I was boarded by the Coast Guard last week

Vince_nj1

Vince_nj1

Active Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Aug 25, 2008
1,819
North Barnegat Bay
Boat Info
2006 320 V-Drives 6.2s, Bow Thruster, Generator, Raymarine C80, Radar, Fish Finder
Engines
6.2 Horizons 320HP
I spent last week on the boat with my wife and kids. We did a bunch of day trips and played with the Sea Doos. One day we took a little trip up to NYC to see the Statue of Liberty and the Intrepid. On my return home to Monmouth Beach, I was stopped by the Coast Guard just inside of Sandy Hook. They were doing routine stops. Their opening question was "Have you been boarded by the coast guard in the ocean this year?" My answer was "no".

I had 5 kids on board under the age of 13 and 3 adults including myself. (all the kids were wearing life jackets)

They asked for paperwork for my boat, my drivers license and when they saw my Power Squadron certificate they asked for that as well. They also asked for ID for the other 2 adults. 2 officers boarded my boat and asked to see all of my life jackets and flairs and then asked if my sea cock was closed for my discharge, (it wasn't) I played dumb and said "I leave the switch off down in the cabin so no one can use it" They told me I needed to keep the sea cock closed. I said I would be happy to close it, but I have to lay across my hot engines to get to it. They said I need to do it when the engines cooled off. I agreed. (they obviously gave me a break)

This did get me thinking. What if I wanted to take a trip out to the ocean and dump my toilet 3 miles off shore? I would have to drive out with the sea cock open and risk a fine or try to open it with hot engines in the ocean?

They asked to hear my horn. I warned them before I hit the button that I had a very special "Sea Ray" horn. When they heard it, they laughed. They then asked to see oil placards and garbage placards. I had to pull out my owners manual to find the oil placard. It is located under the bottom of the hatch just to the right of the shelf that holds the outside table. They inspected the bilge for oil with a flashlight.

It was about 90 degrees that day and the coasties were in full dark blue uniforms with full gear and full life vests. The sweat was pouring off them (and me). I can't believe this is uniform of choice for them.. If I were them, I would "accidently" fall in the ocean every 20 minutes.

In the end I failed for not having a throwable Type IV device. They told me I would get a letter in the mail and need to repond with proof of purchase which would allow me to avoid any fines.
 
Bummer. That was minor at least. Easy enough to buy a throwable. We are on an inland lake in Wisconsin and earlier in the summer the CG used the lake to do inspections. Our friends did not pass because they did not have a trash placard. Never came with the boat. They did the same for them, just buy it and let them know. I don't have much room in my engine comp, but could reach my seacock with a boat hook. Is that an option?
 
I don't like opening up the ER at sea unless I have to. I'm not sure what the proper answer is. Open it, head out - if you get stopped, splain you're heading out to dump. On the way in - 'splain "Hey, it's empty!"

I know, I know - jail time. Technically, I think the handle needs to be removed too. How about installing an electically controlled ball valve. Hide the evidence, remove the handle, cover it in a lock box..... Smell? What smell ocifer?
 
Sounds like their routine inspection... I got it last year, opening day weekend in Seattle.... It is just a bummer anytime.
 
When I was boarded earlier this year they asked if the seacock was closed, I told them it was and tie wrapped, they never looked. I’ve only used the pump out and wondered if you are going to go out 3 miles to dump do you need it closed and tie wrapped on the way out and coming back or can you just remove the key?

When I went on my sea trial the mechanic who went over all the systems wanted to cut the tie wrap and open the seacock for me I told him he could leave it closed.
 
Ok. . . .let me ask a stoooooopid question: Why did anyone require ID?

If you did require ID. . why would it be a drivers license and not a passport?

NJ requires a safe boating certificate. That should be all you need. I was once stopped by a state officer on a PWC. I did not have a drivers license. I had the boating certificate. All was good.

(except the Admiral giving the officer lip. That was bad. I gave her the elbow. She continued with the lip. Officer finally said "He is trying to tell you something to which you should be listening". Boy was she steamed!)
 
