FLA potty patrol help

[motoryacht lover]

I am taking my boat for the first time to Florida next week and am unsure as to exactly what the potty patrol wants to see. I have vacuflush and holding tanks and don't pump overboard unless 3 miles or more offshore. Is removing my handles for the overboard discharge good enough? Or are they wanting to see a lock on the Y valve or the Y valve handle removed? As far as I know I have no way to directly flush overboard. The waste must first go to the holding tank and then I must open a valve (not Y) and hit the macerator. Hope you all understand my question and thank you. Boat is a 1995 Viking MY.

 

[Genesis]

Why would you have a "Y" valve if you have no direct overboard? Most systems are set up to either flush to the tank or overboard, with a "Y" in the middle. For those if the "Y" is locked off (with a padlock) it is considered secure. This is the setup I had on my boat, I kept it padlocked off in the "to tank" position and we were boarded several times by the USCG for "routine" safety inspections - no issues. I also kept the through-hull closed as a safety matter, but the handle was not removed.

If you have a setup with a pull from the tank through a macerator and then out you will need to remove the handle from the discharge through-hull with the valve in the "off" position, as otherwise energizing the pump would result in a discharge, and a "mere" electrical switch between you and a discharge is insufficient to satisfy them.

I have heard of the potty patrol coming around and flushing a dye tablet down your heads - if that gets pumped out it produces a nasty fluorescent sheen on the water and you're busted. I've not seen that around here (NW Florida) but have heard about it down toward The Keys.

 

[Pascal]

it is not a florida issue, it's a federal law that applies everywhere in the US... If you are boarded by the USCG or any law enforcement agency anywhere in US water, they will inspect your sanitation system.

if you have a Y valve for direct overboard discharge from the head, it must be secured to send waste to the tank.

if you have an overboard discharge pump, the overboard seacock must be secured , or you can put a key switch on the pump.

in both case, "secured" means either a padlock, a zip tie or removing the handle.

I am amazed to see how many boats are operated with open seacocks, un plumbed holding tanks and dumping overboard. I'm no greenie tree hugger and i know that cities and town often dump untreated or poorly teated sewage but i hate the idea of swimming in waters where people are dumping their .... overboard.

I'm glad florida has the reputation of being the potty capital...

and what pisses me even more, are marina that charges $2000 or $3000 a month and dont' have a pump out, forcing me to go somewhere else to pump out. that's inexcusable.

 

[Boatsb]

There are areas in FL where a lectrasan is not legal. In the keys and certain "park areas" you have a different rule.

Just switch off the breaker and get an orange bucket. This way if you are boarded you can give them the homer potty for testing.

 

[motoryacht lover]

Thank you both for the replies.