Sirens sounded briefly - new experience

F

FootballFan

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2012
3,592
Florida
Boat Info
Marquis 59
Engines
MTU Series 60
Had just come in the inlet, turned back to the north at idle speed.

Coast guard boat idling hidden around the corner. Proceeded on my path as he slid in behind me and followed for a bit.

Then he got my attention, we were in the icw, I looked back out the window asked "Me?". His answer was we are boarding, how many people are on board? Then a series of questions about firearms on board.

Instructions were to maintain course and speed. They came up aside, they jumped on board.

Officer stated it was a random safety check.

Went through all the steps. Fairly exhaustive checks.

At the end every thing was good. Gave us a sheet that we had been through a safety check, if we were stopped in the next 6 months, the sheet would suffice.

I thanked them for taking care of all of us boaters, that we appreciated their service.



Was not unpleasant, felt good that we were prepared.

When this started wife took over the helm, she took the boat up the ICW as I dealt with the officers while they were in the cabin and the bilge. We were all up at the helm when paperwork finished up. Last instructions were to maintain heading and speed. The three guys went down, coast guard boat nosed up to the swim platform and jumped off.

Key point, being ready is just common sense. If you are ready, then a coast gaurd boarding is not unpleasent.

First experience for us, just thought I would share.

Mark
 
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Mark, thanks for sharing. Agree that we need to have our boats up to snuff with all required items and safety gear. Safe travels my friend.


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Yesterday on my commute home from work, I drove past a speedtrap. I was obeying the speed limit, but I was followed, then pulled over. The officers searched my car. They went through the trunk and glovebox. While they looked under the seats and examined my sealtbelts and opened the hood, near misses happened all around us because a very low percentage of drivers know what "give-way", I mean a "yield" sign means.

I didn't mind that I was late for dinner though, because I had nothing to hide and both of the teen-age dudes in orange, I mean blue, were polite to me.

I'm not picking on FBFan's post - he responded exactly as he should have and being prepared and legal is of course a must, but I'm shocked how many boaters aren't offended by random searches - something we only tolerate when we're floating.

I've been accused of drinking and warned to be careful (as the designated skipper!) multiple times, but never has a CG official quizzed me on what a particular buoy is, or how to define stand-on...

I'm grouchy about this because I've been stopped for no reason so many times. Waving an inspection form is great, but only if you're on the same boat and have the form. If they stop short of a full inspection, no form is given. I've been stopped on the dinghy for chrissake. I was sober and compliant, but also in a bathing suit. (tip: memorize your driver's license number if you ever do anything crazy like not carrying your license when you have a full 9.9 horsepower in your left hand)

I celebrated when Ohio and Michigan passed legislation banning random searches, until I realized that no state has jurisdiction over the USCG....
 
I'm with RollerCoastr, I can't stand the random "safety inspections" we go through here in FL. There's nothing worse than the feeling of being intruded upon for no reason. It's a hassle, invasion of privacy, and at the very least a giant waste of time. Unfortunately we have zero rights while on the water and can be searched for absolutely no reason whatsoever.
 
Are you saying they boarded your boat while you were under way and that they re-boarded there boat via the bow while both boats were under way? That sounds dangerous to me.
 
We have been boarded un the same fashion, while underway. They use a rib and usually approach from one of the rear corners. Last time I was boarded this way it was smack in the middle of Hells Gate. For those of you that know, the current is extremely fast here. They had little trouble and the guys were very respectful.
 
RollerCoastr said:
I celebrated when Ohio and Michigan passed legislation banning random searches, until I realized that no state has jurisdiction over the USCG....
Click to expand...

Searches?

How 'bout inspections? Last I heard, where I boat at primarily, I can still get "visits" from the Rocky River PD, the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Department, The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and of course the United States Coast Guard! :wow:
 
last summer they were setting up to light off fireworks from a barge on the ohio and closed it to traffic. we were heading back down the beaver to our dock but our marina was at the very end of the beaver so we had to cut into the edge of the ohio to get turned around to head to our slip. the 'river police' watched me and i motioned that i was going to my slip but it was dark and doubt they could see me. they turned their boat and started heading my way but after they realized where i was going they stopped. but even though i was legal i still got a little nervous
 
northshore said:
Searches?

How 'bout inspections? Last I heard, where I boat at primarily, I can still get "visits" from the Rocky River PD, the Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Department, The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and of course the United States Coast Guard! :wow:
Click to expand...

The language used in the Boater Freedom Act was "stop", so theoretically any visit requires cause. That was the good news. The bad rumor however, was that local LEA's were carrying a USCG agent aboard their vessels in an effort to exempt them from the state law.

Then there's always the "cause" asterisk: "your registration numbers have improper spacing" or "you left a bar and cut the channel markers..."
 
RollerCoastr said:
Yesterday on my commute home from work, I drove past a speedtrap. I was obeying the speed limit, but I was followed, then pulled over. The officers searched my car. They went through the trunk and glovebox. While they looked under the seats and examined my sealtbelts and opened the hood, near misses happened all around us because a very low percentage of drivers know what "give-way", I mean a "yield" sign means.
Click to expand...
RollerCoastr, did they ask you for permission to search your car? Are you aware you could have denied them permission?
 
He was being sarcastic........seriously though - it has been like this since the beginning - I'm not one that believes in giving up liberties, but this is one we never had.......its something you need to accept if you want to be a boater
 
that was my first thought to GFC. but i realized the sarcasm. need probable cause to search. reasonable suspicion to stop. guess boating is different. i don't mind though. i know (hope) i am legal and if not would like it pointed out so i can fix it. wife and i don't drink so no worries there
 
Yes, sorry - my car story was sarcasm. i was trying to illustrate how we tolerate invasion when we're boating that we don't tolerate on land.

