holding tanks

[ponapay]

Attitudes of those like aph are typically American. Until they are convinced of the need to protect our environment I will not knowingly buy anything American. Especially American bananas!

The USA is the greatest polluter of the environment and should set an example. But Americans have alsways been slow, just remember the two great wars - they were late for both. And look at what it took to convince them. Its just the same with terrorists, they were happy to fund terrorists outside the USA until it was brought home to them fully and in horrific manner.

Lets not pollute the world, its the only one we have and its all our own back yard.

 

[ccscott49]

Hear hear!

 

[aph]

hey........lighten up. All I meant was holding tank is a complete waste of time. I by- passed mine 9 years ago after leaving Turkey as I have never found a marina in the Med with a pump out facility. Raw sewage from shore, fishing fleets etc is a bigger promlem than yachts. USA is not the biggest polluter. Where have you been? Try India, Indonesia, or yes even Northern Europe. By the way, what do you do in the idyllic anchorages of West Scotland. Bucket and chuck it? Not sure what WW1 and WW2 has to do with this, but everyone loves to hate the USA these days...........oh well ............bananas ???????????????

 

[ccscott49]

Sorry, wasn't directed at you personally, but just for the record, USA is the worlds biggest polluter and that doesn't include all the USA owned companies, in India, Indonesia, Middle east, Africa etc. etc. Where it's easier to get away with it, remember union carbide, Hmmm...........

 

[HaraldS]

Strangely the US has one of the toughest regulations on ships toilets or MSD's as they prefer to call it in the typical three letter acromyn way. In most of their coastal waters any dumping of sewer, even treated one isn't allowed from boats. Still in many places there is a lack of pump out stations and you may need to sail three miles offshore to empty your tanks. Boats without holding tanks and sealable seacocks are fined.

 

[ccscott49]

Very true, they do have strict regulations for that, but when BIG money is involved? Remember what Clinton said at the last world meeting, "I'm all for cutting back on pollution and CO2 emissions, as long as it doesn't cost one American job" Just about sums it up! No president is going to do anything if it makes him unpopular with the voters, or the moneymen that put him there! (especially oil companies) get my drift?

 

[HaraldS]

agree 100%, unfortunate!

 

[aslan]

Is the Solent still a hepetitis area?

If so, I wonder what causes that then?

Before having a go at other countries could we perhaps stop sailing and swimming in our own s#*t?

Do we have standards or are we such a scum bag nation that we have to have laws imposed on us? How long before the RYA's MOB drill becomes Reach Tack Reach Innoculate?

Sailing in arctic waters I was concerned about too many sea cocks in the boat for the ice to damage and the obvious problem of unblocking or repumping the head if ice bloked the out flow.

Not sure about portaloos but gave it a go.

The bonus being no chance at all of blocked heads (lets face it, i'd be in hospital first).

No seacocks, no pipes, no clogging, no seals, no dribbles, no maintenance, no fuss.

No chance of back syphoning flooding the boat or causing (at least) an unpleasent clean up.

Using "toilet duck" absolutely no smell at all. And no eggy/sulpherous smell either.

Easy to empty at sea.

Easy to empty into onshore facilities.

Inhibits me pouring the contents over the side in port and anchorage.

**

If marinas don't provide pump out facilities what are they doing with the vast profits from our marina fees?

 

[Guest]

Actually...the US is getting very tough...

at least on boaters...

I myself am a liveaboard in SW Florida and have both a holding tank....required by law, and a Lectra-san....a type 1 MSD that electrically and chemically treats the sewage so that when it is discharged overboard it is safe. The sum total of the "pollution" is the equivalent of three "oak leaves". But even still they are establishing "No Discharge Zones" over here and nothing can be discharged from the boat except possibly grey water. There are areas and marinas that will drop pellets into your holding tank so that if you pump overboard....they can tell.

The 3 mile limit applies to the east coast of the US and the west coast as well. If you are on the Gulf of Mexico....you'd best not get caught pumping overboard inside 12 miles.....

We try to be concious about our world, but the problem is that some people just don't seem to care that much. Personally I would like to see us become less reliant on fossil fuels....but as long as big business has Dubya's leash it won't happen any time soon... I'm not a tree hugger by any definition....but I would like to spend the rest of my life in a halfway healthy environment.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Actually...the US is getting very tough...

