How Does a Typical Coast Guard (CG) Boarding Go?

[AKBASSKING]

Dittos on all the above posts. As far as your flares, if they are expired, get rid of them. I was boarded and had an up-to-date flares, but I put the old ones in my ditch bag and was told I was not allowed to have expired flares and was written a warning........

 

[JeffM]

Dittos on all the above posts. As far as your flares, if they are expired, get rid of them. I was boarded and had an up-to-date flares, but I put the old ones in my ditch bag and was told I was not allowed to have expired flares and was written a warning........

I believe this varies by state. When we had our safety inspection this past spring I asked the CG Inspector about the expired flares, and he told me to keep them on board. He did suggest that we use them first, in case they weren't any good we could then use the new ones.

 

[Mr Salt]

They put 4 people on my boat walked around asked for documentation and looked at safety equipment. Went into the bilge and told me that there was still winter anti freeze in there. Asked to take a female down into bilge to show her number board. The female had a weapon. Filled out their boarding dorm and left nothing behind but black heel marks on the fiberglass. As I recall we were boarded in the ocean outside of the Cape May Training Center.

 

[katricol]

JEFFM...the coast guard is national so I don't think it matters what state you're in. Ak..are you sure it was cg that said no expired flares on board? My understanding is as long as you have the correct ones, it is ok to have expired ones also. ric

 

[Nacho Boat]

You can usually avoid the entire process by displaying a current inspection decal on your port window.

I was boarded in the intercoastal by Long Boat Island and Ann Marie Island. I had the current inspection sticker.

At the time, I had about 11 people on board, and was doing some tubing. I got chased down by both the sheriff and the USCG. They seemed pretty agitated.

After the light and siren show, they tied along side. I identified myself as a retired Navy, and their tone immediately changed.

I am a VSE (Vessel Safety Examiner) with the local USPS, so I know the rules pretty well. They claimed I was operating negligently by "tubing in the intercoastal" (CAN ANYONE FIND THIS REGULATION IN WRITING??? I have never heard of this, and even went as far as to research wth CFR (Code of Federal Regulation)).

Anyway, after I was able to show life jackets for everyone on board (which obviously shocked them), and inspection became more friendly. The inspector asked to see about six fire exinguishers (fortunately, I carry plenty, but the law only requires two on board). As I have always told my son, never argue with a man carrying a weapon.

After about ten minutes, which included a bilge and inspection of the overboard discharge, the USCG gave me a completed boarding form, and stated that this form could be used in the future if I get boarded again. They never commented about my current "safe boarding" decal that I already had displayed.

BTW-the biggest issue that you should be concerned with during a boarding is to make is sure that your overboard sanitary discharge is LOCKED and inoperative.

 

[Nacho Boat]

Dittos on all the above posts. As far as your flares, if they are expired, get rid of them. I was boarded and had an up-to-date flares, but I put the old ones in my ditch bag and was told I was not allowed to have expired flares and was written a warning........

NOT TRUE! (At least for Federal Regulations and the State of Florida - your state may have different rules. Check out your state rules here:

http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/course/boating/10_0.php

As a VSE, I encourage boat owners to keep their expired flares (but obviously have the current unexpired ones as required by law).

The rational is this: If you are truly in an emergency situation, and really, really need your flares, the three flares that you have may not be sufficient to attract help. So, holding onto your expired flares gives you that many more opportunities to signal for help. I always encourage the boat owner, in case of an emergency, to shoot off the expired flares first.

I would not recommend holding onto the flares after they have been expired for more than 10 years. A recent test of expired flares showed that most fired properly - the older the flare, the less they performed (i.e. height of projectile, brightness, ect...and some of the really old ones did not fire at all). However, it appeared that there were not any safety issues from the expired flares.

Please note that expired flares should not be placed in the trash (unless you enjoy seeing your local garbage truck start burning a load...). Call your local landfill to see how they accept these hazardous items.