According to the Boat US website:

"Federal law also states that if you have a holding tank with a "Y" valve allowing direct overboard discharge of untreated waste, it must be secured in the closed position while operating in all inland and coastal waters. Using a non-releasable wire tie, padlock, or removing the valve handle is considered adequate securing of the device. "

You say you can't get to the seacock, which I assume is at the hullside on the thru-hull?

Assuming you have an option for dockside pumpout, can't you get to the Y-valve to secure it? That's apparently what the reg is referring to anyway, not the seacock...
 
tobnpr said:
Assuming you have an option for dockside pumpout, can't you get to the Y-valve to secure it? That's apparently what the reg is referring to anyway, not the seacock...
Click to expand...

this is what I thought and was told as well. There is a hole in the handle of mine to tie wrap it in the dockside pump out poistion.
 
I second the boat hook to open the seacock.

I'd say they were pretty easy on you for missing a couple of those items.

Lesson learned!

Doug
 
They passed a comment something to the effect "glad to see all the kids are wearing life vests, we really appreciate that" and they also seemed pleased that I cared enough about boating safety to take power squadron course, so I think they decided to go easy on me.

I should also add that I had an open beer in a drink holder next to the helm. It was my first of the day. (hot day, 5 kids on board and 20 minutes from the marina) They saw it and made a comment about not throwing the empties overboard.

Boy, I would hate to get arrested in front of my kids for not having my sea cock in the right position. :grin: What would they tell their friends :huh:. My Dad in jail for a sea cock infraction?

Would I be listed on an EPA "pooper offender" website? Would I have to register with my sanitation department and report all toilet activity?

I really did get off lucky.. Too bad the coasties didn't catch up the whales that were inside of 3 miles, crapping up and down the coast.
 
When I was boarded in Cape May I had to spend a bunch of time getting the black rubber marks off the boat. No violations just harrasment. I felt like I was back in basic training with the officer screwing up our floor for the hell of it.
 
Vince_nj1 said:
In the end I failed for not having a throwable Type IV device. They told me I would get a letter in the mail and need to repond with proof of purchase which would allow me to avoid any fines.
Click to expand...

Take a seat cushion with the straps on it... and tie a light line to it. That is your throwable device.
17093667.jpg

I passed my inspection with that...
 
Vince, did you get your Vessel Safety Check certificate this year? Lore says if they see it they wont bust your balls. From the list you ran through, they did line for line inspection, sameone the auxilarymen do on a VSC. Pretty standard stuff. I had to show flame arrestors to a GG aux one year. I bend over backwards to get that stupid sticker every year and have never been stopped. Just lucky,I guess.

What you didn't mention to the outta town folk reading this thread is that if you were just inside Sandy Hook, you were approaching Naval Weapons Station Earle, which happens to be a huge munitions depot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Weapons_Station_Earle
That may have had something to do with them stopping you. When I had my first boat up in Keyport I strayed inside the white buoys (restricted area) on Labor Day 2001. I had cut through that zone probably 20 times that summer and was never approached. But on that day I was chased by a dark green center console loaded with armed soldiers. We all know what happened 8 days later. I've always wondered about that.
 
A TYPE IV PFD, or THROWABLE DEVICE is intended for calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic, where help is always present. It is designed to be thrown to a person in the water and grasped and held by the user until rescued. It is not designed to be worn. Type IV devices include buoyant cushions, ring buoys, and horseshoe buoys.
[SIZE=-1]Throwable Device[/SIZE]
dev-10-2.gif

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/ringlb.asp#approval
TYPE IV PFDS (RING BUOYS) / THROWABLE DEVICES: To aid persons who have fallen overboard. May be used with a lanyard, "Man-overboard" pole, locator light, or smoke signal
 
Vince_nj1 said:
I should also add that I had an open beer in a drink holder next to the helm. It was my first of the day. (hot day, 5 kids on board and 20 minutes from the marina) They saw it and made a comment about not throwing the empties overboard.
Click to expand...

As soon as you got to shore, you should've bought a lottery ticket.....you were lucky
 
Hey Vince
What'dja blow?:grin:

1196398068_111f551d91.jpg
 
At least here in NJ it needs to be secured to the boat. The again, here in NJ when a body goes overboard 9 times out of 10 he (or she....sorry feminists) has cement around the shoes
 
Can someone explain to me what "oil placards and garbage placards" are? :huh:
 
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