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Author Topic:   P in Chesapeake?

whalerron posted 06-05-2002 10:54 PM ET (US)
If I understand the laws correctly, you can relieve yourself into a portapotti but it is illegal to dump the portapotti contents into the bay. But, it is legal to "go" over the side of the boat. Is this right? Does anybody know what the federal law says? how about Maryland law?
-ron
STEPHEN posted 06-05-2002 11:27 PM ET (US)
Ron, the thought of you dumpin your crud in to the bay disturbs me.At least the ocean has strong currents to disolve and break down that stuff, in the bay I would think it takes longer.......and lingers.sick!Pump it out at a marina,it'll cost you probably,but its so worth it.
Clark Roberts posted 06-06-2002 07:43 AM ET (US)
Stephen, I don't see where Whaleron said he would dump potti contents in water! He simply asked a question about laws... nothing that should "disturb" anyone! Clark... SCN
Jimm posted 06-06-2002 08:26 AM ET (US)
I think "whaleron" is talking about urinating, not deffecating.
whalerron posted 06-06-2002 08:55 AM ET (US)
Stephen, I should have been a little more specific. My question should be, "Does the law say that I cannot dump a portapotti into the bay and does it also say that I can P over the side of the boat?". I don't own a portapotti and I don't go over the side. But, if the law is written as it appears to me, there is a great contradiction in the law. This discussion came up between me and a few other boaters and I tried to tell them that it was illegal to relieve oneself into the bay. I have researched quite a few documents and I cannot find a good answer to this question.
jimp posted 06-06-2002 10:56 AM ET (US)
whalerron -
I don't have the exact wording (in fact I don't have any wording!), but if you have an approved marine sanitation device (MSD) installed on your boat (and I guess that could mean a portipotti because its approved) you should use it in the approved way. Which means dumping in an approved manner - pump out ashore or dump your portipotti in a toilet if its not too full.
I don't think the law (and I have NO idea about individual state laws) addresses taking a leak over the side. Are we going to get marine police looking into people in swimming areas peeing in the water? Don't think laws want to go there.
JimP
jimithing posted 06-06-2002 11:14 AM ET (US)
I boat primarily on the chesapeake bay and as I understand it from my friends at the virginia marine resouces commission it is illegal to dump anything from a boat...this includes doing #1 or #2 over the gunnel. if you are caught in mid-stream or mid-loaf you will be fined...period.
I am not that up to date with MD law but do know that they tax and regulate everything so I would assume that the law is the same there but the fines are higher.
Also....in virginia....sewage pumpouts at most marinas are free and have no cost associated with them....if you have and use a head on your boat there is no excuse not to use them other than lathargy.
newboater posted 06-06-2002 11:16 AM ET (US)
I have heard similar comments on the left coast. The way I've heard it, but I can't remember for sure where I got this from, is it is indeed legal to relieve one's self from the side of a boat. I don't know if there is a distinction between #1 and #2. Local laws still apply, like indecency, exposing and one's self, etc., so you could get arrested or cited for indecency, but not polluting if someone saw you do it.
If you go in a bucket, porta potty, holding tank, etc., then it is illegal to dump it overboard within 3 miles of shore.
Outside of 3 miles, pump away!

Dave S.
San Diego
cjd posted 06-06-2002 11:17 AM ET (US)
So if i jump in the water, then smile, im ok?
or did i blow it by jumping over the gunnel?
jimithing posted 06-06-2002 11:25 AM ET (US)
cjd
you may have crossed the line there in MD but Virginia may be a little more lenient in that respect.
odds are no one will get ya....
excpet maybe a very hungry shark.....
roger8918 posted 06-06-2002 12:26 PM ET (US)
I would like to hear how other small Whaler owners handle this while out fishing. When my 5 year old says he�s got to go�. believe me he�s GOT TO GO. I have a Montauk and a port-a-potty would take up way to much room.
JohnAz posted 06-06-2002 01:45 PM ET (US)
Everyone PEES in the pool,,,,,just dont do it from the diving board.
Arch Autenreith posted 06-06-2002 01:53 PM ET (US)
In a pinch (lol) I have a bucket. Do it and dump it. Not for me, mind you, but sometimes the ladies just won't cooperate!
jimithing posted 06-06-2002 02:38 PM ET (US)
roger8918
listen when it comes to your children I say you throw the rules out and think of their well being first....let them take a leak over the side...it truly is a right of passage anyway.

