I was boarded by the Coast Guard last week

Fellow Boaters,

Many of the USCG boarding’s is for your safety. Annually, @ 800 boaters across the nation die on the water due to accidents and drowning.

Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) is a high priority for the USCG for purpose of educating boaters and enforcing federal laws on our waters.

The USCG Auxiliary offers FREE boat inspections and it is an excellent time for "one on one" boater exchange of information regarding Federal and State requirements as well as local boating safety classes available.

A majority of the 800 deaths include boaters that have a) drowned, b) have never attended a boating safety course, c) were swimmers (that is knew how to swim).

The link below is your pass to a FREE Vessel Safety Check (VSC). The USCG Auxiliary will even come to you. Please ask them about their Boating Classes in your area.

As a boater of forty plus years and a Member of the USCG Auxiliary I can tell you that I personally have inspected hundreds of boats and a majority fail the most basic safety and Federal requirements. After the FREE VSC, the boater is more knowledgeable about the requirements and Recreational Boating Safety (RBS).

http://www.safetyseal.net/GetVSC/

Please take a moment to visit the site and get your boat inspected. Feel free to ask me any questions about the program.

Enjoy your summer and safe boating!
 
MCLKS said:
The link below is your pass to a FREE Vessel Safety Check (VSC). The USCG Auxiliary will even come to you. Please ask them about their Boating Classes in your area.

http://www.safetyseal.net/GetVSC/
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Great post. I didnt know that you can schedule an inspection and the Auxillary will come to my boat. Getting inspected while I am tied to my dock is a much better option then getting boarded out on the ocean.

BTW I don't want my frustration with being boarded to be mistaken for a lack of concern over boating safety. I do taking boating safety seriously. I completed power squadron classes 20 years ago when I first got in to boating and plan on taking them again with my kids.
 
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MCLKS said:
....A majority of the 800 deaths include boaters that have ..... b) have never attended a boating safety course.....
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I think this is critical and is a failure on a federal level. I was very happy when some states, including NJ, had enforces the boating safety course certification.

MCLKS said:
The link below is your pass to a FREE Vessel Safety Check (VSC). The USCG Auxiliary will even come to you.....
Click to expand...

In the past I was avoiding VSC, but later on I understood that it's only going to help avoid any potential issues I may come across if I get pulled over by CG. So, when I saw the Auxiliary folks in my marina I came to them and asked to have my boat (including the dinghy) inspected. They were very nice and professional. The process took no more than 15min. and I got two stickers. I'm sure that 15min of your time and knowing the fact that you've got all basic items in order will keep your mind worry free when you get pulled over is worth it.
 
I started doing the voluntary inspection several years ago and have not missed a year since I started doing it. It keeps a Captain keenly aware of the "minimum" standards you should be keeping on your vessel.

and when I was boarded by two USCG officers they found no violations, corrections, suggestions at all..........

:smt038:smt038:smt038:smt038
 
+1 to Bill Collector's comments about the annual VSC's.

IMHO if you do this you will get to know the inspectors and they will get to know you and your boat. If you are polite and friendly with them, they'll remember you even more. These guys talk wth the other water cops and pretty soon your boat will be recognized as one of the "good guy" boaters out on the water and you likely won't get inspected again until you request it next year.

Master65 commented about the number of water cops in his area. This is a direct result of the 9/11 attacks when governments, in all their infinite wisdom, felt the best way to react to the crisis was to throw TONS of money at it. Every law enforcement agency got money thrown at them for anything they could remotely tie to preventing terrorist attacks. Communities near water ways got powerful boats, inland communities got upgraded communications, in-car video cameras, etc. There was money enough for every agency to benefit...whether the equipment would be used or not.

Much of it is just for show and for the release of testosterone in the young cops who man the boats. Does that make it a bad thing? IMHO it does not. Was it a wise use of money and a good response to 9/11? That is doubtful, but you have to admit that we have not had a large terrorism attack on our shores since 9/11. Given that, one might come to the conclusion that it has had a deterrent effect.

And that ain't half bad.
 
Great post. I didnt know that you can schedule an inspection and the Auxillary will come to my boat. Getting inspected while I am tied to my dock is a much better option then getting boarded out on the ocean.

BTW I don't want my frustration with being boarded to be mistaken for a lack of concern over boating safety. I do taking boating safety seriously. I completed power squadron classes 20 years ago when I first got in to boating and plan on taking them again with my kids.
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Vince
I'm confused - what about post #65 and 66 (?):smt001
 
Vince_nj1 said:
You need to have 2 signs reminding everyone on board that you can not throw your garbage over board and your not allowed to discharge oil into the water.

When I was boarded, I was required to show both of them. I needed to move everyone (3 coasties, 4 kids, and 2 adults, down into cabin, so I could lift the entire back of my boat and then climb down into the hot engine compartment to show the coasties, the little sign.
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I wonder why 3 coasties have to board your boat to look for a one little sign that they know the manufacturer puts on the boat? Safety is one thing, but, is this type of thing really necessary?
 
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I had a Canadian Coast Guard Auxillary voluntary check, and passed, so I have the sticker on my window. I've been stopped only once this year by local police boats (3 times last year), and as soon as I told them I had the sticker, they thanked me and took off towards some other sucker... made it worth the 10 minutes the check took.
 
This last Friday coming back into the US in Roche Harbor, USCBP boarded our boat and swabbed everything down. That's the first time that's happened. This happened while I was waiting in line at the custom's office while my wife and kids were aboard. My Wife said they said they were swabbing for bombs. When it was all said and done, they took our grapes and a lime.
 
Those damn Canadian limes. They are the cause of big trouble everywhere!
 
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