What would you have said or done?

[longjohnsilver]

We were moored up on a buoy in Salcombe a few days ago, with my son rafted up to me. It was one of the hottest days of the year and I was enjoying a dip off the back of my boat, accompanied by my son and 4 year old granddaughter. We had our tenders tied of the stern and went no further than them, so careful not to get in anyone’s way.

I was just about to jump in from my flybridge when a 40’+ mobo approached and said he’d been instructed by the harbour authorities to raft up to us, and that they’d only be staying for a few hours. Absolutely no problem with that, we helped them tie up and then continued with our splashing around. That was until my son looked down and said there was some seagrass in the water. Only it wasn’t seagrass, it was macerated shit! Unfortunately I was still immersed at this point, and as luck would have it, it was top of the tide so no perceptible current to carry it away. I was as fast as Linford Christie climbing my ladder and urgently requesting the fresh water hose to rinse myself off.

A pretty unpleasant experience. My other half heard the electric loo running on the newcomers boat, but naturally assumed it would be dumped into their holding tank, not the pristine, clear waters of Salcombe harbour!

I was in 2 minds as to what to say or do. I decided that what was done was done, and that there was little point in any unpleasantness and awkwardness with our new temporary neighbour, so I said nothing. Looking back now, maybe I was wrong, and should have pointed out the error of their ways. Perhaps it was a guest who had no idea what happens to his waste products, but if that was the case, he should have been educated beforehand by the skipper. He was however at the helm when they came alongside, so obviously had some knowledge of boating.

As per the thread title, what would you have said or done?

 

[TOKOLOSHI]

Too bloody true, I would have given him both barrels! Inconsiderate wealthy Pratt! His toy would have room to take a Chemical toilet for such emergencies.:livid:

 

[Boat2016]

If I had done something like that I wouldn’t be offended if told and would be grateful that someone did mention it, you never stop learning at any age.

 

[Switch]

I was in Mylor Yacht Haven Falmouth a year or so ago, a yacht moored up behind me. Soon after, I noticed a pungent smell coming from the newly arrived yachts location. I saw the skipper happily emptying his holding tank (via the overflow outlet) while his wife held a running water hose to ‘mask’ the brown contents being ejected over the side.

I went straight to the marine office and spoke to the manager. He followed me back and told the yacht to leave immediately. They did.

 

[Aardee]

I'd have politely mentioned something to them - They maybe didn't realise what they were doing.

 

[dpb]

Alot of boats, maybe most, don't have holding tanks, none of mine have though the biggest I have had is 31ft.
I would not have flushed in his situation though, and would have said something in your shoes, even if it was in a non aggresive manner you can at least make the point.
I was swimming in Studland bay at the week end, and as I surveyed the 100's of boats that were anchored there I wondered how many of the shore based bathers ever thought or knew how boat loo's work....and tried not to think of it myself.
In all my years I have only had one non boaty person ask what happened to the toilet waste on board and they thought I was joking when I told them and were horrified when they realised I wasn't.

 

[petem]

I'd have politely mentioned something to them - They maybe didn't realise what they were doing.

+1, could have simply been a case that they hadn't realised which way their diverter valve was set.

 

[julians]

I don't think it would have been deliberate, he was probably just unaware how the plumbing for his loo works, or didnt realise the diverter valve was set to send sewage out to sea. I would have said something but I would've tried to come across as helpful as opposed to acusatory. But no harm done in the end, one to put down to experience and laugh about later.

 

[Aquaboy]

Watched a documentary on the intercity 125 train the other week which is now coming to the end of its 40 odd year life. No holding tanks so "don't flush in the station"

 

[longjohnsilver]

I don't think it would have been deliberate, he was probably just unaware how the plumbing for his loo works, or didnt realise the diverter valve was set to send sewage out to sea. I would have said something but I would've tried to come across as helpful as opposed to acusatory. But no harm done in the end, one to put down to experience and laugh about later.

