Boarded by the Coast Guard

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I was inspected once, as we hauled out of Mission Bay in San Diego at the launch ramp. It was by the CG Auxillary and was a voluntary inspection. I passed and took their little decal and stuck it in the port window. I have passed the CG's in their RIBs many times since then and they have never done any more than give me a quick look. Perhaps it is the decal. I twice have been chased down by a big black scarab apparantly belonging to Homeland Security. Once they asked, where from / where to, the other time I saw them barrelling down on me, so I heaved to. They stopped just short of me, we stared at each other for about a minute, then since they had not made any sort of effort to detain me, I powered back up and crossed south into Mexican water a few minutes later with out them following me. Another interesting note, was as hauled out of Mission Bay another time, we were completely surrounded by San Diego PD. they had a half dozen vehicles plus two PD vessels blocking us from behind. I thought all this because my daughter was sitting in my lap under the cockpit without a PFD while cruising through the no wake zone in the harbor? Turns out our black SCUBA diving gear bags stowed on the bow look just like the bags drug runners use when coming up from Mexico. Once we said we had been diving, they were very nice and never checked a thing. :smiled
 
As an Auxiliarist who has qualified as crew aboard the active duty 25' RB-S (Response Boat - Small), I'm often aboard when our boarding teams are doing their thing. I'm amused at posts I've frequently seen commenting on the 22 year olds with guns pulling them over. When I'm on board they are equally astonished at a 70 year old, grey haired, guy as part of the CG crew. I can say without reservation, that the total concern of our boarding teams is boating safety, and not harassing the public. You would be aghast at how many boaters go out totally unprepared for any emergency.
 
If/When boarded by the coast guard, what do they inspect?

Are you allowed to have a handgun if you have a concealed weapon permit for the appropriate state?

I have been checked by the Fish and Wildlife, they checked my fish....they looked at registration, PFD's, a throable, horn/whistle...I don't recall them looking at flares or fire extinguishers......

Here is a link for an online USCG inspection:

http://uscgboating.org/safety/vsc/vsc_a.html
 
We were walking Annie along the bluff at the Dungeness Refuge this A.M. when I noticed a "small" white boat moving up next to one of the container ships plodding inbound in the Strait. After several minutes near the biggee, the littlee moved up directly alongside and I could make out seven bodies climbing the gangway attached to the side of the biggee. Finally noticed the red diagonal on the littlee and realized it was a cutter from Port Angeles.
The bodies disappeared onboard and the cutter stood off a ways finally dropping back and slipping into a position directly astern the container ship. (Crossing the wake was probably fairly exciting.)
They were still in that position when they disappeared from view past the spit.
Verla wanted to know if they would be inspecting all the containers.(!)
I'm just as happy that someone is doing something along those lines.

Paul Priest
Sequim
 
Yeah Pat, They all look like they're still in High School..Does that tell you anything. :wink Only time I've been stopped was in the channel to Polsbo. I was flying a large box kite on a no wind day and I think they just wanted to see if I could get it reeled in before it went in the water. :smilep Jack
 
What a timely topic!
Wednesday, 4/2, we left Edmonds heading North. About 15 minutes into the trip, we were boarded by the Coast Guard. I must say, they were very nice and it was a pleasant/interesting experience. Here are the questions they asked us:
1. When was the last time you were boarded by the CG?
2. Can I see your registration?
3. How long is your boat?
4. Do you have a horn? Let's hear it.
5. Do you have a fire extinguisher? Where is it.
6. They did not ask about flares, but they were located next to fire ext.
7. Looked around for PDF's, counted them, AND the throw cushion.
8. Where are you headed?

That was it. Two guys came aboard. One took care of the paperwork and one asked questions and looked around. The whole thing took about 15 minutes. We got an A+.... As I said, they were very nice.

We asked what was the most common deficiency, and they said not having the PDF's out and available, not having the throw cushion out, and not having the registration on board.

Oh-we had our "bailing" bucket out and visible also, and they did not ask about that.

