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What do you throw over the side?

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/12/2004 : 12:55:36

I am a big believer in rational behavior as opposed to politically correct behavior. This is because most PC things are driven by small fanatic special interest groups. As such I believe the criteria for what is ok to throw over the side is:
A. Will it degrade quickly? If yes, hurl it.
B. Will is never degrade? If yes, hurl it.
C. Will it poison something in less than a year? If yes, hold it.

Examples of A
tissues, food

Examples of B
aluminum cans, sailboat hardware

Examples of C
old gasoline, oil, treated waste

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 13:05:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">What do you throw over the side?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Folks from Kansas

. However, I'm sure there's some fanatical small interest group that wouldn't take kindly to that

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 13:06:26

IMHO if Mother Nature did not put it there, it does not belong there.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 13:08:59

Oh man Frank ... you've done it now ...

With the occasional exception of food that I think the fish or the turtles will eat, I never throw anything overboard.

Those of us who are SCUBA divers can tell you, there is something really upsetting about seeing "garbage" all over the bottom of a lake or bay ... we can and should treat Mother Earth with more respect than that.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 14:50:58

Frank, there are real clear US Coast Guard regulations concerning overboard trash / waste disposal at sea. What you can dump varies with distance offshore. Plastic / oil is never permitted. Boats over 28 feet are required to have permant dumping placards mounted for easy viewing.

In my opinion, nothing should be dumped in fresh water.

At sea, nothing except my porti-pottie if at least 3 nmiles offshore. Paper and cans are allowed at 12 miles but I don't do it. We're not blue water cruising. I get a kick of dumping my waste near the San Diego sewage outfall (the pipe as it's called by fisherman - a prolific bottom fishing destination).

I've installed a small garbage pail between my companionway ladder and the starboard setee.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 14:54:09

Your reasoning starts by asking the question, "Why shouldn't I hurl something overboard?" If you can't think of a good reason, you hurl it, even though there might be a good reason that you haven't considered.

My reasoning starts by asking the question, "Why should I hurl something overboard?" If I can't think of a good reason to hurl it, I don't.

Your approach allows a lot of room for the possibility of harm being done, albeit, unintentionally.

My approach reduces that possibility to a minimum.

Besides, if you can save your "poisonous" items until you get back and can dispose of them, why can't you do the same with bottles and cans and tissues?

And if you think any of us really believe you are trashing our natural resources, we know you better than that. You're just stirring up a little conversation to get us all thinking about it.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 14:55:59

Only guests are allowed to "hurl" over the side!

Edited by - dlucier on 02/12/2004 18:07:38

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 15:01:48

I was amazed once when a guest on my boat yelled at me for throwing plum pits over the side. They were not interested in a discussion about the effects of plum pits on the ecosystem of our lake. It was litering and that was that!

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 02/12/2004 15:04:16

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 15:06:24

I'm an inland lake, many of our brother and sisters, and my answer is NOTHING], at least intentionally.

Soda can plastic holding containers won't ever degrade, but they are extremely hazardous to wildlife, potentially threatening the life of the animals that get caught in them.

I repeat, for an inland lake, I throw nothing over board.
NOTHING

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 15:12:22

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 Only guests are allowed to "hurl" over the side!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I've had the urge to hurl a guest or two over the side . . .

Edited by - on

FrankV
Navigator

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USA
135 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 15:53:33

Nothing at all overboard?

Not watermelon seeds? Emptying the left over stale drinks over the side? How about hot exhaust from the motor? Bottom paint residue?

By it's very nature, boating impinges upon the natural environment. It is all a matter of degree, and the line is gray for me.

Coke cans, absolutely not.. stale coke poured over the side..ok

Edited by - on

seastream
Navigator

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USA
242 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 15:58:20

I take issue with hurling things that never degrade since some of those things float, not all will be sure they sink, and I don't want our waterways looking like a dump. I throw practically nothing overboard. Excess food & drink possibly, since the birds and sea life will likely take care of the solids.

Edited by - on

Todd Frye
Navigator

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USA
222 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 17:25:39

Since we're discussing eco here, am I overreacting to the horror stories I've heard about cruise ships dumping at night, or should I cave in to the temptation to go on a cruise to St. Lucia? Come on spring. Todd Frye

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 17:51:25

When at sea during my stint in the Navy, every fews days or so a working party would gather on the fantail to throw overboard the mountain of trash generated by 350 people. The routine was to grab a plastic trash bag, tear a hole in it so it would dispurse, then heave it over the side. It was pretty disgusting seeing the ocean littered for miles with a wake full of garbage.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 17:51:28

Todd,

The line we cruise on, and I suspect their sister cruise line, claim to be ecological sensitive, and that they do not dump things over board. I suspect others are also ecologically senstive too. So would I go on the cruise. You bet!

Edited by - on

Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 19:40:50

Over the side: stale drinks, bread crusts, chips, cherry pits, that's about it. Evrything else I haul ashore somewhere.

