I was boarded by the Coast Guard last week

gerryb said:
I'll never understand the cost-benefit of the whole random safety inspections and boarding process -- from the government's perspective. If you have the little USCG safety inspection sticker on the vessel, you should be LEGALLY excluded from random safety inspections. If the USCG actually sees something as far as a violation (eg kids without pfd, trash being thrown over, possible fishing violations, etc.) that would be the cause needed for the inspection/boarding...
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The "safety inspection sticker" is not issued by USCG, rather by a Vessel Examiner certified by either the Coast Guard Auxiliary or the United States Power Squadrons. The posting of a current inspection sticker may lead the USCG, or the local or state boating authorities, to give you a pass, but it does not guaranty an exemption from boarding and inspection.
 
Update.. I was boarded on Aug 24, 2009. I just received a letter of "Preliminary Inquiry" dated Aug 5, 2010. 11 1/2 months later!!

The max penalty is $1,100.00 for not having the required Type IV PFD on board (a throwable PFD) I purchased one from West Marine last Sept ($14.99) and had the receipt sitting on my desk since then. More than once, I was going to throw it out.

The good news is "Due to the nature of the violation and my lack of similar violations in the past", the Commander "is not going to initiate civil penalty action against me, provided I can satisfactorily demonstrate that to him that I took prompt action to correct the discrepancy".

In order to demonstrate that I may have the vessel reinspected or mail or fax receipts showing proof of purchase.

I have 45 days to respond from the date of the letter.

Seems a little slanted to me.. They get 11 1/2 months and I get 1 1/2.

I mailed in the reciept this morning.. I wonder how long before I hear something back?
 
Bureaucracy at it’s finest. Hope you made a copy of that receipt before you mailed it in.
 
Vince
Do yourself a favor - contact a local CG Auxiliaryman and get your annual Vessel Safety check each and every year (if you don't do this already). Be obsessive about it. I try to get this done as soon as the boat is floating again and the cabin clutter is settled. If you did this already in 2010, you should send in a copy of the form the inspector left with you which shows the date of inspection and his/her signature.
 
Good advice Ron. I have not been inspected this year, but I will put that on my To-Do list for next spring.
 
Heaven knows you had enough on your plate this spring!
 
Agreed. Our marina arranges a date for both state and Coast Guard courtesy inspections. I ask my kids (14 and 12 yo) to attend and comply with any inspection requests. The kids manage the inspection, and I handle any paperwork. So far, this routine has worked well for each of the last three years.
 
I had a VSC inspection within a month of putting the boat in the water. The interesting thing about it was the first two VSC inspectors contacted by email had disconnected phones. I even sent an email to the regional chief poobah and got an apology back and told to keep trying. I had the inspection and passed. The only two things I had to do were to straighten my mast light to be perfectly vertical and keep the original, not a copy, of my Illinois Registration on the boat. I am not comfortable with having an original on board but if that's the rule then I'll follow it.

I haven't heard of anyone in my marina being boarded this year so far by the USCG but the IL DNR has, and one person here was cited or warned about intoxication.
 
I think we're all missing the point here. These inspections are a pain in the A$$ (I get stopped yearly in Tampa Bay because I like to boat at night and the CG station is right there) but after reading about all the idiots that motor through no wake zones, cut us off and having too many people on board (maybe all alcohol related) these inspections may save a few lives or at the very least put some common sense back into poeple. We should rememebr that these same officers that do the inspections would also be there for us in case of an emergency.
 
Bucit, an attitude check might be in order. I have to disagree with your comment "These inspections are a pain in the A$$". I think all of us have seen enough drownings from stupid boating actions as well as enough boaters who have no clue about how to enjoy a safe day on the water. The inspections are the only way they have of trying to take drunks off the water and make certain ALL boaters have the necessary safety equipment on board in case an emergency happens.

I make it a point every year to get an inspection from a USCGA member and have the current decal posted. I wanted to make sure everything was in order, and also wanted to stay on the good side of the guys behind the guns.