Hope this helps.

Nancy
 
C-Sick":10sy27ix said:
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.
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I completely disagree. In this case (and many others) it is about generating revenue - pure and simple.....
 
Maybe I've misunderstood. How is revenue generated?

Do you mean revenue from fines imposed for citations? Wow, how large are the fines, typically? They must be huge.

I imagine that the total outlay to inspect my boat and process the paperwork probably exceeds $200. How do I figure? Well, it can't cost less than $10 a minute to staff and operate USCGC Sea Lion. No way. The average guardsman compensation package must be around 50 cents a minute or more ($30 an hour, to include salary and all benefits, room and board). How many crew? I dunno, but at least 10, so that's $5 a minute, without paying for a drop of fuel or maintaining any gear or equipment. So it's $10 a minute EASY just to operate that boat.

So for the 20 minutes they spent with me, and I wasn't found to be in violation, they generated no revenue and spent more than $200. Unless the fines are up around $500 or more per infraction, safety inspections are definitely a money-losing operational activity.

That's why I'm asking for clarification...I must be misunderstanding your meaning. Who generates revenue, and how?
 
timflan said:
Maybe I've misunderstood. How is revenue generated?

Do you mean revenue from fines imposed for citations? Wow, how large are the fines, typically? They must be huge.

I imagine that the total outlay to inspect my boat and process the paperwork probably exceeds $200. How do I figure? Well, it can't cost less than $10 a minute to staff and operate USCGC Sea Lion. No way. The average guardsman compensation package must be around 50 cents a minute or more ($30 an hour, to include salary and all benefits, room and board). How many crew? I dunno, but at least 10, so that's $5 a minute, without paying for a drop of fuel or maintaining any gear or equipment. So it's $10 a minute EASY just to operate that boat.

So for the 20 minutes they spent with me, and I wasn't found to be in violation, they generated no revenue and spent more than $200. Unless the fines are up around $500 or more per infraction, safety inspections are definitely a money-losing operational activity.

Timflan,

First and foremost, I never meant to imply that this program would ever pay for itself, as you clearly pointed out, it simply won't.

The fines though, can be staggering for large ship skippers and like you said, they are not after you. They got you because they felt like messing with somebody and were bored. The odds that a C-Dory owner in the middle of the day, in a busy area having anything "below the water line" so to speak is extremely low.

While I am not sure if it is still this way (it used to be), the local agency writing the citations kept 10-20 percent of that for additional funding for their local agency.

You are right, this is clearly a money losing operation, they are just trying to recoup some of those costs if they can.
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Wow, interesting how the Coast Guard is viewed differently depending on location. The only negative you hear about Coasties in Sitka is that they tend to get the pretty girls. For those who's only interaction with them is during an inspection, I can understand the concern.

I would like to thank all of you who pay the taxes that keep them going though, perhaps I can share the interaction that we see in this coastal island.

Frequent training classes with our kids both in school and by putting them in survival suits and floating them into the harbor.
Numerous charity donations via time and effort, they and their families are quick to help pick up trash, help out any family down and out, frequent "garage sales" "gazebo sales" or baked goods sales to raise money that is then given to the town.
Participation in pretty much every town service group, parades etc
Boy Scout, Cub Scout, Girl Scout etc leaders, softball team, basketball team, swim team, you name it, they are involved and helping.

Then there is the "official aspect", on these little remote islands or communities there is just no easy way in or out if you need emergency services. Nearest hospital is usually at least a two to five day trip by boat, if you have one but the Coastie chopper is just a call away. Guys die in our waters no matter how skilled they are or how big and well equiped their boat is, but a great deal more would die without those choppers. The recent Alaska Ranger sinking was a great example of that. 50 went in the water and 45 came out alive thanks to those coasties and your taxes.

