Sticker Required or Ad over the Top?
- Thread starter rpwillia
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The wording
Just a little too big brother for me.
It seemed rather alarmist to state "Please be aware the Coast Guard will stop you and may board your boat, if you have an out of date inspection sticker."
Just a little too big brother for me.
I think you guys are confused or the graphic artist was. The guy who did the flyer was probably ignorant of what the boating laws/regulations are.
There is no requirement for an inspection of any sort on NON-COMMERCIAL, recreational vessels the size of ours, at least in my state. There is a requirement for COMMERCIAL small passenger vessels, like chartered fishing boats or yacht club launches that seat more than six passengers, to have an inspection. I'd also point out that the USCGAux does not do the inspections for those vessels AFAIK.
From the USCG website:
My guess is that the graphic designer who put together that flyer was an idiot that didn't know the difference between a commercial small passenger vessel, which requires an inspection and that the sticker shown in the brochure is designed for and a Voluntary Safety Inspection, which is not required nor handled by the USCG.
The VSC gives you a sticker that looks a lot like this:
Note, it looks nothing like the one in the brochure.
There is no requirement for an inspection of any sort on NON-COMMERCIAL, recreational vessels the size of ours, at least in my state. There is a requirement for COMMERCIAL small passenger vessels, like chartered fishing boats or yacht club launches that seat more than six passengers, to have an inspection. I'd also point out that the USCGAux does not do the inspections for those vessels AFAIK.
From the USCG website:
The USCGAux is responsible for doing VOLUNTARY SAFETY CHECKS...which is a voluntary inspection of your boat to see that it meets the USCG and State safety requirements. This is free and gets you a nice triangular sticker that you can stick on your boat. The sticker reduces the chances that the real USCG will stop your boat and do a spot inspection, since their cousins have already looked at her.
My guess is that the graphic designer who put together that flyer was an idiot that didn't know the difference between a commercial small passenger vessel, which requires an inspection and that the sticker shown in the brochure is designed for and a Voluntary Safety Inspection, which is not required nor handled by the USCG.
The VSC gives you a sticker that looks a lot like this:
Note, it looks nothing like the one in the brochure.
The real USCG has more rights than other law enforcement agencies. They may board your vessel regardless of how many stickers you have and how current they are. They do not need a search warrant.
The VOLUNTARY CG Aux vessel inspection can be a dress rehearsal, and may find someting you can correct to avoid a fine if you get boarded by law enforcement, but as others have said, it is voluntary on your part.
The VOLUNTARY CG Aux vessel inspection can be a dress rehearsal, and may find someting you can correct to avoid a fine if you get boarded by law enforcement, but as others have said, it is voluntary on your part.
At first read it would appear that it is required, but It doesn't state that inspections are the law. I would guess they are trying to get the point across that we SHOULD go to their inspection day.... and that you are more likely to be boarded and inspected if the CG don't see a sticker.
Bee
Bee
when ye sail in a smugglers alley it doesnt matter what or how many stickers ye deface your boats with--you WILL probably be boarded or stopped and inquisitioned.....just keep the necessary items up to date and be safe!
My guess is that whoever designed the flyer was misinformed. Lew and Onna Grimm, the owners of DYC (which also is the sole Catalina dealer on the lower Chesapeake Bay) are knowledgable people who have been around the boating world for many years; I doubt that they'd intentionally mislead anyone. Probably just an honest mistake.
before 9-11 it was not as much weirdness and the sticker meant something other than that you have had a cme done on your boat. now is a different story--so may be based upon older info, rather than the new anti terrorism bs we are put through --despite the fact that folks are still terrorizing everywhere unimpeded......go figger-----as long as uscg commodores consider the greatest threat to national security as being the recreational boater in this country and as long as there are smugglers of drugs and humans sailing and powering in our waters, we have the inalienable right to be boarded despite stickers on our boats...goood luck and smooth sailing.....is alll for our own protection.........(.......)
