----- Original Message ---- From: Scott Bulger <scottebulger@gmail.com> To: Passagemaking Under Power List <passagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 10:48:59 PM Subject: [PUP] Holding tank treatment & practices question >1. I assume at anchor you use your holding tank, out of respect and >hospitality to your anchoring neighbors? Yes. >2. Once at sea, I assume you pump out asap, then throw the valve so all >additional uses of the head discharge overboard? My head is not plumbed so that I can pump directly overboard. Every flush goes to the holding tank. While at sea I pump the holding tank overboard once a day. My head uses less than one gallon per flush. I have a 75 gal. holding tank, so it is good for 75 flushes. That is good for at least a week. So while at anchor, I am moving about at least once a week and pump the holding tank while offshore. I can either flush with fresh water or saltwater. Since I have a watermaker, I always flush with fresh water. If I know that I'm going to be away from the boat a while, I always try to pump the holding tank out before putting the boat away. I never have any odor. >3. Is there ever a time you modify your overboard habits that should be >considered? I don't mean the obvious times when your in a sensitive marine >area, but rather like when your fishing or some other activity? I always discharge offshore, regardless of activity. BTW, I think you will be berthed at Marina Costa Baja while in La Paz. They have free dockside pumpout. They would rather provide that free service than have people tempted to flush directly into the bay. Patrick Willard 40PH ALOHA La Paz, MX