I've never been boarded even though the water cops in our area are VERY active and make numerous stops every weekend.

IMHO there may be a connection between the attitude of boaters who think the water cops are a PITA and the length and depth of the inspections they undergo.

"You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar."
 
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Guys
The sticker is not a "get out of jail free card." If you're doing something you ought not be doing, they'll pull you over and board you, sticker or not. But the sticker demonstrates a conscientiousness that all law enforcement like to see.

After your first Vessel Safety Check, the annual inspections become rudimentary. You hand the inspector the stuff as he asks you, you open the hatch to show flame arrestors, you show him your zip-tied Y-valve, you present location of placards, etc, etc. It's pretty simple stuff. Most of these guys just love talking boats and boating and if you use the same person each year, he/she knows you are not a dipsh!t and the VSC takes no time.

I think Bucit was stating that getting boarded is a hassle; but, he realizes that because of the few bad apples, even the good folks have to suffer and he's OK with it.
 
No attitude check required.

I'm absolutely 100% OK with getting boarded. Our station is a training center so many times the guys who are stopping you are young (21-25 years old) and learning the ropes. They have to start somewhere. Again, the same people who stop us for safety inspections could be the people who save your life in an emergency.
 
Bucit said:
No attitude check required.

I'm absolutely 100% OK with getting boarded. Our station is a training center so many times the guys who are stopping you are young (21-25 years old) and learning the ropes. They have to start somewhere. Again, the same people who stop us for safety inspections could be the people who save your life in an emergency.
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Thanks. You're right...No attitude check required.
 
Bucit said:
No attitude check required.

I'm absolutely 100% OK with getting boarded.
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To each his own I guess. For me getting stopped for no reason for a routine safety check in 95 degree weather with 8 people on board is a pain in the ass. The Police can't stop a motor vehicle at random, tie their squad car to the side, then jump in the back seat with guns and ask the driver to produce papers and then demonstrate that all of the warning labels under the hood of the car are still there.
 
Vince_nj1 said:
To each his own I guess. For me getting stopped for no reason for a routine safety check in 95 degree weather with 8 people on board is a pain in the ass. The Police can't stop a motor vehicle at random, tie their squad car to the side, then jump in the back seat with guns and ask the driver to produce papers and then demonstrate that all of the warning labels under the hood of the car are still there.
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Just to tie this thread with another... The police might stop you if you had your kids sitting on the hood of your car while you drove, without the proper safety gear...

Also, I think your more likely to be boarded if you have preaty women on board, in bikinis... Vince where you wearing you bikini???:huh:

I do argree that it would be nice if probable cause was required before a boarding...Although, I think the water police would make something up, like they do on land...
 
Vince_nj1 said:
To each his own I guess. For me getting stopped for no reason for a routine safety check in 95 degree weather with 8 people on board is a pain in the ass. The Police can't stop a motor vehicle at random, tie their squad car to the side, then jump in the back seat with guns and ask the driver to produce papers and then demonstrate that all of the warning labels under the hood of the car are still there.
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I'm another that doesn't know how a safety check can be a pain in the ass. I'd be happy for them to board my boat and point out that I didn't have a throwable PFD.Forget about cars. We're talking about having the proper safety equipment on a boat that might save someones life.
 
87cc said:
I'm another that doesn't know how a safety check can be a pain in the ass. I'd be happy for them to board my boat and point out that I didn't have a throwable PFD.Forget about cars. We're talking about having the proper safety equipment on a boat that might save someones life.
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I don't mind the CG checks either but there are times when I would rather they stop someone else. In principal few would argue about saving lives but remember you are now standing on the slippery slope.
 
Woody said:
I don't mind the CG checks either but there are times when I would rather they stop someone else. In principal few would argue about saving lives but remember you are now standing on the slippery slope.
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You want to explain that last sentence ?
 
I get the slippery slope comment. You could save lives by stopping motorists at every stop light to make sure they were wearing their seatbelt. It would save lives, so why don't we do it?
 
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