 

[AKBASSKING]

JEFFM...the coast guard is national so I don't think it matters what state you're in. Ak..are you sure it was cg that said no expired flares on board? My understanding is as long as you have the correct ones, it is ok to have expired ones also. ric

Yep, USCG. I was not the only one that got cited that day.........

 

[sbw1]

Dittos on all the above posts. As far as your flares, if they are expired, get rid of them. I was boarded and had an up-to-date flares, but I put the old ones in my ditch bag and was told I was not allowed to have expired flares and was written a warning........

This really surprises me. I always carry the current flares plus some outdated ones (usually 12 guage) as back ups. The auxillary or the sherrif usually does my inspection and they've never commented one way or the other on the outdated ones as long as they see the proper number of current ones. I wonder if this is open to local interpretation.

 

[AKBASSKING]

Well here is the federal requirements for recreational boaters:


Visual Distress Signals

All vessels, used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and those waters connected directly to the, up to a point where a body of water is less than two miles wide, must be equipped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals. Vessels owned in the United States operating on the high seas must be equipped with U.S.C.G. Approved visual distress signals. The following vessels are not required to carry day signals but must carry night signals when operating from sunset to sunrise;

• Recreational boats less than 16 feet in length.
• Boats participating in organized events such as races, regattas, or marine parades.
• Open sailboats less than 26 feet in length not equipped with propulsion machinery.
• Manually propelled boats.

Pyrotechnic Devices

Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals must be Coast Guard Approved, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible. They are marked with a date showing the service life, which must not have expired. Launchers manufactured before January 1, 1981, intended for use with approved signals, are not required to be Coast Guard Approved. If Pyrotechnic devices are selected, a minimum of three are required. That is, three signals for day use and three signals for night. Some pyrotechnic signals met both day and night use requirements. Pyrotechnic devices should be stored in a cool, dry location. A watertight container painted red or orange and prominently marked "DISTRESS SIGNALS" is recommended.

U.S.C.G. Approved Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals and associated devices include;

• Pyrotechnic red flares, hand-held or aerial.
• Pyrotechnic orange smoke, hand-held or floating.
• Launchers for aerial red meteors or parachute flares.

 

[sbw1]

The interpretation I've experienced is they are looking for the three current ones. The auxillary guy who did my inspection last year told me they will accept non current flares and they use them for demonstration purposes. The language you cite is pretty clear but could still be read two ways. Did you comply without any appeal?

 

[katricol]

T o m..did you read nacho 's post ?? Your post does not say anything about expired flares not being allowed. You will not find that language in the regulations. Think about it...is it against regs to have a non-spproved life vest aboard if you have the proper ones??? Ric

 

[AKBASSKING]

T o m..did you read nacho 's post ?? Your post does not say anything about expired flares not being allowed. You will not find that language in the regulations. Think about it...is it against regs to have a non-spproved life vest aboard if you have the proper ones??? Ric

Well, I thought I did......Mad Cow?

I was told no expired flares......Based on what you all have said it can be differant in other parts of the country.

In Alaska the USCG is the only enforcement arm for boats in open ocean. The Alaska Troopers (Fish and Game) do board and check fishing license.

In the L48 you have sheriff departments etc that also enforce the federal requirements right?

sbw1: I complied and did not file an appeal, nor did anyone else that I know of. We figured that was the item the were focasing one and the word got out quick. The USCG usally wait for the boat to leave the harbor, then pulls you aside and does an inspection. But the aux does go out and conduct inspections out in the PWS and Cook Inlet.

 

[sbw1]

sbw1: I complied and did not file an appeal, nor did anyone else that I know of. We figured that was the item the were focasing one and the word got out quick. The USCG usally wait for the boat to leave the harbor, then pulls you aside and does an inspection. But the aux does go out and conduct inspections out in the PWS and Cook Inlet.

Well, I guess that's the deal, at least in your part of the world. BTW, the pic in your post is spectacular.