My Coast Guard boarding party

[Barnacle Bill]

Re: We'll Take Your Coasties Up Here Any Day

You mean "right of way bigger boat", doesn't apply?

 

[dive7mmwet]

I have no problem with the coast guard and boarding's as said the Auxiliary inspection paper work inspection and proof of in past year will often give you a pass on a boarding,second as a sail boat under sail the coast guard will most likely not light you up under sail,and as said the inspection may save your life or if you don't give a hoot at least other lives on board!
I tend to on past boarding's on our power boat to first hand over the ships papers and then run the list of requirements including flare dates and OVER THE TOP requirements for vessel of my size including EPirB verry fast! and by this time the crew will be cracking a smile as they sign my inspection / boarding report at this time I mention my fathers long service as a coastie and the boaters safety he drilled into me as a young sailor,alls well.and thanks for your service to all the USCG crews!

 

[LuzSD]

as a sail boat under sail the coast guard will most likely not light you up under sail






We were out about 7pm summertime, doing some spin practice with a rare full crew when we were approached and boarded. We had to stop everything we were doing. Only a couple boats out, one of them a small powerboat that also was ultimately inspected as well. I don't think they considered the fact that it wasn't convenient for us one bit. They had a job to do and we were it.:neutral:

 

[thedoctor]

I apologize for stirring up such a hornet's nest of boarding experiences.....

I just purchased a vintage Catalina 25 and
have since found the info I needed.

Now,,, if I can get the 'vintage' Nissan 8 to run !!!!!

 

[LordMorham]

Hats off to those men and women that keep our waters and us safe. I never had a reason to be upset or worry about compliance. If i was not shipshape, then I got a polite reminder to correct the issue. Never anything but polite proper ethical and thorough. A boat in compliance is a safe boat and that equals a safe crew. Be gratefull we have dedicated professional USGC and DNR out there protecting You and Me and my loved ones.

 

[thedoctor]

I've been boating since 1954.... I am also
pro-heat,,,, So I have no problem with conforming to the rules. That is all there is
needs saying. doc

 

[Stu Jackson]

OK, CG boarding parties with BLACK soled shoes/boots could misconstrued to be insensitive to the needs of normal and the lawful boating public.

I still can't understand why they need to wear this kind of intrusive footwear.

Haven't they figured out "sneakers" yet?

The three times I've been boarded have resulted in hours of cleaning up after their messes.

And we get our CG Aux checkout every year, too. And proudly display our sticker.

 

[higgs]

Our Canadian Coast Guard is mandated to search and rescue only and it's anybody's' guess who regulates the yahoos on the water. Our coastal waters are unregulated and it shows.

Alcohol is involved in 40% of all boating deaths on our waters.

Most power boaters don't think their engines will start until they've had at least two drinks.

About 1/4 of all boats in our marina do not have a vessel license number (and they're certainly NOT registered). Have one of these drunken idiots slam into you and run and there's no way of reporting them for insurance purposes. Not having a license carries a $250.00 fine but not too many people are worried about it.

In Canada, we have a requirement for a minimum proof of competency in the form of a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. About 1/3 of all boaters in this country have proof of competency according to Transport Canada.

Almost all pleasure power boaters believe that size dictates right of way.

The concept of right of way while under sail is meaningless to most power boaters.

What amazes me is the number of yahoos that DO make it back to the marina after going out on the water. Accidents and death on the water never amaze me. Drunk, incompetent, and no safety gear and yet they still manage to come through.

The sight of overloaded power boats, along with young children, and not a life jacket in sight is all too common here on our coastal waters.

As Abraham Lincoln once said “laws without enforcement are just good advice” .

I do apologize for the rant, but our waters up here in the Pacific Southwest are some of the most beautiful in the world, however too many of our boaters are also the biggest idiots in the world.

I frequently am in Canadian waters on L Ontario and see none of what you relate. Even in Toronto Harbor, which is quite busy. Traffic is well behaved, and with a few exceptions, quite courteous and careful. It is the same here on the US side.

 

[mpaule]

I believe you will find it on Pg 32

http://www.uscgboating.org/assets/1/workflow_staging/Publications/420.PDF

Great, thanks. I'm under 26 feet with an outboard, so exempt.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Let me respond. I have found that the Coast Guard are professional and they will treat you courteously as you too likewise. They are there for all of our protection and I am glad of that. Since 9/11, there is a lot more to security particularly near naval institutions. Why not ask if you can go with them on a routine patrol and see what they have to put up with and then maybe you will be thankful.

 

[Maine Sail]

Guys/Gals,

We can discuss this issue without making it political, getting personal or using derogatory language or terms. Creating political posts in the general sailing forums is 100% OFF LIMITS.


I would urge everyone to re-read the forum guidelines:

SBO Forum Guidelines

 

[YVRguy]

Almost all pleasure power boaters believe that size dictates right of way.

Man you are so right. I don't know how many times I watch power boats come straight at me while I'm under sail and veer off at the last moment as if I'm hugely inconveniencing them to alter course a couple of degrees.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

How Very True .........................

Man you are so right. I don't know how many times I watch power boats come straight at me while I'm under sail and veer off at the last moment as if I'm hugely inconveniencing them to alter course a couple of degrees.

......................... and Canadian waters are truly the wild, wild west and the whack jobs are definitely in control out there.

I have been giving serious consideration to the following piece of equipment in order to deal with the infestation of PWC's in our local waters.

http://www.thebeachcats.com/OnTheWire/UltimatePWCRepellent.html

 

[RaccoonTOF]

I have got to be a severe anomaly here, as I have never been boarded while out on the water, underway or otherwise. In 29 years I've only ever been inspected twice, and both of those were tied up dockside in a marina where they were doing inspections of every boat there. However, both of those time they were still quite pleasant and in fact didn't do much "looking around" at all - a quick check to be sure I had the required safety equipment (which with all of it in plain view either directly in the cockpit, or just inside the companionway hatch, went rather fast) and they were off and onto the next boat.

That said, after picking up a recent copy of the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (my last copy was from the late 70s) along with a current version of the USCG-distributed Navigational Rules (even though both of my boats are short enough to not require them, it's nice to have a hardcopy just in case), I came across an interesting section in the Fed Reqs. Under the section on "criminally negligent behaviour" it lists "Bowriding, or riding on seatback, gunwale, or transom" as an example of negligent behaviour. This makes me both laugh and grimace - it is so obviously targeted purely at powerboaters, without any regard to the realities of small sailboats - where "rail meat" can be a vital part of the stability of the boat, and where without roller-furling mechanisms (even on my 30') "bowriding" is a required part of changing the foresail...

 

[redhead78]

My club in Keyport has them in every year, I always sign up for free inspection, in fact I have an appointment sunday morn at 8, the launch brings him out it could not be easier.... Red

 

[campuscab]

We tell them the halyard is stuck let the,sail luff and the leave. Act stupid and have a hard time stopping but look like you are trying. The do not like messing with sailboats. I have breen watched and paced by many mean looking boats but never boarded. My buddy sails with a big dog and the never board him. In Detroit we have tons of agencies on the water with fast boats and tons of guns. I feel real safe. If I sink somebody will show up.

 

[shemandr]

I have been giving serious consideration to the following piece of equipment in order to deal with the infestation of PWC's in our local waters.

I've wanted one for my car for years.