Zeke refers us to Peggy Halls web site. Here she discusses the potential of urinating or deficating directly into the water--but the potential for "indecent exposure" problems. The sailing ships of old--and even some more modern boats I have seen have the "head" over one side, or the stern, with either a metal shoot, or just a toilet seat, and an enclosure to give privacy, but no "mechanics" between the body and the sea. I suspect that even with such a vessel it is still illegal to "discarge" from ones body directly into the water--whats next when you come into the harbour--the patrol gives you a bill of fluroscene dye to swallow, rather than putting it into the head. Bob Austin