Boarded by the Coast Guard

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Sneaks

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Yesterday was gorgeous on the water. Did the Mission Bay to Oceanside run in almost flat water, no wind waves, 75 degrees and sunny. Entering Mission Bay on my return, I got blue lighted by the Genuine Coasties. Random (?) inspection. I passed, of course, but every other question was about the C-Dory. The Wallas really impressed them. Sheesh, Friday afternoon, almost nobody on the water, boring watch, I should have known.

Their technology is fascinating. Hand held computer, enter all the data, real time check to see if I have any wants or warrants, print out a receipt to show if it happens again. Now I know what it's like to have 4 people and a dog on a C-22, all but me in life jackets....

So my question is: How many here have been actually boarded by the Coast Guard?

(By the way, they had a souped up RIB with twin Honda 225's off the stern.)
 
We were boarded by the Coasties, who were all about 12 years old (or so it seemed to us), coming out of the Ship Canal into Lake Union last year on a January cruise. Funny little story, one running light didn't work, they wrote us up - Patty leaned over and gave it a whack and said "Now it works" - it did, and they tore up the ticket. Not five minujtes later we were stopped again - we thought it was the same boat returning for something - but we told them we had just been boarded a few minutes earlier and they took our word for it...


Sneaks":neql3wqe said:
Yesterday was gorgeous on the water. Did the Mission Bay to Oceanside run in almost flat water, no wind waves, 75 degrees and sunny. Entering Mission Bay on my return, I got blue lighted by the Genuine Coasties. Random (?) inspection. I passed, of course, but every other question was about the C-Dory. The Wallas really impressed them. Sheesh, Friday afternoon, almost nobody on the water, boring watch, I should have known.

Their technology is fascinating. Hand held computer, enter all the data, real time check to see if I have any wants or warrants, print out a receipt to show if it happens again. Now I know what it's like to have 4 people and a dog on a C-22, all but me in life jackets....

So my question is: How many here have been actually boarded by the Coast Guard?

(By the way, they had a souped up RIB with twin Honda 225's off the stern.)
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At least 6 times in the Strait Of Juan De Fuca over the past 18 years. Last summer was the most recent. Three young men in a "supersized" Sea Doo tied up to our boat and put us thru the test. (Piece of cake).

Their backup was about a 100' Cutter (Guns mounted forward and aft) floating close by.
 
I got pulled over (OK, stopped) crossing Roserio Strait by what could have been considered a giant orange sea doo two years ago. We have been crossing at least once a month over the past 6 years + lots of cruising. That has been the only time they have been interested in us. (Everything was in order, but it was a bit exciting.)
 
1989..Aquia Creek, off Potomac. two of us...one a 50 ft. Buy Boat and another a 40 deadrise Bay workboat..had about twelve people "camping" ona two week trip...dark of night, rainstorm, pitch black...this very large black shape approaches, then searchlights and orders over speaker to "gather your crew on the bow of each boat and prepare for boarding"...Coasties with vests and shotguns...Searched both boats stem to stern...turns out this creek was a drop point for drug boats coming up from Florida, then selling to Cigarette boats coming down from DC.
They later apologized, and stopped by to see us in the am. They were all about 19. But it was a scary experience.

tom
 
So what does the inspection entail? I presume they wants to see a PFD for every passenger plus a Type IV, flares, a portable horn, functioning lights, etc.
 
CheckRaise":3tjg0c5b said:
So what does the inspection entail? I presume they wants to see a PFD for every passenger plus a Type IV, flares, a portable horn, functioning lights, etc.
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Plus your fire extinguisher in good order, current papers and now in Oregon your boater safety card.
I have been boarded every season. I am glad they are there.
Last year was one of the most entertaining boardings. I was trolling for Salmon and they pulled up alongside. We started pulling gear and they said to leave it out and keep trolling... that I could just show them what they wanted to see as we fished. Kewl, I can do that... About half way through the inspection my sons rod gets slammed. The coasties parted company and enjoyed watching my 11 year old son fight an acrobatic Coho. It was 22 inches and fat as a cow. They gave him a high 5s when they came alongside to finish the inspection. Pretty durn nice guys.
 
Oh yea, those flares have to be current.
A group of friends got to use up some old flares and commented on the significant difference between newer flares and those out of date.
Never skimp on a device your life may depend on....
 
