Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-15-2012, 09:25 PM   #1
Guru
 
Moonstruck's Avatar
 
City: Hailing Port: Charleston, SC
Vessel Name: Moonstruck
Vessel Model: Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,276
Sanitary Pump Lock

Here it is straight from the USCG manual.

No discharge zone.
While operating a vessel in an EPA designated no discharge zone, flow-through devices are only permitted if adequately secured to prevent discharges of all treated and untreated sewage. For example, closing the seacock and padlocking, using a non-releasable wire tie, or removing the seacock handle are considered to be sufficient in most cases. For short voyages, locking the door to the head with a padlock or a door handle key lock is another acceptable method. For vessels that routinely operate in no discharge zones a Type III MSD is recommended. For more information see 33 CFR 159.7 and 40 CFR Part 140.

I have disabled mine by installing a Blue Seas switch guard over the macerater pump switch/breaker. I drilled a small hole in it for a small keyed luggage lock. I am the only one with access to the key. The overboard pump can't be turned on with the switch guard in the locked position.

Toggle Switch Guard, Each - Blue Sea Systems 4100 - iboats

It is a simple matter to bore a small hole, and use a small luggage lock.
__________________
Don on Moonstruck
Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
When cruising life is simpler, but on a grander scale (author unknown)
https://moonstruckblog.wordpress.com/
Moonstruck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-15-2012, 10:23 PM   #2
Guru
 
HopCar's Avatar
 
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,307
Moonstruck, I like it! That's even easier than installing a key switch.
HopCar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2012, 06:43 AM   #3
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,147
I'm not sure an electrical lockout is satisfactory.

It's too complicated for government inspectors to follow your specific system...so they make it easy on themselves.....they ONLY check the overboard thru-hull. IT has to be disabled by one of the common methods (wire tie, remove handle, etc)...as in your post. I have NEVER seen where the electrical lockout is satisfactory (even though it makes more sense in some cases). I just don't think the "inspectors want to get into a discussion on "your" system unfortunately.

Here..make it easy on yourself...take an old, throwaway seacock and caulk it down to a convenient part of the hull (no hole), take the handle off, put a short length of hose to nowhere on it and put a big red tag on it it saying "sewage discharge - don't open".
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2012, 07:19 AM   #4
Guru
 
Moonstruck's Avatar
 
City: Hailing Port: Charleston, SC
Vessel Name: Moonstruck
Vessel Model: Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,276
Here..make it easy on yourself...take an old, throwaway seacock and caulk it down to a convenient part of the hull (no hole), take the handle off, put a short length of hose to nowhere on it and put a big red tag on it it saying "sewage discharge - don't open". [/QUOTE]

Well, I suppose that could work until you get some of the local authoritie like Daytona that drop a dye tablet in your head and turn your pump on. When your boat is sitting in die colored water, it could be hard explaining the sudden hole in your hull.
__________________
Don on Moonstruck
Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
When cruising life is simpler, but on a grander scale (author unknown)
https://moonstruckblog.wordpress.com/
Moonstruck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2012, 08:31 AM   #5
Guru
 
jleonard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,036
I've elected to use the wire tie method thru a hole I drilled in the ball valve handle. I only plan on activating the system in an emergency if I can't find a pumpout station.
I know operating in the LI Sound area there is no reason to pump overboard. There are so many pumpout stations and boats available.
__________________
Jay Leonard
Ex boats: 1983 40 Albin trunk cabin, 1978 Mainship 34 Model 1
New Port Richey, Fl
jleonard is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2012, 11:50 AM   #6
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,147
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonstruck View Post
Here..make it easy on yourself...take an old, throwaway seacock and caulk it down to a convenient part of the hull (no hole), take the handle off, put a short length of hose to nowhere on it and put a big red tag on it it saying "sewage discharge - don't open".
Well, I suppose that could work until you get some of the local authoritie like Daytona that drop a dye tablet in your head and turn your pump on. When your boat is sitting in die colored water, it could be hard explaining the sudden hole in your hull.[/QUOTE]

If they did that to my boat they wouldn't see anything...it would go to the holding tank...my point is that whether they drop the tablet or not...it's the seacock that is checked not a keyed switch or just a button to activate a holding tank pump overboard. So if I show them a dummy seacock...they'd never know.

Anyway..I would never do it...I just like using the smiley face every other post or so...
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2012, 01:23 PM   #7
Scraping Paint
 
City: -
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13,745
So far out here I'm not aware of any authority checking overboard discharge seacocks. We've been boarded a few times by the USCG and while we keep our four discharge seacocks closed they do not have any sort of locking mechanism attached. The boarding party wasn't interested in knowing where these seacocks were nor did they go looking for them.