I hope everyone knows that we have alternatives to random searches. The CG Auxiliary will happily inspect your vessel at your request / convenience. If you have any doubt about your compliance, then by all means reach out to them. They provide boaters with an inspection sticker that comes with a free happy feeling, but I've been told point-blank by a USCG agent that they don't take those stickers seriously. (my sticker was expired when I asked about them. He told me they don't even look for the stickers anyway)
 
Few clarifying points.

I don't believe I ever used the term "searched". Certainly their eyes were open as they moved around, but this not a search. They did check one head, they did not go into the staterooms.

Yes they boarded the boat and left while underway. Method described above. Low current, low wind, very high traffic.
 
Football Fan, I guess I'm a bit confused about the difference between what they did and what constitutes a search. Searches not done incident to an arrest or under very limited other condition require a search warrant, issued upon a sworn affidavit, signed by a judge and clearly listing the areas/properties to be searched and the items the search warrant allows them to look for.

I'm a retired cop and all in favor of keeping the seas safe, but when the scope of their "looking around" goes beyond what is necessary to make sure you have the required safety equipment and papers, then they cross the line. Had they found your 4 pounds of cocaine that you stashed in the head they probably could not have used it at trial because safety equipment isn't normally stored in a head.

For the record, our water cops around here know they're welcome to board me at any time. They never do because they're aware of my prior career.
 
Gofirstclass said:
Football Fan, I guess I'm a bit confused about the difference between what they did and what constitutes a search. Searches not done incident to an arrest or under very limited other condition require a search warrant, issued upon a sworn affidavit, signed by a judge and clearly listing the areas/properties to be searched and the items the search warrant allows them to look for.

I'm a retired cop and all in favor of keeping the seas safe, but when the scope of their "looking around" goes beyond what is necessary to make sure you have the required safety equipment and papers, then they cross the line. Had they found your 4 pounds of cocaine that you stashed in the head they probably could not have used it at trial because safety equipment isn't normally stored in a head.

For the record, our water cops around here know they're welcome to board me at any time. They never do because they're aware of my prior career.
Click to expand...

Sorry you are confused. After my initial post - which then turned in a "search" topic - I simply provided clarification that I had never used the term search and did not feel it was a search. This was a safety check. They went where they needed to go, and that was it.

Jeezzzzz - search happy group here...
 
safety check in the head? Do you carry the abrasive toilet paper? Is the floor a slip hazard? Is your aspirin expired or is your toothpaste not recommended by the ADA?

I'll give you that your boat wasn't searched well, but it was searched, and searched without cause.
 
When I get old and can no longer push throttles forward, I believe I will open my log book and write a few stories and a few tech tips I have learned from being over the horizon all the while reminiscing and day dreaming on how Columbus or Magellan did such things.....then the USCG hails and day dreaming stops, dang it!

I have been boarded more times than I can remember and have had this happen both inside and 40 miles off shore. I had an 80 footer come along side in 3-5 seas and literally had to help the loaded down coasties board the platform so they would not fall in the big pond. Their procedure is predictable but their personalities differ. Most are young with the NCOIC overseeing from the mothership or the rib. They want to view heads for the reason to see if there are any remnants of contraband flushed down. The weapons question is for their safety and it behooves one to be honest about such things.

On a few occasions I have asked why they want to be so extensive being that I am in a brand new boat that has nothing onboard but my gear bag. I am a licensed captain with TWIC and all other security clearances. They are working off a trained script and sometimes their youngness and aggressiveness overshadows a little common sense.
Some recent cause related reasons one will be stopped and boarded is due to technology. For instance I drive new boats which almost never have the AIS feature set up (owners do that after taking delivery) and therefore when I am miles offshore booging north, their radar is hitting a vessel that shows up as “unknown origin”….bamm, I am getting boarded again.

Okay getting a little long winded here so to sum up, I am huge fan of the USCG because they save lives, period. Last year when the HMS Bounty sank off NC in 40 foot seas in the dark, who picked 16 scattered human beings out of the water at 2am ….the same young man that is asking to look in your toilet….I have no problem with that.

Wish I could tour our dealer network and be able to share stories, adventures and offer what years of experience on the water has taught me and how to minimize frustrations.

Markus, (footballfan) you are now an experienced FLA boater having been boarded and scrutinized. I bet a tall Texan like yourself probably had them on edge as much as you were. And I bet they departed much nicer than when they arrived….you have that way with you boss.

I butt heads with salvage and towing privateers much more than the USCG…..but that’s another chapter in the book.

Capt. R
 
Rusty, thanks for putting your thoughts on this thread. I hadn't thought about checking the head for flushed residue. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

Like you, I'm a big fan of the USCG and LEO's in general. As I said, they're welcome aboard any time they want and I always ask them to come down to the boat to give me my safety inspection and get my sticker.

Interestingly, in our area most of the inspection they do are on smaller wakeboard boats, fishing boats, etc. An inspection of my boat turns into a learning exercise for them as they learn what's required on a bigger boat. Our local Sheriff's Dept water cops usually bring a couple of the newbie water cops with them when they do an inspection. It's not uncommon to have five or six of them on board and it usually takes 30 minutes or so.
 
My assumption was they were dumping flushing dye to see if it showed up in the water behind the boat.
 
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