Occasionally a Coastie isn't nearby and you have to rely on someone else, the Coast Guard still renders assistance via radio guiding help your way. When that help puts their life at great risk to assist, the Coasties make sure everyone knows how brave that help was. The greatest honor up in these waters isn't how big your boat is or how much you made last season, it is an award that the Coasties give to a civilian who goes out of their way and risks their life to save another. There are few of those awards given out, hence the honor. But what is seldom mentioned, is that those awards are given to the few civilians who perform a task that the typical Coastie performs with great frequency.

Yes, the CG boards up here too and on occasion will escort a boat back to the dock due to safety issues. But when you go into the water up here, even in the middle of summer, you have fifteen minutes to live unless by chance you have the items with you that the coasties suggest.

In Sitka, Coasties are an integral part of the community. Out there in the water, they are your only chance when things go wrong. Thanks again to all who help pay for their services, I assure you that you are getting a bargain, especially when someone you care about needs their help!
 
Chivita, I don't think that Sitka is the only place that benefits from having Coasties in their community. You gave them a super tribute here, and I believe they deserve it. No, I have not been boarded, but I have always had my boat "Vessel Safety Checked" at teh beginning of the season, and I don't know if it precludes boarding if they are out patrolling and looking but it a way for me to display that I am pro boating safety, and support both USCGA & USPS efforts to keep safety on the water a regular practice.

Back to the Coasties and there contributions to their community. It's my belief that most of the time the folks that go into the Coast Guard are already service oriented, and that is why they choose USCG over another branch of the armed services. I think they are an asset in any community, (and personally they make great neighbors.)

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Boarded several times in the Cook Inlet off of Ninilchik. Also once out of Homer.
They were extremely nice, thorough and quick. The flares and jackets were priimo in their inspection. They wanted to know if I had any guns on board. I did. The comment was "don't get them out but where are they?" I use them for killing halibut.
I feel real secure knowing they are around and watching out for my a-- on the water.
They can board me any time and as many times as they want to. It does get a little crowded with 4 of us and 3 of them in my 22' Angler.
 
The Coast Guard is welcome aboard Sea Shift at any time! To "echo" a bit about what "Chivita" was referring to in their contributions to the community rings true for the majority of folks in the public rescue services in this country. Although, folks in these occupations derive their incomes from this line of work, they don't hesitate to volunteer their services and expertise to their communities for no or very little renumeration in their "off" time.
As we have seen on another "thread" on this site, quite a number of our fellow C-Brats give of their time as CG Auxiliarists and I certainly "tip my hat" to them and give them a big thanks. Obviously, they receive certain perks and a lot of training for their efforts, but that is actually small in the amount of personal time and effort they put out for those of us that are out cruising the waters.
If there is ever a need to raise taxes in order to keep the Coast Guard "afloat", I'll certainly be happy to contribute to the increase!
To the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary....a HUGE THANKS! :thup
 
We were boarded a couple of years ago in the San Juan's near Lopez Island. I saw them coming at high speed and said "oh crap we're going to be boarded by the Coast Guard". My wife and daughter were excited and made the boys have their picture taken with them. The ladies attitude was the best one to take because it put the Coast Guard guys at ease. They did their job quickly and in good humor.

They said that we were the first boat they'd boarded that day that wasn't sent back to port to correct a safety issue. So even though I agree that the stops are made mainly for security reasons, they are still catching a lot of safety violations.

I also got reminded that the best way to deal with any law enforcement personnel (even 18 year olds with guns) is with good humor. I've gotten out of a lot of speeding tickets that way over the years but as I get older and grumpier I sometimes forget it.
Lyle
 
It is rarely the agency that is the problem. It is the man or woman wearing the uniform that is. There is nothing worse than an officer of any agency on a power trip. I think everyone loves and respects the work that the CG does. And, when someone brings up an issue, it doesn't mean they strongly dislike the CG, but they may dislike the anal retentive person wearing the uniform. We all know the type, they are in every job, and in every country. They do make for great accountants.......My advanced apologies to all accountants: please do not mess up my taxes, I was just kidding:)
 
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