Boarded!!

Well we were the only boat within miles...so I guess it was us :D
Not having seen your daughters in over ten+ years I can assure you that if I were one of the cowboys I’d would have stop you as well ! Cheers you’re bless with many people willing to risk life & limb to save you’re boat as long as they & Ot there momma are on board. You better keep you’re life jacket close by
 
Here ya go. Straight outta the marketing deck :)

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Not having seen your daughters in over ten+ years I can assure you that if I were one of the cowboys I’d would have stop you as well ! Cheers you’re bless with many people willing to risk life & limb to save you’re boat as long as they & Ot there momma are on board. You better keep you’re life jacket close by
18 and 20 now John...
 
So for the 1st time in my boating career, I got a CG Auxiliary safety check Saturday morning. I finally happened to be at the marina when they were there. My 2 fire extinguishers failed. (2004) and I had a negative battery terminal cover missing (may be Wisconsin law, not marine law). So I get them replaced and fixed (West Marine was going to get busy Saturday!!) Saturday before we went out. Lo and behold the Coast Guard stopped us and boarded us Saturday cruising up Green Bay. Another 1st. IMO, they saw the 3 teenaged girls sunning on my bow, but I digress. They stopped us (came in from starboard, sticker is on port) were incredibly nice and professional, went through a checklist of sorts, asked me about somethings the Auxiliary didn't, and signed us off as approved. Had to hold my daughter back. Head honcho was buff, tatted up, and a good looking dude (apparently):D A good time was had for all (except me, the Dad) Anyway, I should have asked what the response would have been had I not replaced my extinguishers. Thank goodness for the Auxiliary!!
The last time I was boarded they were going to pull up to my strbd, I hollered to them 'stay off my blue gelcoat', I said it nicely though. We were in a narrow spot in the channel with a slight cross wind and I didn't stop, they understood and pulled up to the swim platform so a couple folks could jump on my boat. We motored along with their boat following close behind.

They never went any farther than you see in the photos. All they checked were fire extinguishers in cockpit, life jackets, boat docs, and my ID. When I went below to get papers I invited them in, said I had plenty of extinguishers down there if they wanted to look at them too and left the door open if they wanted to peak in but they declined. It seemed their interest was only in he boat documentation, who we were, where we were going and where we just came from.
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Nice. They too boarded on the swim platform. Boat driver was an ace. I asked if they wanted me to continue at idle speed or stop. Bay was flat though. They came up on the bridge to count life jackets, and peaked at my galley fire extinguisher.
 
We were docked last summer a few hundred yards from a major coast guard station. Didn't think about it but we were sitting ducks for inspections. They came walking down the docks around 6pm one day. Dockmate had his guests on board for cocktails and he scrambled and took off as he didn't have all his paperwork with him. I was in he middle of grilling my fresh seabass and they skipped me and went to another neighbor. I was quite thankful that they did not interrupt my dinner to do an inspection even though I was prepared for them to do so. They spent about 30-45 minutes on my neighbors vessel however. From what I gathered they were very respectful of who was doing what and did not look to interrupt anyone's get together or meal time and was very selective as to who they would board for a inspection.
 
I think a lot of boardings I see are because of potential running back and forth to Canada, drug activity I'd guess most of the time. One evening they cornered an upper 20's size Cobalt right at the marina ramp. They blocked off the ramps for a couple hrs as they went through the boat and grilled the owner. Many boats accumulated on the water waiting to use the ramp. The Harbor Master went over to complain to them and they put him in his place quickly.

All I found out about the above incident is that they knew the boater had crossed into Canadian waters, didn't check in anywhere and come back. I suppose they figured he met someone offshore for some illegal purpose.
 
I think a lot of boardings I see are because of potential running back and forth to Canada, drug activity I'd guess most of the time. One evening they cornered an upper 20's size Cobalt right at the marina ramp. They blocked off the ramps for a couple hrs as they went through the boat and grilled the owner. Many boats accumulated on the water waiting to use the ramp. The Harbor Master went over to complain to them and they put him in his place quickly.

All I found out about the above incident is that they knew the boater had crossed into Canadian waters, didn't check in anywhere and come back. I suppose they figured he met someone offshore for some illegal purpose.
That's one of the frustrating things just because "they can". I would understand if there's a safety issue where they're trying to isolate someone, but once they have the situation under control they really should pull over to the side, out of the way of normal traffic, and continue their investigation. I have no idea what was going on in that situation, but in similar circumstances I often wonder if anyone onsite is giving consideration to everyone else and making any effort to make their job as unobtrusive as possible to the rest of the public.
 
That's one of the frustrating things just because "they can". I would understand if there's a safety issue where they're trying to isolate someone, but once they have the situation under control they really should pull over to the side, out of the way of normal traffic, and continue their investigation. I have no idea what was going on in that situation, but in similar circumstances I often wonder if anyone onsite is giving consideration to everyone else and making any effort to make their job as unobtrusive as possible to the rest of the public.
I hear ya. You never know what they could be up to, maybe they're on the trail of some suitcase wmd or something and don't want any distractions. As irritating as it seems I gotta give them some leeway to operate...sometimes.;)
 
Our first year in Green Bay some drunk dude was being towed in by a towing company. He wasn't happy with the pace of the tow and told the tow company he had a bomb on board and if they didn't hurry up, he'd blow it. Well, we were coming back to Marinette and were diverted from entering the river by CG, Sheriff, DNR and every other agency with a boat. Marinette has the contract to finish the Navy Littoral Gunships so this was taken even more serious. By the time the CG finished "searching" the boat, it was just about a shell of a hull sitting dragged up onto the ramp by a truck (no trailer). They tore that sucker apart. When we were cleared to go up river, there was shit everywhere on that ramp.
 
I have a friend who did 10yrs active CG, mostly in the Keys, now stationed in Brunswick, in the reserves. He is currently on his annual two week assignmnt there. He will readily confirm that they go after the bikinis...
 
Lobster season in the Keys, with young ladies on board is a sure target, we got hit 5 times one morning from 7am to 11am...
 
So, I was boarded yesterday. I asked for it. Free USCGAUX boat inspection at Belle Maer. Anyway, passed without issues except I had a Kidde fire extinguisher that has been recalled. I had enough without it. So I'll be calling this morning to get my free replacement.
 
So, I was boarded yesterday. I asked for it. Free USCGAUX boat inspection at Belle Maer. Anyway, passed without issues except I had a Kidde fire extinguisher that has been recalled. I had enough without it. So I'll be calling this morning to get my free replacement.
Be sure you insist you want a white one if that is what you want. They ship red by default…
 

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