I’m sure he was unaware. And yes, all my family had a good laugh at my expense!

 

[Poignard]

When I was in the RN ships had no holding tanks.

Sometimes, in the evenings, the ship would be stopped and the order given

"Hands to bathe, port side!
Heads on the port side are not to be used" (Or starboard, if appropriate.)

In waters where there were likely to be sharks a whaler would be put down with a rating armed with a Lee Enfield 303.

I remember it being a bloody long climb up the side of HMS Victorious after a swim. Made me think of poor devils in the war, covered in oil from their sunken ships, having to do it.


What has this to do with the original post? Nothing; although I suppose if I was rafted up on another boat and fancied a swim, I would ask her skipper not to use his heads for a while. I'm sure he would respond to a polite request. Most people do.

 

[Momac]

Lack of any understanding of how things work and even worse a lack of consideration for others seems to be becoming normal part of everyday life.

 

[lisilou]

Eeeew! I’d have definitely said something, politely, along the lines of...’Did you know your waste isn’t going into your holding tank? Only I’ve just had a gob full of your macerated poo!’
L

 

[lw395]

Face the fact that on the buoys in Salcombe, one is half an hour from shoreside facilities.
S..t happens.
I wouldn't swim around random moored yachts.
Even if people are just having a pee, other stuff can be coming out of the plumbing.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Face the fact that on the buoys in Salcombe, one is half an hour from shoreside facilities.
S..t happens.
I wouldn't swim around random moored yachts.
Even if people are just having a pee, other stuff can be coming out of the plumbing.

Actually not correct. They stopped so that 2 of the crew could go ashore, so Mr pooper could have joined them and done his business in the toilets by the landing pontoons. And most definitely not 30 minutes away, about 2 minutes by dinghy or water taxi.

And as we were a raft of 2, us and my son, it was not a swim around random moored yachts. I thought I’d made it clear we were swimming when he arrived, and we restricted our swimming to within our trailing dinghies.

Obviously there were likely to be other moored boats using their loos, but being much further upstream the contents would have been much diluted by the time they reached us. But I choose to swim generally on an incoming tide to avoid this problem.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Personally, if I was convinced it had come from the boat next door, I would have no hesitation in kicking up a big stink about it with the skipper. Its not acceptable whether he was aware of it or not

Btw I'm not sure you should be jumping off the flybridge at your age. Somebody of your stature could empty the harbour doing that

 

[AndieMac]

Btw I'm not sure you should be jumping off the flybridge at your age........

I was impressed when I read that, obviously LJS still has a spark in him

 

[mainshiptom]

we could all do the right thing but just look at what Southern water does in many Tons of dumping.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Personally, if I was convinced it had come from the boat next door, I would have no hesitation in kicking up a big stink about it with the skipper. Its not acceptable whether he was aware of it or not

Btw I'm not sure you should be jumping off the flybridge at your age. Somebody of your stature could empty the harbour doing that

Just a minor tsunami

 

[Greg2]

When I was in the RN ships had no holding tanks.

Sometimes, in the evenings, the ship would be stopped and the order given

"Hands to bathe, port side!
Heads on the port side are not to be used" (Or starboard, if appropriate.)

In waters where there were likely to be sharks a whaler would be put down with a rating armed with a Lee Enfield 303.

I remember it being a bloody long climb up the side of HMS Victorious after a swim. Made me think of poor devils in the war, covered in oil from their sunken ships, having to do it.


What has this to do with the original post? Nothing; although I suppose if I was rafted up on another boat and fancied a swim, I would ask her skipper not to use his heads for a while. I'm sure he would respond to a polite request. Most people do.

Well during my service sewage treatment plants were the norm but my first ship was the Rusty B with direct discharge overboard from the nearest point in the hull to the heads so it came from all directions! Side party could be very unpleasant ....or funny depending upon whether it was you or your oppo who ended up wearing a not so funny hat!

On the OP’s original question I think I would have said something and I am certain that if I didn’t SWMBO would have!