Boarded by the Coast Guard

[Cactus Jack]

Coast Guard not providing tows

Sailor Tim - You ask "what ever happened to the Coast Guard offering assistance to boaters in distress?" The root cause I believe is budget cuts. They simply don't have the manpower or equipment any more to provide this service. As you say, if your life is in danger, they'll be there pronto, but they can't do this if they are tied up towing in someone with a failed engine.Jack

 

[Don s/v Tellico]

CG towing...

went out years ago (more than 10), primarily because of liablity issues. There were several big lawsuits in towing situations and the CG eliminated the service. Funding was probably an issue too.If there is any risk of bodily injury they will remove you from the boat. I'm not sure of their current towing policy, but it's only in very limited circumstances (e.g., hazard to navigation.)

 

[Rick]

CG Towing

We have a 6' draft and last summer got grounded on a small pile of very large rocks approx 5.5' below the surface and approx 20' in diameter. We could have sailed totally around the pile. Regardless some fisherman called the Coast Guard who responded w/ an Avon w/ two hi-HP outboards and would no come closer than 600 yards because they didn't want to get stuck but did stay in the area for bodily injury. We were less than 6' from clear water and another sailboat we were travelling with caught up to us, came in, took hold of a spinnaker halyard and freed us from the rocks. When we were free, the CG wcalled on the cell, took the info, nd apoligized for not being able to give a tow. If a smaller sailboat w/ small outboard could free us, the CG surely could have.

 

[Steve O.]

USCG policy on towing

A group CO told me that "the USCG is in the business of saving lives, not property." In my limited dealings with them they have been always acted professionally. These are the guys who have to go out and risk their lives when boaters do something stupid. Here's a tip: If you ever call them when you are in distress, you and your crew better have your PFDs on when they get there.

 

[Cliff Carter]

Boarding Was Stress Free

In August 2004 we were under sail off Lopez Island heading for Friday Harbor on San Juan when I noted an American CG cutter following at a distance. Each time we tacked he changed course also.Being a retired drug officer I quickly figured out he was shadowing us so told my wife we had to furl the head sail as we were going to be boarded.She did not believe me as I told her the main had to come down as very soon she would see a RIB with 3 or 4 officers aboard come from the blind side of the ship and directly to us.Bingo and they were on their way. Main is now down as they come along side and request we start the engine.Two officers came aboard and one stayed just off the port side in the RIB, all were armed.It was a safety inspection and I passed except I did not have a U.S. decal in the engine compartment regarding not pumping oily bilge water overboard. They just happened to have one and we too received our "passed" sheet.The officers were very professional and extremely pleasant. They even posed for a picture with Marion when she asked them as they were about to depart.I look forward to my next encounter with the U.S.C.G. if our first meeting was an indication of how unstressful and a little bit exciting a boarding can be.Cliff CarterPlusOne 1977 C30Oak Bay, B.C.

 

[Gary Wyngarden]

Humor Can Work

We were on our way back from Canada last summer and had just crossed the border in Haro Strait near San Juan Island. An armed high speed CG inflatable approached us. We slowed and they began asking the usual questions. "Where are you coming from?" "Where are you going to?" etc. Then he asked "Do you have anything on board worth morth than $10,000 (usually asked related to currency or equivalents). I replied " My wife is on board and she is worth a million bucks."Catherine went "aw" and he cracked up and said "yeah, mine too". They sped off without asking to board.Probably wouldn't work every time though.Gary WyngardenS/V Wanderlust h37.5

 

[Stu Jackson]

And why do they have to do this

at all?It's well and good that you guys seem to "like" these boardings, but if you're a live aboard, for instance, and your boat's your home, then it is totally inconsistent that the CG can board your home, while the police can't come into your home without a warrant. "Safety inspections," yeah, right.I am surprised no one has pointed this out in this thread yet.The additional hazards of boarding pleasure boats, whether it be for the CG's practice (ugh!) or for "anti-terrorism" (yeah, you sailor guys all look like terrorists) is unnecessary, hazardous to YOUR health and, while unfortunately still legal, for consistency's sake, I don't think it should be permitted. No way that this will ever happen, but "in the old days" (five years ago) we were pleased to see enforcement out, 'cuz they'd be watching out for the yahoos. Now, we've got at least four or five govt agencies here (CG, Alameda Co. Sheriff, San Francisco Co. Sheriff, Alameda Police, SF Police...), few of who know boating. The police think we're all as bad as they guys they (unfortunately) have to deal with on the "mean streets," and treat us that way when boarding.And while I have nothing to hide, I just don't think that pleasure boats are the real target for law enforcement, I'd rather have the CG and all those police types (rather than the UAE Dubai) watching our ports.Stu

 

[Peter J. Brennan]

Liability had nothing to do with it

It was all about privatization.

 

[Scott21120]

Rick from Milwaukee ...

Where was this pile of rocks - I'd like to make sure I sail around it!Scott FullerMilwaukee, WI

 

[Jack Hart]

CG Towing

As I understand it, the towing agencies got tired of losing $$$ to CG tows and had it stopped. I read that somewhere, if any wants I will look it up and give you the source.

 

[Pat T]

CG in Chicago

Don't go near Navy Pier in Chicago on a busy weekend if you have been drinking too much. The CG makes regular checks of boaters in the area. The first thing they do is check your eyes to see if you have been hitting the bottle. It is an easy place to stop you cause it's a no-wake area and you are going slow anyway. Sail boats usually are not sailing in this area cause it is too enclosed. It is also near the locks to the Chicago River. I was stopped with a friend on his powerboat (there was free beer) and he had been boarded 2 x before in the same season! The CG is a professional group, always courteous. Makes you think about having/not having that extra beer on the daysail.

 

[Herb Parsons]

Boarding Pleasure Boats

First of all, the Dubai issue has nothing to do with watching ports. No matter who owns the business, the same agencies will be in charge of security that are there now (Great Britan previously owned the company, see any British patrol boats watching the docks at New Orleans?)The problem with "exempting" any group - pleasure boaters, kids on a daysailer, grandma on her tri-engine bass boat, whatever - is that if any group is exempted, that this the group to "become" to get past the security.No matter whether you're living on your boat or not, it's still a vehicle, meaning it's mobile. That makes typical search warrants impractical. The comparison would be to your automobile (if you were choosing to live in it), not your home. Just like living in your car doesn't make it the equivilant of a house, neither should living in a boat.