A friend of mine was in Roche Harbor last weekend and talked with a number of fellow boaters who had been boarded by the CG for safety inspections.One of them had been boarded twice already this season. Has anyone else in the Pacific Northwest been experiencing this activity? A few years ago this got to be such a problem off of Friday Harbor that boats were avoiding going there. The CG patrolled the harbor entrance and alternated between sail and power for boarding.The city of Friday Harbor filed a complaint with the CG in order to get them to stop this action that was hurting their local economy.
Coast Guard Boardings
- Thread starter Steven Corey
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I was on a buddies center console motorboat
early this season leaving Stamford harbor (Conn.) and got pulled over to check for safety items. It was his first quick run of the season and we had a good handful of people & of course the knuckle-head didn't have everything The Coasties (which were fairly young men) couldn't have been nicer and "cooler" about him having some things missing on the boat that day. They didn't even fine him (I think the Stamford Police would have) The really cool thing is they gave him a sheet of pink paper saying that he was already boarded and if he ever got boarded again this year all he needed to do is show that paper and he should be "given a pass" They way the young coasties made it seem like it was almost a "get out of jail free card" or the "Letters of transit" from the movie Casablanca. I wonder why they can't do this in your area & after they are boarded once by the CG they just show them the "already boarded pink paper"
early this season leaving Stamford harbor (Conn.) and got pulled over to check for safety items. It was his first quick run of the season and we had a good handful of people & of course the knuckle-head didn't have everything The Coasties (which were fairly young men) couldn't have been nicer and "cooler" about him having some things missing on the boat that day. They didn't even fine him (I think the Stamford Police would have) The really cool thing is they gave him a sheet of pink paper saying that he was already boarded and if he ever got boarded again this year all he needed to do is show that paper and he should be "given a pass" They way the young coasties made it seem like it was almost a "get out of jail free card" or the "Letters of transit" from the movie Casablanca. I wonder why they can't do this in your area & after they are boarded once by the CG they just show them the "already boarded pink paper"
Taylor, I might be wrong
but I don't think the USCG Auxiliary do boardings for Safety checks. I think that all they are chartered with doing is getting you the "safety sticker" after being invited on to do an inspection. If I was underway & asked by a USCG Auxiliary boat to pull over to do a safety inspection I would (quietly snicker to myself) and then politely refuse and go on my way. They are volunteers. Not police or CG and have no authority to board your boat
but I don't think the USCG Auxiliary do boardings for Safety checks. I think that all they are chartered with doing is getting you the "safety sticker" after being invited on to do an inspection. If I was underway & asked by a USCG Auxiliary boat to pull over to do a safety inspection I would (quietly snicker to myself) and then politely refuse and go on my way. They are volunteers. Not police or CG and have no authority to board your boat
Vessel Safety Checks
You may be right, USCG Aux probably don't board. The USCG Aux Vessel Safety Checks are provided by well meaning and knowlegeable volunteers, and they are also voluntary on the part of the boater. But but my point is some people have confused the list of deficiencies from a safety check with a legal citation, and so I was wondering if this issue of being stopped for safety inspections might stem from similar confusion. It ought to be pretty clear when its the Coast Guard boarding your vessel, - I would assume they were in an official coast guard boat and in uniform, right? This is sort of activity by the CG is, by the way, one of the arguments for getting a Vessel Safety Check sticker.
You may be right, USCG Aux probably don't board. The USCG Aux Vessel Safety Checks are provided by well meaning and knowlegeable volunteers, and they are also voluntary on the part of the boater. But but my point is some people have confused the list of deficiencies from a safety check with a legal citation, and so I was wondering if this issue of being stopped for safety inspections might stem from similar confusion. It ought to be pretty clear when its the Coast Guard boarding your vessel, - I would assume they were in an official coast guard boat and in uniform, right? This is sort of activity by the CG is, by the way, one of the arguments for getting a Vessel Safety Check sticker.