Americans, conscious of the world? Don't make me laugh, without being personal, most of your compatriots don't even know where the rest of the world is, nor care!

 

[ean_p]

Re: Actually...the US is getting very tough...

thats abit rough Colin......

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Actually...the US is getting very tough...

No, I was being kind. Theres more I could say, but won't, this is not the place.

 

[Guest]

Re: Actually...the US is getting very tough...

Actually Colin wasn't being rough......I might even agree with him on some of the same subjects. There is no doubt there are some arrogant and ignorant morons in this country....and for us everyday people....we look at most elected officials as being the morons. But the really strange thing is that while we criticize them....the big question is: How the devil do they get elected or re-elected.

But in all fairness Colin, its very hard to guage us all. There are those of us who do give a darn and want to protect our world, even though we are not all "tree huggers".

As to awareness.....you might be surprised at the really high level of awareness and conciousness that many of us have....though the greater problem is that we are "the silent majority". The media and government pretends to speak for us....but neither have a clue as to what we really think or want. We have a saying over here: Don't believe a single thing you hear or read, and only believe half of what you see with your own eyes.

Colin, if you'd like to share some thoughts with me directly, please email me at rrhoman6@netscape.net I lived in Germany for 7 years all told and I have alittle bit of a handle on where you are coming from. I look forward to hearing from you.

 

[poter]

Re: USA

APH,

The worlds problems are all to do with the USA!
Who else can the world blame?
You should sort out all the pollution, corruption, famine, and the fact that I can't get double sided tape in my local shop, also your bananas are to cheap!

Just a thought though..... If you do, would'nt you then be an interfering bully?

Can't win can you?

poter

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Actually...the US is getting very tough...

I doubt you would want to comunicate with me, I tend to be self opinionated and my politics are a little right of genghis khan! I do know, especially after 11th Sept, Americans are looking a little outside their own borders, but as in many countries, people have enough on their plates, just thinking about putting food in their tummies and, the kids through school, uni etc. It's all relative. Lots of people have absoluetly nothing, are strongly religous and see the most powerful nation on earth running rough shod over there ideals, backing up a nation who is killing their brothers and a previous president who couldn't keep it in his pants and then lied about it! That doesn't sit right with an awful lot of people outside the US. But as I've said, it's not for me to judge, I've been at the sharp end of terrorism aswell, being shot at with weapons paid for by a well meaning Irish/American public. Pollution is something we can't go into, we are all guilty, but a nation who uses so much energy uneccessarily is just going to pollute more, thats the way it works I'm afraid. Thank goodness there are people like you around, I hope you get through to more! There's also nothing wrong with being a "tree hugger" somebody has to do it! Or we won't have any, witness, the British Columbian clear cuts! I've seen them, it's obscene what people will do to their own assets and countryside for, mainly Japanese money!
Right off my soap box and I did warn you, I know it's rambling, but there are some salient facts in there, but nothing to do with boating, so I'd better shut up. Good boating and have a great day!
Colin.

 

[Forbsie]

Colin, you\'re urgently required here

I joined this site this morning My Project Pics

 

[HaraldS]

Re: Colin, you\'re urgently required here

Had great fun flowwing your link, unbelievably stupid !!!

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Colin, you\'re urgently required here

Whats flowwing your link, I wouldn't say you were unbelievably stupid. Although I will defend your right to say so. If of course you were refering to me, then I would ask you to hold your tongue, as I don't call anybody stupid, even if they do exhibit those traits, as I said in the post I did ramble on, but there again, it's my right to do so, wouldn't you say? /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[HaraldS]

Re: Colin, you\'re urgently required here

Coli, that's sure your right, and no I didn't refer to you, though I might reconsider that now.

Anyway, what I meant was the content at the link, going there and reading the crab was stupid too, though quite entertaining and depressing at the same time.

If indeed you go and sign on there to comment in the Non-Boating section, please let me know, so I can share the fun.

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Colin, you\'re urgently required here

I haven't signed on, have enough trouble on this forum!! I replied to your PM by the way. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif