VSC ? Not a detterent for a CG boarding !!

RidgeRunner

RidgeRunner

Member
Jan 25, 2017
188
Chesapeake VA
Boat Info
Amberjack w/ Fishing Package. Full Camper Pkg. 3 ax. Trler. Standard Horizon 2200 VHF w/AIS No Mid
Engines
Single 350 MAG MPI B3
4-9-2017.
Returning today from a event and saw a boat way ahead, coming dead on .
Made intentions Starboard-he countered. Port, he followed...
Now about 1/8 mile away, he flashing blue lights.
We are being pulled.
I turn starboard to show off my new VSC sticker.

"US CG patrol, we want to inspect your vessel, Sir".
"But I just had a CG VSC, Sir, last weekend" pointing to my shiny new sticker....

"Was that inspection done by the CG Auxiliary"he ask.

yes sir, I said.

THIS IS DIFFERENT,
wine tasting Smithfield winefest M-S COAST GUAR INSP PIC2.jpg
"THIS IS A DETAILED VESSEL INSPECTION. We'd like to come aboard." "Tie up to Port" followed quickly with an order to the crew. :wow:

DO you have any weapons aboard? First question.

"Please provide Reg/ID/Safety course paperwork."

AND WE WAITED. Another guy Then ran the info while one guy inspected the boat while still aboard theirs.

ANOTHER CASE FOR A CLEAN BOAT !!!! (We motored over the day before in 4 ft seas and my blower switch came loose)
sure enough, wasn't actually working when we got inspected !!)

Life vest-fire suppression system- mostly usual stuff, with emphases' on verifying the paperwork.
we had ALL of ours in one binder, quickly able to produce any paperwork he ask for. All this and he hasn't gotten off their boat yet.
As he was looking where to board, to " verify flame arrester and compartment BLOWER" I suggested I merely open the bilge hatch, as the boat had just been detailed.., "and there's something I want you to see down here" or something like that I said.
I twist the camlocks and the hydraulic cover slowly raise's up.
He looks, then pauses. Questioning the boats paperwork stated age while looking in the bilge, he merely says. I'm sure it's working, (over the engines noise), when I turn "on" the blower.
wine tasting Smithfield winefest M-S COAST GUAR INSP PIC - Copy - Copy.jpg
We passed a USCG official Detailed Vessel Inspection. Not to be confused with the courtesy inspection by the aux guys, he reminds me. Yes Sir !
We chatted about fishing, weather conditions. They were courteous, and geared to the teeth.
Apparently. with the YELLOW receipt, I will not get check again for 1 year.
"You wave this at the CG and they will usually go right on bye, don't hold it up after 12 months"

wine tasting Smithfield winefest M-S COAST GUAR INSP PIC1.jpg
 
I was just boarded yesterday (at my request!) The USCG small boat guys were out and they tied up to the dock while I was fueling. I made small talk with them while I pumped and I asked if they had any new guys on board. There were 2 that were getting their boarding certifications.

I offered to have them inspect my boat for practice since most of the guys in my area will never set foot on a boat this big. It also allows me to go over some items that I have as concerns when they board a boat - most importantly, make sure your boots don't have oil and fish guts on them from the last boat. I shared with them that I was a LEO and they asked if I had any weapons on board. We both had a good laugh at that. One kid asked if my gun was loaded - I told him of course, it wasn't a rock.

Like you, I have all of my stuff in a neat binder. The first page of the binder has Alexander Hamilton's "letter to the revenue cutter service" as a subtle reminder to those who boarded.

I usually ask to be boarded every 4 months or so as a new group comes through the area and I just place the new yellow copy next to the old one. I won't let the Auxiliary in my area anywhere near my boat.
 
Same experience in NY on lake Ontario. When I had the CG do the inspection I asked them why I didn't get the VSC sticker. They actually chuckled and said I could go to the Auxiliary to get the sticker if I really wanted one but the only thing the CG looks for is the yellow sheet of paper.
 
My boat's in Washington, DC. This is a normal occurrence. The USCG patrols the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers every day. On busy weekend's they board boat after boat.

Whenever they've come aboard my boat they are always super professional and polite. I find if you're polite and friendly there's never an issue.
 
The only boarding experience I've had with USCG was pleasant enough. They hopped on, did their normal line of questions, and asked when I had been last boarded. I got quite the look at the answer of "never". That being said, everything was in order and they were done quickly.

Last season I was sure they were pulling me over to board me in the 390, which at that point was still relatively new to me. They had the lights going, and it's no t busy area where maybe they were going for someone else. As i slowed down for them, they waved me on. Apparently they were just hiding from the chop in my wake.
 
My text to speech grammar is horrible. That should have read the first few pages of the binder...


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The USCG in our area is only for Nav Aids maintenance and repair. They don't do any boardings or inspections.

I always have our local Sheriffs Dept water cops do my inspections. Like with K9Medic's experiences, they most often inspect runabouts so they like to come aboard mine just to look around and see what requirements are different.

In WA, the LEO agencies that have water cops get paid by the state for each inspection they do, so it helps fund the local water cop operations.
 
In FL and GA, I've been boarded many times and they are always so nice and pleasant. Down here, it's called a GOLD vessel check instead of YELLOW. it's golden getting a quick pass.
 
What's the narrowly defined purpose of these boardings? Basic safety inspections? Catching drunk boaters? Just a general fishing expedition to throw weight around?

I'm kind of surprised that getting in a boat deprives you of your right to be free from searches without probable cause.
 
Makes me want to get boarded ASAP...before the nice weather starts here in the North and we have guests aboard.
 
Last edited:
mobocracy said:
What's the narrowly defined purpose of these boardings? Basic safety inspections? Catching drunk boaters? Just a general fishing expedition to throw weight around?

I'm kind of surprised that getting in a boat deprives you of your right to be free from searches without probable cause.
Click to expand...

This has been a very hot topic particularly in Florida.

Depending on the agency, they may have regulatory and statutory authority to search. In cases like a wildlife officer, they typically start with the regulatory authority which involves fisheries and so forth.

To some extent the Coast Guard, does not have to address the fourth or 14th amendment when it comes to search and seizure as they too are working under regulatory guidelines. Then again, when they are conducting a boarding they are not able to enforce state statues since they are federal law-enforcement officers. They can detain you however until local law-enforcement officers arrive.

There have been unsuccessful attempts in the past to argue against their searches under the Castle doctrine however the Carroll Doctrine prevails.

A good friend of mine works as a law-enforcement officer for the Florida Department of agriculture and consumer services. He has the regulatory authority to search any location or vehicle that he suspects may contain items of agriculture aquaculture or horticultural.

If during a search however, he locates illegal items he must stop the search and request a search warrant as the illegal items are not covered under his regulatory authority. They are covered under statutory authority which for the most part requires a search warrant.


I'm sure there are others who may know more about this. I am on the aviation side of law enforcement now and it has been at least 15 years since I worked in any capacity on the ground.





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k9medic said:
My text to speech grammar is horrible. That should have read the first few pages of the binder...


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Click to expand...

OH! Ok. I may do that. I like the idea. Is the one you used from the USCG Historical website?
 
dpmulvey said:
OH! Ok. I may do that. I like the idea. Is the one you used from the USCG Historical website?
Click to expand...

Yes it is

With one exception, every boarding officer has mentioned that document when they came and looked at my paperwork.

There was oone boarding officer who was not familiar with it so I took a few moments to provide him with the historical background on it.


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What is actually "paperwork"? As far as I know the only "paperwork" I know of is the Coast Guard documentation.
 
For me it was ID and boat registration. He inquired about a boater safety course, but didn't specifically ask for it.
majoma said:
What is actually "paperwork"? As far as I know the only "paperwork" I know of is the Coast Guard documentation.
Click to expand...
 
I'm wondering about paperwork as well. We always have the current documentation certificate and valid state registration for Michigan. However, we frequently boat without an ID. I know this sounds weird, but living on a lake, we will boat for an hour or two often without a wallet and a driver license unless going out to eat or for fuel. We've not ever been boarded by the CG in 40 years, I believe because our boat is well known on this lake. Is ID required by law?
 
dpmulvey said:
OH! Ok. I may do that. I like the idea. Is the one you used from the USCG Historical website?
Click to expand...

Here it is: https://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/hamiltonletter.pdf

In terms of paperwork on a USCG documented boat they want to see:
Original Documentation Certificate (not a copy)
Proof of safety course or captain's license (I carry mine in my wallet)
State/Local registration (if required)

If documented, I've had them check to ensure the hailing port and name on the transom match the documentation. Once I've been asked to see my documentation plate, which is in my engine compartment.

They have never entered the cabin on my boat, they always remain in the cockpit.

I'm actually happy to see them on patrol. We have so many idiots who have no idea what they're doing it's good to have them out there.
 
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