RI Wants "locked" Through hulls?

[Brezzin]

I'm heading off to spend a couple of weeks bouncing around Narragansett Bay, the Elizabeth Islands and Buzzards Bay. In putting together an Itinerary I found the regulations regarding no discharge in RI waters.
It states that "Boats with a holding tank and a thru-hull fitting, the bypass valve must be closed and locked"

What constitutes Locked?

[christyleigh]

"Closed and Locked" while being the "letter of the law" is satisfied by either having the lever - nylon wire tied or the handle removed in every inspection I've heard of. I simpy took off the handle for my inspection last spring. I'd say the "Spirit of the Law" is to prevent accidental opening and discharge so just make it an obvious and deliberate act to open the valve and they go away happy.

[sailingdog]

A "cable tie" wrapped around the handle or a padlock through the handle preventing it from being operated is considered "locked" IIRC. Or if the handle is in a compartment that can be and is locked.

[TrueBlue]

Originally Posted by Brezzin

"Boats with a holding tank and a thru-hull fitting, the bypass valve must be closed and locked"

What constitutes Locked?

Most everyone on my dock last season, who complied with the new regs (issued a yellow compliance sticker), demonstrated that while inside coastal limits, their through-hull valve handles can be "locked" with typical cable ties. Of course they can be "unlocked" by cutting, but this apparently is an acceptable method.

I sold our last boat this year, before the compliance deadline . . . which I believe is the end of this month. But we had cable ties secured to our Lavac Y-valve handles in each of the two head compartments.

[max-on]

I have two plastic zip ties and a small combo lock, one is connected to the overboard discharge thru-hull handle and the other to the intake thru hull base, the two are a few inches apart (although any hard point will do, if you do not have one just affix one to the hull with 4200, 5200, or epoxy) so when connected with the lock the tank thru hull cannot be opened, I received the requisite compliance sticker, so I assume it is ok. The language is very broad. People usually run into problems with the Y valve and the overboard seacock not being 'locked' but only closed.

[Brezzin]

That's exactly the information I needed. Thank you all. As a transient I don't need a sticker but I do need to comply. Max I like your idea and will be implementing that this weekend. I have two Holding Tanks and two thru-hulls

[Jeff_H]

By the way, the Rhode Island Law is simply a restating of the Federal Law that went into affect in the 1970's.

Jeff

[Pamlicotraveler]

Glad to hear all of this...we're heading up to Block Island on the 21st.

[billyruffn]

Originally Posted by Jeff_H

By the way, the Rhode Island Law is simply a restating of the Federal Law that went into affect in the 1970's.

Jeff

Actually RI law is a bit stiffer in that most of the state is a "no discharge" zone. Fed law allows discharge of treated sewage (e.g. Lectrasan).

When I'm in RI I just lock the head door, and piss in a bucket.

[JiffyLube]

Does a frozen in the closed position thru hull count?...lol