It is legal in BC to discharge overboard in areas that have been designated okay to do so (three miles or more from a shoreline or in the deepest and fastest water between shorelines that are less than six miles apart). So at this point while some sort of lock may be required in writing when boating in certain areas of the PNW, it is not enforced by anyone. The USCG up here apparently doesn't care and there are no other authorities out there checking.
Marin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2012, 06:00 PM   #8
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,147
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marin View Post
So far out here I'm not aware of any authority checking overboard discharge seacocks. We've been boarded a few times by the USCG and while we keep our four discharge seacocks closed they do not have any sort of locking mechanism attached. The boarding party wasn't interested in knowing where these seacocks were nor did they go looking for them.

It is legal in BC to discharge overboard in areas that have been designated okay to do so (three miles or more from a shoreline or in the deepest and fastest water between shorelines that are less than six miles apart). So at this point while some sort of lock may be required in writing when boating in certain areas of the PNW, it is not enforced by anyone. The USCG up here apparently doesn't care and there are no other authorities out there checking.
you are lucky you boat in the great frontier...back East they might check the seacock and swab your laptop....no telling where they might peek...
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2012, 08:06 PM   #9
Guru
 
rwidman's Avatar
 
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,870
My boat has no seacock or Y valve on the discharge so there's nothing to be locked or wire tied. It was built that way.

I replaced the push button switch for the macerator with a key switch and I keep the key hidden away from the switch.

In my view, this meets the requirements. If anyone wants to argue, we can do it in front of a judge.
rwidman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2012, 08:13 PM   #10
Scraping Paint
 
City: -
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13,745
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwidman View Post
My boat has no seacock or Y valve on the discharge so there's nothing to be locked or wire tied. It was built that way.
Just curious..... Does this mean the holding tank discharge is above the waterline, or that it's below the waterline and has no seacock on it. Or does it mean there is no overboard method of emptying the holding tank at all, only a deck or hull-mounted pumpout fitting connected to the tank. Or some other setup.
Marin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-16-2012, 09:38 PM   #11
Guru
 
HopCar's Avatar
 
City: Miami Florida
Vessel Name: Possum
Vessel Model: Ellis 28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,307
Rwidman, It doesn't sound like you not to have a seacock on an underwater thru-hull. What's up with that? I see Marin had the same question.
HopCar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2012, 07:21 AM   #12
Guru
 
jleonard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,036
My poo poo thru hull is above the waterline. My old Mainship was also above the waterline.
__________________
Jay Leonard
Ex boats: 1983 40 Albin trunk cabin, 1978 Mainship 34 Model 1
New Port Richey, Fl
jleonard is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2012, 08:12 AM   #13
Guru
 
rwidman's Avatar
 
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,870
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marin View Post
Just curious..... Does this mean the holding tank discharge is above the waterline, or that it's below the waterline and has no seacock on it. Or does it mean there is no overboard method of emptying the holding tank at all, only a deck or hull-mounted pumpout fitting connected to the tank. Or some other setup.
The holding tank discharge is above the waterline.

This may seem odd or even gross to some folks, but it works fine and eliminates having to have (and open and close) a seacock and it simplifies the plumbing because no vented loop is necessary.

To clarify, the head is plumbed directly to the holding tank. The holding tank has two outlets, one to a deck mounted pumpout fitting and one to the macerator and from there to the thru hull.
rwidman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2012, 08:40 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Great Laker's Avatar
 
City: Spring Lake, MI
Vessel Name: Great Laker
Vessel Model: American Tug 34
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 346
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwidman View Post
The holding tank discharge is above the waterline.

To clarify, the head is plumbed directly to the holding tank. The holding tank has two outlets, one to a deck mounted pumpout fitting and one to the macerator and from there to the thru hull.
On the AT (with the keyed switch for the macerator) the setup is the same except from the macerator there is a vertical loop in the hose above the height of the tank leading to an underwater thru hull. This loop prevents any leakage overboard and requires the macerator to be on in order to empty the tank overboard.
__________________
Larry
American Tug 34 - Great Laker, and Gold Looper
Home port on the vast unsalted Lake Michigan
adventuresofgreatlaker.blogspot.com
Great Laker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2012, 08:51 AM   #15
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,147
I have never heard of an LEO "accept" the key or electrical lockout idea if you DO have a seacock that can be disabled.

..as I have posted I think it's nuts ...as long as the flush isn't straight from the head overboard...there are lots of ways to "beat the system" even with a wire tie/handle removal. So what's the issue in my mind?

But...I've heard too many stories of LEOs ONLY accepting the wire tied seacock or handle removal...I would love to hear the discussion where there's no seacock to disable!
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2012, 08:53 AM   #16
Guru
 
Keith's Avatar
 
Vessel Name: Anastasia III
Vessel Model: Krogen 42
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,716
They have always accepted my electrical key lock, since there is no way to lock the seacock handle. See my post in the other thread.
Keith is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2012, 09:15 AM   #17
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,147
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith View Post
They have always accepted my electrical key lock, since there is no way to lock the seacock handle. See my post in the other thread.
I've also heard them argue to FIX the seacock to be disabled...rediculous I know...but I was in their world for 23 years and often tried to point out the rediculous "enforcements"...
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:41 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012