As a former USCG Aux Vessel Examiner I can tell you these are done voluntarily by the examiner, only if you request an inspection, and they are done ONLY on pleasure vessels. They will in no way prevent or determine in any way whether you get boarded by the Coast Guard. They will insure you have the proper and up to date safety equipment. Chuck
In 2006 the CG docked a cutter and set up a checkpoint on a Friday night similar to a DUI checkpoint where you came around a corner and they are having boats dock for an inspection. I had a 2006 triangular decal as pictured by Dog and they waved me through. Last June, Cutter Halibut anchored just outside entrance to harbor, no wind, we're motoring in and I see them get in a boat and come directly to me and do a "boarding".
No valid sticker, they were every nice and after showing some ID they didn't actually board but just had me hold stuff up so they could see it. Purely random chance of course, but in the 60's I used to have a bumper sticker "support your local police" that was like a lucky charm, so it's your choice. No safety violations, so no problem.
Most marinas here (California) now require a safety inspection for a boat new to the marina.
No valid sticker, they were every nice and after showing some ID they didn't actually board but just had me hold stuff up so they could see it. Purely random chance of course, but in the 60's I used to have a bumper sticker "support your local police" that was like a lucky charm, so it's your choice. No safety violations, so no problem.
Most marinas here (California) now require a safety inspection for a boat new to the marina.
In 2006 the CG docked a cutter and set up a checkpoint on a Friday night similar to a DUI checkpoint where you came around a corner and they are having boats dock for an inspection. I had a 2006 triangular decal as pictured by Dog and they waved me through. Last June, Cutter Halibut anchored just outside entrance to harbor, no wind, we're motoring in and I see them get in a boat and come directly to me and do a "boarding".
No valid sticker, they were every nice and after showing some ID they didn't actually board but just had me hold stuff up so they could see it. Purely random chance of course, but in the 60's I used to have a bumper sticker "support your local police" that was like a lucky charm, so it's your choice. No safety violations, so no problem.
Most marinas here (California) now require a safety inspection for a boat new to the marina.
As I stated before, having the sticker will in no way insure that you will not get boarded and if the CG choses not to board or do a safety inspection it has nothing to do with whether or not you have one of these stickers. Chuck
Chuck—
While having a recent USCG Aux VSC sticker on your boat won't prevent the USCG from boarding or inspecting your boat... it will generally reduce the chance that they do so. At least according to the USCG people I've talked to around here, if they see two boats, and one has a recent VSC sticker on it...they'll usually go after the other boat.
The reasoning is simple—the people who get VSCs are usually more conscientious and less likely to be in violation of the basic safety requirements. As one of the USCG people said, "If a boat has the sticker, they were in compliance, and I doubt they'd remove things from the boat, knowing they were required."
Is it a guarantee—no... does it reduce your chances of getting boarded—yes, it does, provided you're not doing anything to require them to investigate your boat, like weaving, speeding in a no wake zone, etc.
While having a recent USCG Aux VSC sticker on your boat won't prevent the USCG from boarding or inspecting your boat... it will generally reduce the chance that they do so. At least according to the USCG people I've talked to around here, if they see two boats, and one has a recent VSC sticker on it...they'll usually go after the other boat.
The reasoning is simple—the people who get VSCs are usually more conscientious and less likely to be in violation of the basic safety requirements. As one of the USCG people said, "If a boat has the sticker, they were in compliance, and I doubt they'd remove things from the boat, knowing they were required."
Is it a guarantee—no... does it reduce your chances of getting boarded—yes, it does, provided you're not doing anything to require them to investigate your boat, like weaving, speeding in a no wake zone, etc.
also the area in which one sails is to be taken into consideration----in the smugglers alleys--off fla, kali, etc, there is a realllly huge chance of being appproached and boarded----no one is above suspicion there.....go figger--also in coming back from mexico or other notorious places--just be prepared for it and should go well. isnt anything to fear unless you are in violation in some way .....
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