Gray water blues ;)

Hornblower

Hornblower

Member
Aug 28, 2009
108
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Still looking for that 260 Sundancer with the right options for the right price (I'm patient). Thankfully there is a lot of selection to pick from. A broker told me last week he feels there's two years of boat supply on the market right now.

My home port is on Moriches Bay NY, but I like to trailer upstate for a week of boating each year in Lake George.

From what I've read you need a Gray Water holding tank for the Queen of the lakes. I appears you could get in some sort of trouble if you have sinks and a shower on your boat and don't have a holding tank. Maybe keelhauling or some other appropriate sanction ;)

Most of the boats I've looked at do not have a gray water tank. So it appears if I want to boat on the lake I'd have to install one (permanently plugging up the drains is not an option).

I read a couple of threads on CSR but I don't feel I came a way with a "best practice" solution.

I read in a downloaded 260 Owners Manual Supplement that the sinks (3) may route to the shower sump if that option was added. Great single place to plumb from if I'm so fortunate, otherwise ...?

Does AC condensate count as Gray Water?

What's my best option(s) to add gray water holding to a 260?

Dollars to donuts, I'm going to have to do it.

Thank you!
 
Hornblower said:
Still looking for that 260 Sundancer with the right options for the right price (I'm patient). Thankfully there is a lot of selection to pick from. A broker told me last week he feels there's two years of boat supply on the market right now.

My home port is on Moriches Bay NY, but I like to trailer upstate for a week of boating each year in Lake George.

From what I've read you need a Gray Water holding tank for the Queen of the lakes. I appears you could get in some sort of trouble if you have sinks and a shower on your boat and don't have a holding tank. Maybe keelhauling or some other appropriate sanction ;)

Most of the boats I've looked at do not have a gray water tank. So it appears if I want to boat on the lake I'd have to install one (permanently plugging up the drains is not an option).

I read a couple of threads on CSR but I don't feel I came a way with a "best practice" solution.

I read in a downloaded 260 Owners Manual Supplement that the sinks (3) may route to the shower sump if that option was added. Great single place to plumb from if I'm so fortunate, otherwise ...?

Does AC condensate count as Gray Water?

What's my best option(s) to add gray water holding to a 260?

Dollars to donuts, I'm going to have to do it.

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Hi Steve,

Route all gray water to the black water (holding) tank and pump more often.
 
I would develop a list of lakes with similar grey water restrictions and focus my search in those areas. Easier than taking on what would be a substantial plumbing job and you will end up with a fresh water boat.
 
Not sure about that suggestion.
I suppose you could add another inlet to the holding tank, but the thought of that "stuff" sloshing back into the hose and backflowing into a drain sump would be a disaster...
 
JimT said:
I would develop a list of lakes with similar grey water restrictions and focus my search in those areas. Easier than taking on what would be a substantial plumbing job and you will end up with a fresh water boat.
Click to expand...

Problem with that is I'm finding that lake/fresh water boats are mostly Raw Water Cooled, and I'll be spending most of my time in Salt Water.

I suppose finding a lake boat with a gray water holding tank and converting it to a closed system is a possibility. But I don't think it's going to work out that way as most of the selection in a reasonable radius from me are Salt Water boats with no holding tank.
 
For about $800 you can add closed cooling if you are in salt most of the time. The solution might be the best since the tanks are much harder to upgrade than the cooling.
 
I spoke to someone in the boat industry the other day. He's familiar with boating on Lake George, particulary Sea Ray's. He says that you'd be hard pressed to find "Day Use" boats (i.e smaller boats, 26' and under) on the lake with gray water holding. Go figure.
 
You have a couple of options....

You can install a bypass to route the gray water to the existing tank. (I had to do this with my prior 270 SR) this will cost you for labor. Mine was 700.00. (BTW this screwed up my shower sump)

Or just fill in the drain holes with white caulk and don't use the water. When you get off the lake just pick the silicone out. I don't this A/C condensate counts os gray water, but you could call the LG park commision to find out.

The fine for EACH outlet in violation is 250.00.
 
Steve, I've been boating on Lake George my entire life. In the last 15 years we always go up for a week, sometimes two with my boat. I've never had an issue at all or ever been questioned about that and as you know there is a lot of LGP on the lake. Personally I wouldn't sweat it if I were you.

Dave
 
40Sundeck240 said:
Steve, I've been boating on Lake George my entire life. In the last 15 years we always go up for a week, sometimes two with my boat. I've never had an issue at all or ever been questioned about that and as you know there is a lot of LGP on the lake. Personally I wouldn't sweat it if I were you.

Dave
Click to expand...

Thank you to all for the advice. I'll be going up to Lake George again but next time with a 260DA w/o grey water holding. I'm not trying to get away with anything, I just want to continue to enjoy the lake as I've always done, just next time with a bigger boat. Maybe I'll plug the through hulls.

I just hope that I don't in a moment of weakness, rinse my hands in the cockpit sink rather then reach over the side and rinse them in the lake ;)

Regarding Lake George and slightly off topic, I'm aware of the cruiser sites in Red Rock Bay and Log Bay Island. As I recall they have no electric or other comforts, just fire pits, picnic tables and outhouses. Anyone know of transient type sites on the lake with electric maybe bathrooms/showers etc?
 
40Sundeck240 said:
Steve, I've been boating on Lake George my entire life. In the last 15 years we always go up for a week, sometimes two with my boat. I've never had an issue at all or ever been questioned about that and as you know there is a lot of LGP on the lake. Personally I wouldn't sweat it if I were you.

Dave
Click to expand...


Well Dave....Many people living on the lake use the water for drinking...So...why don't you stay away if you can't follow the rules. How about we come down and pollute your water supply?:smt009:smt013 Don't sweat it??

