Coast Guard Inspections

[Bill Roosa]

Agree with George B and Ross

George, I have found that during holiday weekends the USCG do in fact patrol more frequently and they NEVER stop me. They only stop me when I am the only boat out there and there is something else like a small craft advisory going on. Kinda nice to know you have them in your hip pocket "just in case" It is ALWAYS the power boater who are doing something dumb that get stopped on holiday weekends. I think it is great that the USCG is "hassling" the folks that are doing things that I'd just as soon not see happening on the water. I always keep the main up even when motoring just to make the boat more stable so I suspect they don't think a 5 knot sailboat is much of a concern compared to a 50 knot cigarette boat.Ross, Those malcontents only live in the good old USA as if they lived anywhere else they'd be in prison. America has its' problems but they pale in comparison to other countries.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Ctskip!

There are quite a few of our terrorist friends have technology that can produce a dirty bomb or a chemical bomb or can borrow from N Korea a real live tactical nuc. ALL THESE THINGS CAN FIT IN A 30' SAIL BOAT!!!!!!!!!That is why they are searching "the locals". The other 3 letter government organizations are keeping them from crossing the borders or coming through the airports but the USCG is the only force that can patrol the 7000+ mil coastline and keep them from "coming ashore" in a privatively owned boat.

 

[Ctskip]

OK Bill

First, I don't have or know of any terrorist friends. Second there are always the extreme examples. Maybe we all should be given nuclear detectors(sniffers) when we vote, so we can be safer. Lets try not to go to extremes. Talk about terrorism! I believe our government is using scare tactics(terrorism) to bolster the fear factor. Dirty bombs can be inserted up someones rectum, are you going to offer to be inspected every time you go out of the house? No, me neither. There is always the "chance" of "anything " happening at any time. So should we live in fear? There's that "terrorism" factor again. Not me, thank you. I refuse to be a blind follower(sheep) of the govt and their friends (paper and press). I will question every move and every law they want to pass on to the willing. When it comes to laws, I will question. It's my honor to do this. Also my duty. I was screwed serving my country, as were you and every person whose name is on the wall. I will never forget and will always question authority. The Coast Guard definitely serves us well(could be better) and are a needed deterrent. Let them chase the crooks, they have the technology to inspect for dirty bombs in the millions of containers that enter our ports every week and stop "hassling" the citizens of America floating on the waterways of America. Just to keep us "safe". Just as the guy (one in seven)in the car coming at you is drunk. Feel safer now? But be sure to tow an unregistered boat without pfd's and bother some fun loving folks who are harming nobody, enjoying their freedom here in America! Who are the terrorists here anyway? Crossing the borders? ha ha ha Look at what just happened with that TB guy. Nice job guys, keep up the good work. Feel safer now? I choose not to live in fear for my life. If you like ,you can live in terror. Not me. Keep it up, Ctskip.

 

[Ctskip]

Bill

If I read your post correctly. The CG are looking for dirty bombs on small crafts. Come on now! Now there's terrorism at its best. Of all the people, I would never of believed you to feel that way. Guess thats the govt at its best. Brain washing at it's finest. You do get a govt check, don't you? Dirty bombs can be in a terrorists rectum too. Does that mean we should bend over and submit ourselves when asked? Lets not go to extremes. Chances are better for bombs to be in one of the many unchecked containers that enter our country everyday. Work the ports and not the citizens. As for the other "three letter govt organizations" protecting the land borders. That is a joke. One dirty (TB) guy just strolled into our country and we were looking for him. He was on the stop list. Feel safer now? Just let the CG do what they do best, protect our ports and save lives. And quit hassling the citizens in a unregistered boat with no pfd's, floating on the waterways, enjoying their freedoms many have died for. Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[Ross]

I understand that when you are boarded

you are asked if you have any weapons on board. I would truthfully answer "Yes". I have several very sharp knives in the galley, there is a set of long screwdrivers in a bag on the port side, there are two hammers in a bag on the starboard side, there is a can of spray lubricant under the sink in the head and there is a 10 pound foam fire extingisher beside the electrical panel. There are four winch handles in the locker next the companionway. But there are no firearms. Could I blow anything up using the boat as an IED? you bet! I have two twenty pound propane tanks on board, all I need is an oxygen bottle to complete the job.

 

[Timo42]

Was boarded a month ago

on my sailboat off Malibu, they boarded another sailboat first, it was a monday, I think they had nothing better to do. Not a problem though, better to have the CG than pirates like so many other parts of the world.  Tim

 

[capri 22 809]

It is their job

They "asked" you to be polite. If they want to board they can. Try to be polite and remember they are the ones who will come for you if you are trouble. If they ask about weapons I feel they mean firearms. Then they will ask you not to go below to the cabin.

 

[Bill Roosa]

Ctskip

All I can say is you are uninformed and need to stay that way. The USCG and others do things every day that no news agency knows about. The fact that you think a sailboat carrying a dirty bomb is "silly" just means the psychological operations are actually working.

 

[abe]

Bill, don't worry about Ctskip.last time I checked

...Oklahoma was not surrounded by any great body of water and I think his experience with the CG is little to none. Some people just like to talk the big talk, others deal and live with the CG on a daily basis.;Dabe

 

[Ctskip]

Lets leave the insults for the politicians

Unless you are running for office, then I can understand. Not agree with, but understand. Insulting someones intelligence is a sad attempt to elevate ones own. As for my experience in dealing with the CG, slim to none. My brother was in the CG when I lived in Ct for most of my 57 yrs. Been in Ok for about 7 yrs now. So I guess you both had better look for someone else to insult. Can't do it, not to me. As for the other "three letter govt org". They are a joke. Right down to the intel the President got on Iraq to last week when a "dirty " person crossed our border. Yea I'm uninformed alright. Tell me just one thing the other "three letter orgs" have done correctly in the last ten years. I'm having a hard time finding any. I can think of several acts of war on our persons overseas though. With some halfway decent intel they could of, or maybe even should of, been avoided. Instead of what did happen, which was nothing. Just American lives lost. Good job guys.Makes me proud.Raises for all!! I'm not saying they are complete idiots, but darn near. They can't even communicate with each other. So lets form another "three letter org" to help with the communication. Funny, huh? Sad, thats what it is. Homeland security is a total embarrassment that hasn't accomplish a single thing yet, has cost the taxpayer his liberties and his money. With the excuses mounting, and the fingers waving. Their latest test,Canada, they failed. So yea, I guess I am uninformed as to their operations. How about you? Up to date?  I love this country as much as the next guy, if not more and The USA is losing it's stature in the world. Still number one in my opinion, but not for long.  The Coasties do a great job saving lives. Thank you. I just ask them not to look so hard for dirty bombs on 30 foot sailboats and secure our ports and check the foriegn boats from foriegn ports a "little" closer and spend less time on fun loving recreational boaters. Thats all. Plain and simple. No insults, just ideas and hopefully some creative and very simple solutions. We don't need more laws just better implementation of the existing ones.  Sorry for the rant. Keep it up, Ctskip

 

[higgs]

Entering the US

While the CG is certainly one of our defenses against terrorism, getting into the country by water, unobserved, from Canada is a piece of cake. I made the 40 mile trip overnight, pulling into Olcott early in the am with no one noticing. Sure, I checked in a customs, but by video phone and they would have never known if I had not checked in.