Jim, You are right
If I see an elderly gentleman and a blue haired lady I would suspect its just the Auxilary and I would be suspect of those middle of the day "saftey inspections". Though once I see that "side-arm" and a younger person in uniform I would assume that its the regular CG. Just came back from the Holiday fireworks in Stamford, CT. No doubt the CG Auxilary was supporting the police, harbormasters & CG so I make the assumption that anything with a "blue-light" was official and I wouldn't ignore any of their requests.
If I see an elderly gentleman and a blue haired lady I would suspect its just the Auxilary and I would be suspect of those middle of the day "saftey inspections". Though once I see that "side-arm" and a younger person in uniform I would assume that its the regular CG. Just came back from the Holiday fireworks in Stamford, CT. No doubt the CG Auxilary was supporting the police, harbormasters & CG so I make the assumption that anything with a "blue-light" was official and I wouldn't ignore any of their requests.
Hi Steven, have never been boarded by the CG...
Three years ago was boarded by homeland security and a sheriff deputy shortly after crossing the border into the US just off of Point Roberts. It was a search for contraband not safety equipment. Terry
Three years ago was boarded by homeland security and a sheriff deputy shortly after crossing the border into the US just off of Point Roberts. It was a search for contraband not safety equipment. Terry
Vessel Safety Checks
I do VSCs with the Coast Guard Auxiliary we are specifically prohibited from doing them on a vessel that is under way. A member of the Auxiliary will not board a vessel but the may transport regular Coast Guard personel to do a boarding. Often though not always when doing boardings the CG or other LE types will pass on a vessel with the sticker and stop the one with out as the vessel was properly equipped when the sticker was awarded and the owner took the time and effort to have it done. http://www.safetyseal.net/
I do VSCs with the Coast Guard Auxiliary we are specifically prohibited from doing them on a vessel that is under way. A member of the Auxiliary will not board a vessel but the may transport regular Coast Guard personel to do a boarding. Often though not always when doing boardings the CG or other LE types will pass on a vessel with the sticker and stop the one with out as the vessel was properly equipped when the sticker was awarded and the owner took the time and effort to have it done. http://www.safetyseal.net/
Boardings
Being a local boating instructor ,I am on the water daily. I have been boarded 3 times this year . Why, because we are usually the only boat out there at the time . The young men of the Coast Guard have been very professional and polite . The one concern is the second coastey will usually have his hand on his hip holster. I instruct all members to carry photo i.d. if you don't have this your are in for a major delay. The Coast Guard with the local police usually conduct 2/3 stings a year ,stopping as many as 40 boats in a afternoon . You would be supprised at what they run into . It is during these stings that they can get flustered. Recently they ordered a high speed boat to dock. The owner said not there there is a rock there. The C.G. said do it now! Clunk there goes a $900 prop. Well after the inspection the C.G. gave him all the paper work for the repair. They showed up the next day to take photos and a check was cut . So be patient ,have your boat safety checked , and have a photo i.d. .
Being a local boating instructor ,I am on the water daily. I have been boarded 3 times this year . Why, because we are usually the only boat out there at the time . The young men of the Coast Guard have been very professional and polite . The one concern is the second coastey will usually have his hand on his hip holster. I instruct all members to carry photo i.d. if you don't have this your are in for a major delay. The Coast Guard with the local police usually conduct 2/3 stings a year ,stopping as many as 40 boats in a afternoon . You would be supprised at what they run into . It is during these stings that they can get flustered. Recently they ordered a high speed boat to dock. The owner said not there there is a rock there. The C.G. said do it now! Clunk there goes a $900 prop. Well after the inspection the C.G. gave him all the paper work for the repair. They showed up the next day to take photos and a check was cut . So be patient ,have your boat safety checked , and have a photo i.d. .
