Black Water Discharging. What really happens?

[Cadence]

Maybe an oaken bucket is still exempt?

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by JStone

Whether in a marina, on hook, or coastal cruising, what do people really do with black water? What do YOU do? What are your opinions?

In tidal waters (Atlantic Europe), discharge directly overboard unless behind a lock or near a beach. Behind a lock or in non-tidal waters (Baltic), hold in port and pump out overboard when underway.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Cadence

Maybe an oaken bucket is still exempt?

Well, that's actually the very weird thing about the marine sanitation laws in the United States. Pee directly over the side and you are not violating any federal marine sanitation laws (of course, local laws and things like public indecency could still apply). Pee into a bucket and then dump that over within the 3-mile limit, or in a "no discharge" zone, and you have now violated federal marine sanitation laws. How this makes any sense at all is quite beyond me.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

Well, that's actually the very weird thing about the marine sanitation laws in the United States. Pee directly over the side and you are not violating any federal marine sanitation laws (of course, local laws and things like public indecency could still apply). Pee into a bucket and then dump that over within the 3-mile limit, or in a "no discharge" zone, and you have now violated federal marine sanitation laws. How this makes any sense at all is quite beyond me.

Who ever said our laws make sense? I do agree with not pumping out at the dock. I'm old enough to have swam in marinas when holding tank, what the hell is that?. 3miles ain't far. Hanging it over the side, if that isn't legal I'm in trouble.

[hellosailor]

d0n, the logic is pretty simple. Congress has the power to regulate equipment and vessels. That's the bucket or head. So they regulate it, because they can.

Congress doesn't have the authority to prevent a fool from pissing into the wind. So, likewise, a sailor discharging any kind of bodily fluids over the side, is something they just haven't figured out how to regulate. Yet.

Congress is also constitutionally not required to apply logic, or be subject to it, in any way, manner or time. Silly boy, you forgot that?

[a64pilot]

Yep, you can jump in and pee, just don't go below, pee in a cup and throw that overboard.
Actually had an FMC water cop tell me that exactly

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

d0n, the logic is pretty simple. Congress has the power to regulate equipment and vessels. That's the bucket or head. So they regulate it, because they can.

Congress doesn't have the authority to prevent a fool from pissing into the wind. So, likewise, a sailor discharging any kind of bodily fluids over the side, is something they just haven't figured out how to regulate. Yet.

Congress is also constitutionally not required to apply logic, or be subject to it, in any way, manner or time. Silly boy, you forgot that?

You mean I should have been pissing on the lee side?

[Stu Jackson]

We should get members of Congress peeing in cups.

And then have the results analyzed.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

We should get members of Congress peeing in cups.

And then have the results analyzed.

Most have been in there so long they need a cathode. Sp?

[zengirl]

Originally Posted by bletso

We avoid the problem completely, we installed a Nature"s Head, a composting head.

Before that we used the marina facilities or waited to go off shore.

Please tell how the compost head works and cost. I think I would like to go that route. Thanks so much.

[Kenomac]

Flush and forget using two electric macerating heads. The fishies love us and come zooming towards the boat whenever they hear the Jabsco fire up.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by zengirl

Please tell how the compost head works and cost. I think I would like to go that route. Thanks so much.

Have you considered doing a search for this information? There have been very many posts on it already.

[zengirl]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Have you considered doing a search for this information? There have been very many posts on it already.

No..but I will.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by zengirl

Please tell how the compost head works and cost. I think I would like to go that route. Thanks so much.

Nature's Head or Air Head are the two popular models. The geometry regarding installation is slightly different but they work pretty much the same.

https://www.airheadtoilet.com/

Nature's Head Composting Toilets: Saving Our Water for Tomorrow

The pee is separated from the solids and discarded as the situation permits. We have an extra pee pot in case disposal is not possible. Ashore, you can dump into a toilet or pour out on the ground in the woods or dig a hole.

The solids compost with any of a number of fibrous materials used to pre-charge the pot. When a contribution is made, the agitator on the side of the pot is used to mix the contents. Well run, two people can get by from 2 to 6 weeks before clean-out is required. If you have the luxury of letting the pot rest for a week or so after the last use, the contents will smell earthen,(think knight crawlers). I ferry it to shore on the dinghy and bury the contents in the woods. Take a bucket to water rinse into the hole. I have used dry leaves as a pre-charge media although the recommended coconut shreds is better.

Each of the mentioned heads has a positive ventilation fan. We run ours using a solar powered fan with battery back-up. These are inadequate as purchased. The batteries are too small & poor quality. If you go this rout, plan to power from your battery or modify the solar stuff.

We are on the Great Lakes - No Discharge. We have an 18 gal holding tank, Air Head, and two Vac-U-Flush units (3 total) Y-Valves are locked out. Marina pump out here is 5 bucks. Having an option is essential here, especially if you cruise the Canadian North Channel.

[Philip St1]

Hi

Always used a porta-potty, which I had to dump into five gallon jugs when I was away from a marina for too long during my trek up and down the ICW. For one person, five gallons is almost a week.

We all know that poo is fertilizer for the water. The problem has always been when you get too much of it in any one place. There is depletes the oxygen and drives the fish away (dead zones).

Better safe than sorry. CG doesn't understand.

Enjoy the day, even when it is hard,

Philip