Florida Keys: Going #2 in a hole in the sand, legal?

[kmacdonald]

Dry Tortugas





Catboat that made the trip behind the tri.

[ty.gregory]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

DOJ strikes again!

[Charlie]

I would use the 5 gallon bucket with some of those sanitation bags in there. You might want to ask the park department about camping in the Keys and how to dispose of human waste when backpacking.

[kmacdonald]

Here is a link to some useful info: Everglades National Park Camping Page

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by Perithead

I know this is a bizarre question but I had to ask!

I am headed down to the Florida Keys on my Montgomery 17 on Thursday and I plan to spend about 3 weeks down there cruising around and exploring the deserted islands and such. I have a porta potti aboard but I want to try to use it as little as possible.

I wonder if it is legal or not to dig a hole in the ground and bury your "troubles"?

I am a backpacker and I know in state parks around the US it is legal to do so, I wonder if the same applies for the Keys? I would think so.....

Figured I would ask here before I call the Coast Guard and check.

Thanks for helping me with my "troubles"!

Do yourself, the environment and potentially some other cruisers and/or their children a favor and buy yourself some "Wag Bags" and "handle the problem appropriately. Everyone will appreciate it.

FWIW....

[bobconnie]

BUCKET, BUCKET, Bucket with a bag! but need I say again BUCKET !! It's a legal head! just my 2 cents ( but I do like my bucket)

[Snore]

If you are on the west coast in Everglades National Park there are back country toilets, a/k/a ports-potties on some of the keys and on the chickees. With the size of boat you are taking, I would suggest visiting the park. While cat holes may still be legal, a low tech plastic bag system might be easier.

Having spent a lot of time camping in that area, I feel obligated to remind you that it is spring time and towards the end of alligator and crocodile mating season. The warmer weather also inspires more bugs. So ask your self, would I rather use a five gallon bucket, or make it open season on your @@@ by squatting over a hole?

Oh yeah, I preferred the extra thick black garbage bags myself.


Bill

[Tellie]

Dude! Where do you think you're going to backpack in the FL. Keys that doesn't have a Micky Ds every two miles?

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

The no discharge zone applies to boats with a head. If your boat doesnt have a head, drop the "troubles" in a bucket and through overboard.

Nope. That's illegal, too. Now, if you "go" directly overboard, without putting it into a bucket first, then it's legal--as far as the marine discharge laws. You could still get arrested for public indecency, or something along those lines. And as was already mentioned, the Monroe County Sheriffs Dept. make a LOT of those kinds of arrests.

As for burying it on the "beach." Well, there are precious few beaches in the Keys. You're not going to find a lot of sand for burying anything, and most of the sand that you do find has been trucked in by some private party to create an artificial beach. You would, in essence, be burying your crap in someone's back yard. I don't think they're going to take too kindly to that.

The few natural beaches that exist are pretty popular, and pretty crowded. There isn't really all that much public land in the Keys. It's not like the whole island chain is one big state park or anything. Hence, the comparison to other state parks doesn't really hold up.

As others have said, get a porta-potty, get a bucket and some plastic bags, or figure out something. Planning to just go in a hole in the sand is a fine recipe for some serious constipation!

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Tellie

Dude! Where do you think you're going to backpack in the FL. Keys that doesn't have a Micky Ds every two miles?

Actually, there are only four McDonalds in all of the 100+ miles of the Keys. There are also five Burger Kings, mostly more or less across the street from the McDonalds.

Nonetheless, the point is well taken. The Keys are not some desolate, back country, national preserve. They are fully developed with houses, hotels, and businesses covering pretty much every useable inch. There are a few exceptions--small (by mainland standards) park areas on several of the islands, and of course the Dry Tortugas. Still, it's not like you're going to get far away from civilization down there like you can in, say, Rocky Mountain National Park.

[SaltHeart]

I live in the keys and I would not reccomend it. For an assortment of reasons I would say you are asking for trouble. To go directly overboard is legal, but to go in a bucket then dump overboard is illegal. I am quite certain to dig a hole on land and dump into it would at the very least be frowned upon by the parks service.

[Cotemar]

Doe's a Bear Sheet in the woods said the blind man to his deaf son.

[Chief Engineer]

Wag Bags...are definitely "the way to go"....Used them up im Maine with a 5 gal bucket and a made for seat.

[capn_billl]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

Actually, there are only four McDonalds in all of the 100+ miles of the Keys. There are also five Burger Kings, mostly more or less across the street from the McDonalds.

Nonetheless, the point is well taken. The Keys are not some desolate, back country, national preserve. They are fully developed with houses, hotels, and businesses covering pretty much every useable inch. There are a few exceptions--small (by mainland standards) park areas on several of the islands, and of course the Dry Tortugas. Still, it's not like you're going to get far away from civilization down there like you can in, say, Rocky Mountain National Park.

The last time I was on the Dry Tortugas the park rangers were VERY ann?l They had a restroom on Fort Jackson, and the potty police were out in force. I would imagine all of the parks on the keys were the same.

[kmacdonald]

Originally Posted by capn_billl

The last time I was on the Dry Tortugas the park rangers were VERY ann?l They had a restroom on Fort Jackson, and the potty police were out in force. I would imagine all of the parks on the keys were the same.

Fort Jefferson on the Dry Tortugas now have composting toilets. When the Yankee Freedom (high speed cat) is there the composting toilets are locked and you use the restrooms on the Yankee Freedom. We found the park rangers very laid back and friendly.