Brian you are correct
and in that case I am sure it would make being boarded that much more pleasant
and in that case I am sure it would make being boarded that much more pleasant
Be glad they are there
I have been boarded several times over the years and the CG has been very professional. I don't worry about it because I do have all my safety gear and it is up to date. Some people just have a problem with being boarded. Be thankful they do their job just maybe they will be there to help you one day then what will you say?
I have been boarded several times over the years and the CG has been very professional. I don't worry about it because I do have all my safety gear and it is up to date. Some people just have a problem with being boarded. Be thankful they do their job just maybe they will be there to help you one day then what will you say?
Give it up guys. "inspections" date back to
the creation of America. The courts have never given boaters a right to refuse boarding, any where, any time. (we were boarded in South America, by the USCG!)As such we hold the unique status of being the only Americans without Fourth Amendment rights. So sorry, so sad. But take heart! The CG is a proud service and very professional. What really fried my testi--- er, bacon, is that the courts also allow anyone with any kind of a badge to board and fish, er, search our boats. Including 18 year old Washington State park ranger summer-help! Yep, I don't do our parks anymore.
the creation of America. The courts have never given boaters a right to refuse boarding, any where, any time. (we were boarded in South America, by the USCG!)As such we hold the unique status of being the only Americans without Fourth Amendment rights. So sorry, so sad. But take heart! The CG is a proud service and very professional. What really fried my testi--- er, bacon, is that the courts also allow anyone with any kind of a badge to board and fish, er, search our boats. Including 18 year old Washington State park ranger summer-help! Yep, I don't do our parks anymore.
cg inspections???*pop
whats the big deal last trip to the pond cg aux were at the ramp doing an insp clogging up the ramp. several power boaters were waiting for them to leave before they would launch so i told them to get out of my way so i could get to the ramp then i politely asked the cg guy to do his thing somewhere other than the ramp so i could launch. he appologized for tying up the ramp and moved to the other side of the dock so i could proceed launching my boat . they watched my launch then tie off when i came back from parking there were 12 boats lined up at the top of the ramp, no one on the ramp and one other boat at the dock which they were just finishing with i said good day hoisted my main shoved off the dock and sailed away.one of them even helped me shove off i dont get it whats the worst thing they can do ? hold you up for a few minutes? give you a list of things you should have aboard your boat? answer a few Q's along the way , maybe even teach you something that may save a life? so whats the problem if they'd have asked i would have welcomed them to come aboard and have a look around. if they can make it a safer place for me and my family so be it! thank you to the men in blue sand sailor
whats the big deal last trip to the pond cg aux were at the ramp doing an insp clogging up the ramp. several power boaters were waiting for them to leave before they would launch so i told them to get out of my way so i could get to the ramp then i politely asked the cg guy to do his thing somewhere other than the ramp so i could launch. he appologized for tying up the ramp and moved to the other side of the dock so i could proceed launching my boat . they watched my launch then tie off when i came back from parking there were 12 boats lined up at the top of the ramp, no one on the ramp and one other boat at the dock which they were just finishing with i said good day hoisted my main shoved off the dock and sailed away.one of them even helped me shove off i dont get it whats the worst thing they can do ? hold you up for a few minutes? give you a list of things you should have aboard your boat? answer a few Q's along the way , maybe even teach you something that may save a life? so whats the problem if they'd have asked i would have welcomed them to come aboard and have a look around. if they can make it a safer place for me and my family so be it! thank you to the men in blue sand sailor
Oh, brother. What is the big deal? .."get them to
stop this action". It takes them no more than 15mi to do their inspection and you are still sailing without stopping (put is on cruise control) while they board you so there is no time loss. I welcome them when I seem them. They are informative, helpfull, and sometimes tell me about a new sticker I need to put on the boat. abe
stop this action". It takes them no more than 15mi to do their inspection and you are still sailing without stopping (put is on cruise control) while they board you so there is no time loss. I welcome them when I seem them. They are informative, helpfull, and sometimes tell me about a new sticker I need to put on the boat. abe
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