Spring 2003, twice in the East River off Manhattan. The first time they didn't board, just asked where from, where to, etc. The second time (same day, different CG boat) they did board and gave us the complete inspection. We had been worrying about the swing bridge being closed at the North end of Manhattan island, and had just been passed by a Circle Line tour boat which we speeded up to follow knowing the bridge would be open for it. When the CG stopped us we complained that they may stop us getting to the bridge in time. They were real nice and told us to get under way again while they ran the inspection. Their boat followed us and, in fact, we were past the bridge and into the Hudson River before they waved goodbye.

They too had a lot of questions about the C-Dory. But one of the serious ones was "Do you have a holding tank for your toilet?" Answer "Yes, of course!" Question "Can we see it?" Answer "Are you honestly telling me that you want me to open the access hole in the cockpit floor just so you can kneel down and look at the tank?" Answer "Well, no, I guess we don't need to do that."

Did I say that there was an Orange Alert on at the time?
 
I got boarded yesterday, in Admiralty Inlet south of Useless Bay. The guys said "We're everywhere this weekend," so be forewarned.

Despite passing the inspection, I was kinda pissed off. I don't mind the inspection, but they made me stop in the middle of the Seattle shipping lanes. I was boating toward their position north of the lanes, so they had to go out of their way to close the gap and stop me there. I even protested, but they would hear none of it. On they came. This is to promote my safety? I don't get it.
 
It seems that the boardings are not for our safety.

If the Coast Guard was really concerned about safety equipment, they could inspect boats at launch ramps or in marinas, or require everyone to get a USCG Aux courtesy inspection.

It would make more sense to ensure that boats are safely equipped before they go out on the water and get in trouble.
 
Yep.

They counted flares, but they were far more interested in running the names of those on board. They demanded driver's licenses even from my passengers.
 
"They" -- which included me for many, many years -- are doing what they are able to do to protect us. The best way that they can. It is the USCG job to check safety equipment on a vessel -- also to look for any possible threat. Rotten, miserable job when you have been warned that there is a huge imminent threat and have no idea where the threat may come from. A C-Dory full of HE is a big weapon and can destroy - you name it. Yep, it's a pain to be boarded -- and I am boarded regularly, but there IS another side. "They" have orders to be courteous and polite - and to be observant.

Yer former servant,

Dusty
 
Just to be clear: I don't mind being boarded. Bring it on. It's important work they're doing, and other than my one issue, I thought they conducted themselves like complete pros. I just question the safety of their going out of their way to stop me in the shipping lanes.
 
I had 85 year old friends stopped coming back from Blake Island. One officer boarded the boat and they requested from him permission to get out of the shipping lanes and into Elliot Bay where there was far less chop.

The officer on board was over ruled by an officer on the Zodiac. They ran the boat and ran their personal ID.

My friend said, Nobody cares more about the safety of my boat than I do. It is not about safety, it is about homeland security.
 
Sure understand. I'm 85 and hate to get stopped because they use up my fishing/shrimping time - which always has a small window.

These kids (in my time), were all well-trained and directed to be courteous. Average age of the crews then, and those who have boarded my boat recently, is about 19-20 with a PO in charge of perhaps 23 years. Tact and courtesy are sometimes foreign to their basic natures - difficult to instill, even with a 2x4.

Gross cases should be reported IN WRITING to the Commandant. He wants to know, and I'm sure will chase down every incident.

I'm happy they are there -- and don't want their jobs!!!
Unless it's Jon and Cynthia :love C-Lou and I can confiscate halibut :smile

Gone fishin'

Dusty
 
Just spotted this old thread, and thought I would offer that I was boarded yesterday, for the first time. "Professional and courteous" are the words that come to mind. I've written it up over on Navagear.com.

 
OK, I'm glad they are out there too. Have never been boarded, but then, there is always a first time. Question: on their inspections, if they want to see nav lights working, am I going to get written up for not having my white, all-around (anchor) lite up, mounted in the operating position if it is in the daytime? I keep it in clips down in the V-birth, but it works, and I have that documented in my vessel safety check sheet that I carry.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Hi Harvey,
You won't have a problem with a violation because the light isn't in place in the daytime. They may want to have you mount it up and turn it on to insure that it is working as part of their inspection.
We were inspected once with a boat that didn't have an electrical system. I kept the portable nav lights below in the cabin, and that wasn't an issue.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
We were boarded once early last year off of Hat Island. The first question as they come alongside is "Do you have any firearms aboard?". They gave us "the gold copy" of the inspection report and told us to present it during the following year if approached for boarding. They couldn't have been more professional. We are proud of them.
 
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