Edited by - on

oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 20:20:17

There's really no reason to toss stuff overboard. Part of the sailing experience for me, is to enjoy a pleasant environment without the constant stink and drone of a large engine. Throwing garbage over the side just takes away from that.

That being said, as an ocean sailor, I'm a great fan of the reliability and simplicity of 2 cycle outboards which I justify due to the fact that I burn less fuel in a couple of seasons than a power boater uses each hour he spends on the water.

Enviro nuts be damned, I love my Johnson 2 cycle 9.9 Sailmaster.

Once however, my ex mother in law, a lovely woman, "hurled" a really foul mess over the gunnels when we had just left our slip and were probably less than a thousand feet out "at sea", which was as calm as a mirror.

But the fish didn't seem to mind a bit.

Edited by - on

ssteakley
Captain

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USA
467 Posts

Response Posted - 02/12/2004 : 22:01:10

When I go out in the ocean or the lake, I appreciate most clear water. Our lake was flooded in July 2002. It has taken until now for the lake to begin to look as it did before the floods with clear waters. I know it will take another year to really get where it was before the flood but one must respect the beauty of clear lakes and waterways...I am not sure where you sail fhopper but somtimes it is easy to become fatalistic when no one takes care of their water ways....It can start with you. I simply keep a plastic bags on board and take the whole thing to a marina trash can when I return. Even liquids can be stored in gallon plastic jugs till you return. It is not much more difficult than hurlling things overboard and the ecosystem will be ever so grateful....this is why most of us sail....take care of our waters.
Steve

Edited by - on

Mark Loyacano
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2004 : 00:18:46

...Cheney lake is a beautiful place. There are many large dumpsters connveniently located near each dock. Empty beverage cans are collected by our Junior Sailors group and redeemed for cash which helps fund their events. Our park rangers are deputy Kansas State Highway Patrolmen. They have the authority to arrest those who violate Kansas State laws...including those who choose to litter. I hope that those who are caught pay very large fines.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2004 : 07:33:33

I am so disappointed that no-one remarked on
"Examples of B- aluminum cans, sailboat hardware"
We have all committed sailboat hardware to the deep!

It would be fun to compile a list of what has gone down... or do we just publish the West Marine catalog!

It looks like we fall into two camps. Those that ask themselves what constitutes littering and act accordingly and those who accept someone else's definition of littering and act accordingly. Since we are all sailors I imagine the net result is pretty much the same. (It is the floating diapers that push my button!)

So ... what do we do about the members of Mother Nature who defile our water ways and marinas? What do we do with Canadian Geese and Seals? Is the Magma the real solution? Anyone have any recipes?

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 02/13/2004 07:39:07

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2004 : 09:03:22

When in high school, many years ago, a kid in one of my classes came in with his foot all bandaged up. It looked terrible. I asked him what happened. He told me that he was jumping in the canal and landed on a broken barbarshop pole. I was agast and said how terrible that was. He shrugged and said he couldn't complaine because he threw it in the week before.

Just goes to show, what goes around comes around.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2004 : 09:36:15

When I can, I try to scoop up the occasional potato chip bag or soda can as I sail along. One time while out on the lake, my wife spotted what looked like a piece of trash floating on the water. As we pulled up alongside the refuse, my wife said, "Hey, I think it's a check!?"

Sure enough, it was a Ford paycheck that was issued the day before and, after drying on a towel, was in near perfect condition. Upon returning to port, we dropped it off at the marina office who contacted the Ford payroll department. Ford then contacted the person on the check who excitedly came down to the marina to pick it up. He explained that his wallet had fallen overboard and his check must have floated out.

Needless to say this man was happy to get his paycheck back and it proves the old adage that...

"One man's trash, is indeed, another's treasure!"

Edited by - dlucier on 02/13/2004 09:41:02

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2004 : 09:38:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">We have all committed sailboat hardware to the deep! It would be fun to compile a list of what has gone down... or do we just publish the West Marine catalog!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yeah, now that you mention it, I've unintentionally littered the lake with so many hats, sunglasses, wrist watches, drinking glasses, and the like that they alone are probably choking the environment!

Edited by - on

Doug
Captain

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USA
457 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2004 : 10:19:54

Oh, you want to know what I've unintentionally committed to the deep.
I suspect you could outfit a boat rather nicely with what's been droped over. Let's see, the new Magma parts, cell phone, pager, tools, tools, tools (that's the most popular!), fishing equipment.....

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2004 : 13:52:06

At Catalina Island, both Avalon and Two Harbors hold popular events for cleaning up stuff that has been both intentionally and unintentionally dropped into the water.

[url="http://cleanup.ccd.org/"]Avalon Harbor Cleanup Day[/url]

[url="http://www.scico.com/twoharbors/calendar.html"]Two Harbors Cleanup Day[/url]

Prizes are awarded in different categories -- most trash, most outrageous trash, etc. Lots of fun!

Edited by - on

wmeinert@kconline.com
Past Commodore

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USA
353 Posts

Response Posted - 02/13/2004 : 14:00:23

Hey, what about they occassional spouse? You know, the ones that think they can dock the boat better than you can. I know I've been tempted a few times.

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