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Author	Topic: P in Chesapeake?
whalerron	posted 06-05-2002 10:54 PM ET (US) If I understand the laws correctly, you can relieve yourself into a portapotti but it is illegal to dump the portapotti contents into the bay. But, it is legal to "go" over the side of the boat. Is this right? Does anybody know what the federal law says? how about Maryland law? -ron
STEPHEN	posted 06-05-2002 11:27 PM ET (US) Ron, the thought of you dumpin your crud in to the bay disturbs me.At least the ocean has strong currents to disolve and break down that stuff, in the bay I would think it takes longer.......and lingers.sick!Pump it out at a marina,it'll cost you probably,but its so worth it.
Clark Roberts	posted 06-06-2002 07:43 AM ET (US) Stephen, I don't see where Whaleron said he would dump potti contents in water! He simply asked a question about laws... nothing that should "disturb" anyone! Clark... SCN
Jimm	posted 06-06-2002 08:26 AM ET (US) I think "whaleron" is talking about urinating, not deffecating.
whalerron	posted 06-06-2002 08:55 AM ET (US) Stephen, I should have been a little more specific. My question should be, "Does the law say that I cannot dump a portapotti into the bay and does it also say that I can P over the side of the boat?". I don't own a portapotti and I don't go over the side. But, if the law is written as it appears to me, there is a great contradiction in the law. This discussion came up between me and a few other boaters and I tried to tell them that it was illegal to relieve oneself into the bay. I have researched quite a few documents and I cannot find a good answer to this question.
jimp	posted 06-06-2002 10:56 AM ET (US) whalerron - I don't have the exact wording (in fact I don't have any wording!), but if you have an approved marine sanitation device (MSD) installed on your boat (and I guess that could mean a portipotti because its approved) you should use it in the approved way. Which means dumping in an approved manner - pump out ashore or dump your portipotti in a toilet if its not too full. I don't think the law (and I have NO idea about individual state laws) addresses taking a leak over the side. Are we going to get marine police looking into people in swimming areas peeing in the water? Don't think laws want to go there. JimP
jimithing	posted 06-06-2002 11:14 AM ET (US) I boat primarily on the chesapeake bay and as I understand it from my friends at the virginia marine resouces commission it is illegal to dump anything from a boat...this includes doing #1 or #2 over the gunnel. if you are caught in mid-stream or mid-loaf you will be fined...period. I am not that up to date with MD law but do know that they tax and regulate everything so I would assume that the law is the same there but the fines are higher. Also....in virginia....sewage pumpouts at most marinas are free and have no cost associated with them....if you have and use a head on your boat there is no excuse not to use them other than lathargy.
newboater	posted 06-06-2002 11:16 AM ET (US) I have heard similar comments on the left coast. The way I've heard it, but I can't remember for sure where I got this from, is it is indeed legal to relieve one's self from the side of a boat. I don't know if there is a distinction between #1 and #2. Local laws still apply, like indecency, exposing and one's self, etc., so you could get arrested or cited for indecency, but not polluting if someone saw you do it. If you go in a bucket, porta potty, holding tank, etc., then it is illegal to dump it overboard within 3 miles of shore. Outside of 3 miles, pump away! Dave S. San Diego
cjd	posted 06-06-2002 11:17 AM ET (US) So if i jump in the water, then smile, im ok? or did i blow it by jumping over the gunnel?
jimithing	posted 06-06-2002 11:25 AM ET (US) cjd you may have crossed the line there in MD but Virginia may be a little more lenient in that respect. odds are no one will get ya.... excpet maybe a very hungry shark.....
roger8918	posted 06-06-2002 12:26 PM ET (US) I would like to hear how other small Whaler owners handle this while out fishing. When my 5 year old says he�s got to go�. believe me he�s GOT TO GO. I have a Montauk and a port-a-potty would take up way to much room.
JohnAz	posted 06-06-2002 01:45 PM ET (US) Everyone PEES in the pool,,,,,just dont do it from the diving board.
Arch Autenreith	posted 06-06-2002 01:53 PM ET (US) In a pinch (lol) I have a bucket. Do it and dump it. Not for me, mind you, but sometimes the ladies just won't cooperate!
jimithing	posted 06-06-2002 02:38 PM ET (US) roger8918 listen when it comes to your children I say you throw the rules out and think of their well being first....let them take a leak over the side...it truly is a right of passage anyway.