BTW..if you decide to use a dock on an island or go to the village be prepared for an inspection...
 
Groucho said:
Well Dave....Many people living on the lake use the water for drinking...So...why don't you stay away if you can't follow the rules. How about we come down and pollute your water supply?:smt009:smt013 Don't sweat it??

BTW..if you decide to use a dock on an island or go to the village be prepared for an inspection...
Click to expand...

Uhhm excuse me Mr. high and mighty Groucho (perfect name by the way). I'm not suggesting that he pollute the lake at all, so relax.

Clean water that has been filtered and treated (tap water) and then put into a CLEAN water holding tank and used to spray some dirt or fish slime off your hands is not hurting ANYTHING.

I also use the Village and have been for more than 40 years, I have 3 generations of family that have lived on the lake their entire lives and several that work and volunteer with the people that run the educational systems up there for clean water (and donated a fair amount of money for the class trip boat they use now on the lake). I have also used the islands and have NEVER been asked about my sink being capped off, nor been checked in the village.

Before jumping down my throat about following the "rules" since it is very obvious that the I nor the OP has no intention of polluting anything with his clean water, think about this. Is it any different if you bring a container of bottled water and rinse your hands off with it into the lake? I really hope you never consider doing something like that. How about a bait bucket that is placed in the water (heaven forbid!!)

Also, this summer when the Village dumped thousands of gallons of raw sewage into the lake with the broken pipe that wasn't properly maintained for the last 100 years, it was blown over within 3 days so they could open the "million dollar beach" again quickly and not scare away the tourists on the south end hotels. Seems a bit more important than a day boater using a clean water sink doesnt it?

So give me a break, there are bigger fish to fry, clean water going into a clean lake doesnt hurt anything. The "rule" is there because they dont want people living on the lake running large boats with washing machines, or using showers etc, its intent was not to stop dayboaters from using a rinse sink with clean water.

ps: if you would like to discuss it further I have a degree in Industrial Engineering and specialize in the design of water purification for municipalities and pharmaceutical manufacturing companies. I volunteer each year at my local lake for a clean up project and also do the same for the Delaware River. So please don't plan on coming to my area and plan on polluting my waterways.
 
I'm sure the Delaware river is nice and clean because of your efforts...
Stay on the river...you will be happier there.

Gray water is gray water no matter what kind of degree you have. Maybe you should call the LGPC and ask them, I bet they don't care what you "credentials" are.

Oh and BTW here is his question
"From what I've read you need a Gray Water holding tank for the Queen of the lakes. I appears you could get in some sort of trouble if you have sinks and a shower on your boat and don't have a holding tank".
 
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Naah, I'll stick with Lake George as a lifetime responsible user. You might want to reread the post because he specifically notes rinsing hands. Here is the quote since you missed it: "I just hope that I don't in a moment of weakness, rinse my hands in the cockpit sink rather then reach over the side and rinse them in the lake ;)"


Its funny that you would knock volunteer cleanup efforts of a waterway, I guess its easier to sitback and point at rules without actually doing anything effective.

BTW, you might want to reconsider your stance on AC condensate being considered a pollutant, because YOU are in violation if you want to adhere so strictly to the letter of the law. You can not discharge ANTHING from a vessel to the water on LG the way the law is written. Might want to consider that the next time you are running your AC. I bet you've never driven that Vette over 65 mph on the highway, or the Skidoo over 45 on the lake have you, or do just some of the rules apply?

Pot meet kettle.
 
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I would route all gray water to a shower sump and then pump it from the shower sump to the holding tank.

Doing it this way eliminates the possibility of raw sewage back flowing into your sinks, etc.

Doug
 
40Sundeck240 said:
Naah, I'll stick with Lake George as a lifetime responsible user. You might want to reread the post because he specifically notes rinsing hands. Here is the quote since you missed it: "I just hope that I don't in a moment of weakness, rinse my hands in the cockpit sink rather then reach over the side and rinse them in the lake ;)"


Its funny that you would knock volunteer cleanup efforts of a waterway, I guess its easier to sitback and point at rules without actually doing anything effective.

BTW, you might want to reconsider your stance on AC condensate being considered a pollutant, because YOU are in violation if you want to adhere so strictly to the letter of the law. You can not discharge ANTHING from a vessel to the water on LG the way the law is written. Might want to consider that the next time you are running your AC. I bet you've never driven that Vette over 65 mph on the highway, or the Skidoo over 45 on the lake have you, or do just some of the rules apply?

Pot meet kettle.
Click to expand...

You might notice I try and refrain from name calling...I guess with all your degrees they forgot to put in the manners part.

I guess I'll just stick with my original thought of "What a moron this guy is."

BTW my A/C is going to my gray water tank.
 
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I won't stoop to your level. Name calling, that's whats ignorant children normally do when they can't come up with an intelligent thought and realize they are wrong. You pointed out that the AC condensate wasn't considered grey water previously, now yours is huh, interesting how that changed..

How about your bilge pumps do they ever operate and pump out to the lake or are you collecting that water also? If you have any residual oil or ANY contamination (like EVERY BOAT DOES) in the bilge and that pump turns on you are breaking the law and polluting the drinking water. But thats right, only the rules/laws you choose to obey are pertinent. You are probably the same guy that changes the oil on his vette then dumps it in the woods then screams while writing letters to the editor about runoff control.

Grow up, and again, Pot meet Kettle.
 
Groucho said:
You might notice I try and refrain from name calling...I guess with all your degrees they forgot to put in the manners part.

I guess I'll just stick with my original thought of "What a moron this guy is."

BTW my A/C is going to my gray water tank.
Click to expand...



Are you serious??? The first "RUDE" comment came from you, as did the name calling and insulting attitude for no reason whatsoever. Time for a reality check here:smt017:smt017:smt017
 
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