Illegal MSD

tager · #1 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009

I just purchased a boat, and realized afterward that there was an illegally installed MSD (direct discharge). What would you suggest I do? I already contacted the PO about paying for a haulout and removal of the offending part. I was not notified that the boat was illegal to operate, and feel that this should have been included information in a sale. (Like selling a car with changed odometer or jury-rigged systems.)

Does anyone have experience here? What did you do?

blt2ski · #2 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009

The fact that the boat direct discharges into the "sea" for lack of better wording, is not that big a deal to fix! My boat was the same. BUT< I have a black/sewage tank in the boat, that had never been hooked up in the 20 yrs the PO had owned the boat since it was new. So all I had to do was add 2 'Y' valves, and make it so that the sewage went into the tank. Along with I made it such, that "IF" I was somewhere I could direct discharge the waste into the "sea" I could move the Y valves to do so. I can also discharge the tank to the sea If I want to too. Not that the valves are set up to do so. Just as easy to pump, and the legal way to do it in Puget sound where I am.

marty

tommays · #3 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009

I would think a survey should have seen this

The rules are so different everywere it is hard to say On Lake George NY for example you cant even discharge gray water from a sink

tager · #4 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009

The head is installed with badly corroded "garden hose" style valves. The intake and output through hulls are below the water line. The current plan is to leave it alone, as it is not leaking right now. I am going to try to get the boat hauled if the PO will pay for it. If not, I will try to return the boat. I have also found evidence of being full of water at one point. Sadly, I trusted the PO and did not get a survey.

tager · #5 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009

I am not sure if I have legal recourse, but it seems that there should be some, as the installation is downright illegal, and I was also misled about the state of the engine.

blt2ski · #6 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009

What do you mean by "Garden style valves"? IE a ball valve? That is the normal valve to have for input and out put in this situation. ball valves are used for many uses in many industries and uses for different fluid uses etc.

Sounds like you do not have, or it is not hooked up, the black tank. If it is not hooked up, you do not need to pull the boat. I hooked my tank up in the slip. AND, my surveyor noticed it at the time of sale, along with PO saying it was not hooked up, but installed.

marty

bubb2 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009

Tager, I hate to burst your bubble but the system you have is not Illegal. However, in most places it is Illegal to use with in 3 miles of the US coast line.

tager · #8 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009

Hmmm. Okay. Thanks for the help here. I just read somewhere that you cannot have an MSD without a holding tank. That is what I have. I just want to do away with the msd in general, and the way I am feeling about this, I am tempted to do away with the boat. I am concerned about the corrosion, and fear that inappropriate fixtures were used. I will try to get the bowl dry, and see what I can do to seal the through hulls temporarily. I have to get it hauled out, and get it all glassed over. Anybody know how much that might run me?

I may just try to sell the boat. It is a 24' islander bahama, I bought it for $1250, with genoa, main, jib, storm jib, and another oversized main that needs to be reduced to fit this rig.

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009

By garden valves, I'm guess he means gate valves...

As for recourse, a survey should have picked this up, as well as the engine issue. If you've already bought the boat, you may not have any recourse, unless there was something in the P&S agreement specifically stating the condition of the engine and the head. Caveat emptor still rules in most cases.

Adding a holding tank isn't a big deal. Raritan makes a small one, 5 gallon IIRC, that is designed to go around the base of the head, so no other space is required. Add that tank, a deck pump out fitting and plumb the head into the tank and the tank's pumpout fitting with a y-splitter or diverter valve to the deck fitting and to a diaphragm pump and then to the seacock and you'l be good to go.

Doing this is probably a better idea than glassing over the seacock through-hull, since the head would be usable and would allow you to either pump it overboard or pump it out using pump out facilities.

Cruisingdad · #10 (**permalink**) 02-24-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by tager

I am not sure if I have legal recourse, but it seems that there should be some, as the installation is downright illegal, and I was also misled about the state of the engine.

What do you mean the installation is illegal? Dumping is illegal. In order to operate in some NDZ's you have to have your discharge plugged... but I have never heard of an illegal install. Do you simply mean a non-marine (or gerry rig) install? That is not 'illegal' as far as I know. Even if a yard did it for you, the most you can do is go after them to do it right.. but I do nto think I would term it illegal.

Thoughts?

Brian