sewage. And "treated" has specific
defintions are not met by some of those old, funky, not so sanitary,
sanitation systems.

And don't be led by anyone to believe that "this old boat is
grandfathered". It doesn't matter how old the boat is, you can't
discharge raw sewage within 3 miles.

You would probably need to install a holding tank or treatment system.
Treatment systems like the Lectrasan use a significant amount of
electricity. Each flush thorugh a 12 volt Lectrasan draws about 40
amps for two to four minutes. This may not be practical on a small
sailboat.

Even if you have a treatment system, you may not be able to discharge
treated sewage. You can't discharge any sewage, treated or not, in a
no-discharge zone. The only federal no-discharge zone I know of in
California is Richardson Bay. However - there is an obscure
California state regulation that makes any CA marina with shoreside
restroom facilities a no-discharge zone. Kinda stupid, and I have
never heard of it being enforced, but the reg exists.

cool thanks for the info...

how much do little holding tanks or porta potties cost to install in a boat
that wasn't originally built with one? Or can they be installed?




"Curtis CCR" wrote in message
om...
"Falky foo" wrote in message
om...
Been shopping around for sail boats here in Calif. One guy has one at a
great price, but it was built in 1970 and "doesn't have a holding tank."
Does that mean that your crap flushes straight into the ocean? Is that
even
legal? Can a holding tank be fitted easily or would that be super
expensive? I plan on leaving the thing at anchorage and on moorings,
not in
a marina. But I don't want to be arrested when big turds bob to the
surface
around my boat (I inhale a lot when I eat). Do anchorages require
holding
tanks?

I must admit I know next to nothing about marine sanitation.

You cannot discharge untreated sewage. And "treated" has specific
defintions are not met by some of those old, funky, not so sanitary,
sanitation systems.

And don't be led by anyone to believe that "this old boat is
grandfathered". It doesn't matter how old the boat is, you can't
discharge raw sewage within 3 miles.

You would probably need to install a holding tank or treatment system.
Treatment systems like the Lectrasan use a significant amount of
electricity. Each flush thorugh a 12 volt Lectrasan draws about 40
amps for two to four minutes. This may not be practical on a small
sailboat.

Even if you have a treatment system, you may not be able to discharge
treated sewage. You can't discharge any sewage, treated or not, in a
no-discharge zone. The only federal no-discharge zone I know of in
California is Richardson Bay. However - there is an obscure
California state regulation that makes any CA marina with shoreside
restroom facilities a no-discharge zone. Kinda stupid, and I have
never heard of it being enforced, but the reg exists.

"Falky foo" wrote in message om...
cool thanks for the info...

how much do little holding tanks or porta potties cost to install in a boat
that wasn't originally built with one? Or can they be installed?

I have no idea. I have not looked at holding tank prices in a long
while. My 42 year old boat never had one. I installed a lectrasan
when I bought the boat - replaced a stinky, improperly functioning
turd ejector.

I don't know what they cost, but portapotties are just that.
Portable. They generally are not "installed". I have seen folks
dealing with them.... Some have detachable tanks... Seen people
carrying these jerrycan looking things to restrooms to be emptied in a
regular toilet. Doesn't interest me at all - pump outs are tolerable,
but I am not interested in pouring a bucket of crap out in a bathroom
stall. I'd rather just pee over the rail (legal AFAIK - except for
possible indecent exposure laws g)

Peggy Hall has a great article, that I still have somewhere on one of
my computers, called "Marine Sanitation: Fact vs. Folklore" It's a
great article. But it doesn't seem to be available at some of the web
site where it used to be kept. I googled for it, and the first couple
of links didn't work and I didn't bother looking further.








"Curtis CCR" wrote in message
om...
"Falky foo" wrote in message
om...
Been shopping around for sail boats here in Calif. One guy has one at a
great price, but it was built in 1970 and "doesn't have a holding tank."
Does that mean that your crap flushes straight into the ocean? Is that
even
legal? Can a holding tank be fitted easily or would that be super
expensive? I plan on leaving the thing at anchorage and on moorings,
not in
a marina. But I don't want to be arrested when big turds bob to the
surface
around my boat (I inhale a lot when I eat). Do anchorages require
holding
tanks?

I must admit I know next to nothing about marine sanitation.

You cannot discharge untreated sewage. And "treated" has specific
defintions are not met by some of those old, funky, not so sanitary,
sanitation systems.

And don't be led by anyone to believe that "this old boat is
grandfathered". It doesn't matter how old the boat is, you can't
discharge raw sewage within 3 miles.

You would probably need to install a holding tank or treatment system.
Treatment systems like the Lectrasan use a significant amount of
electricity. Each flush thorugh a 12 volt Lectrasan draws about 40
amps for two to four minutes. This may not be practical on a small
sailboat.

Even if you have a treatment system, you may not be able to discharge
treated sewage. You can't discharge any sewage, treated or not, in a
no-discharge zone. The only federal no-discharge zone I know of in
California is Richardson Bay. However - there is an obscure
California state regulation that makes any CA marina with shoreside
restroom facilities a no-discharge zone. Kinda stupid, and I have
never heard of it being enforced, but the reg exists.