proper documents

[Ross]

Re: licensed captain

If your son is a 200 ton master then you already know the answers to the questions that you have asked.

 

[Steve21992]

Wider Experience

It is interesting to note the extent to which previous posts have been by US boaters and the responses have dealt with the US Coast Guard. Perhaps this question could only be asked by folk who have never sailed outside their own country.

Perhaps a broader perspective would add to the dialogue

All my sailing has been in the Caribbean.

My only experience with the US Coast Guard was in the BVI. Being very close to the USVI the officials like to ensure you are correctly papered. Weekend or daily crossborder visits are frowned upon. You are leaving yourself open to having the boat seized. Doesn't happen often in this favourite charter boat community, but you will be in big trouble with your charter boat company!
All our papers were in order and they were very polite.

On the Caribbean islands or in nearby waters you had better have either your exit papers from the country you just left or your entry papers for the country you are in, as well as the ownership papers.

I have several experiences with Coast Guard in Grenada and St. Vincent and Grenadines. Here again they are mainly interested in drug trafficking and illegal entries. In general, they are courteous and polite and papers have been OK. I have heard of a number of incidences of folk getting into difficult situations when they were in a country illegally (without proper entry papers) and large fines have been reported.

By the way, there are a number of countries, (I believe the Bahamas is amongst them) where the US Coast Guard is authorised (or act as if they are authorised) to patrol and protect those waters as if they were a part of the USA.

Happy Sailing to everyone. It's best to stay within the law.

Steve Brockhouse

 

[capejt]

efficiency

why is it those CG inflatables, in fact, any inflatable with a blue LEO light, are always moving at WOT, as if they were in hot pursuit of dangerous persons all the time?

Inflatables are much more efficient at a higher rate of speed. They are "planing" hulls

 

[nemosuit]

Is it usually OK to carry photocopies of registration and ownership docs? With a smaller, more dinghy-like boat, it's harder to stow original docs securely.

Also, you'd think that by now that boat ownership and registration could all be verified electronically through your registration #, same as police can do with licence plates, and the docs are mostly a formality.

When we registered our '78 Mac 22 and trailer here in Hawaii, the guy at the DLNR advised me to always carry at least a photocopy of the paperwork with me whenever we trailer or sail the boat.

Over here we've got some Coast Guard, but mostly it's the officers of the Department of Land and Natural Resources who check out boaters, hunters, and such. And yes: they are authorized by the State Department of Public Safety to carry firearms, enforce laws, and arrest people.

But in reality, it's pretty laid back here, too. If I didn't have the paperwork in my possession, they'd radio in for a Registered Owner check; and when my name came back and everything of record was in order, odds are they'd let it go at that.

Worst that might happen would be a fix-it ticket: then I'd have to show up some place with my registration, and that would be about it.

VBR,

Pat

 

[Paul Brinkley]

But, Nemosuit, where you are, you are not likely to accidentally stray into another country, right? -Paul

 

[Mark Major]

I was at anchor a few hundred yards within a NASA restricted area and without my registration. After properly identifying myself I was boarded, my HN was recorded, and I was given a copy of the boundaries of the restricted area along with a warning of applicable penalties, then sent on my way. They were extremely professional and helpful.