lock or key? is it either/or?

[barnbuoy]

need to be sure...what the law is....

do i understand correctly that you may use either a locking y-valve for the overboard discharge OR a keyed switch???

(to ovoid fines inside 3 miles)

 

[GrecRI]

Hi Chuck,

This issue is also being discussed in this thread:

http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=95695

The discussion there is related primarily to RI Law, but check out the link to the RI DEM slide show on the subject. I believe that was taken from a Federal Regulation slide show.

 

[pdecat]

when stopped by the CG here the key only was OK

 

[Vic Willman]

If in doubt, turn off the seacock at the thru-hull, and remove the handle - that's acceptable everywhere in the U.S. You can also use a chain and padlock or non-releasable wire-tie to "secure" the seacock. The whole idea is to make it be a fair amount of work to disable it, or to return it to operation. That way, if you're about to be boarded, you can't just reach down through a hatch and turn the seacock to the "correct" position. That's not acceptable; it's gotta be secured.

Turning a "Y" valve to holding tank only, and securing the handle in that position via a lock or a wire-tie is accepted by many - but not all - boarding officers. If you turn off, and secure the seacock, that's acceptable to all boarding officers.