USCG boarding

play dough

play dough

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2011
467
Grand Blanc / Mackinaw City, Michigan
Boat Info
1997 Sea Ray 330DA
Engines
7.4L MPI Mercruiser
Not that it was any problem, but I'm wondering how far a boarding inspection usually goes. Four persons on board fishing (trolling) in the Straits of Mackinac (Lake Michigan). It was myself, wife, and adult son and daughter. USCG approaches and says they want to board for inspection. We're allowed to clear lines from one side so they can approach and transfer a couple officers to my boat. We go through all the typical inspection items, then they want a driver's license from each person and call in that info to, I'm guessing, see if anyone has any outstanding warrants? It was no big deal and they were very courteous, but I've never had to go beyond the boat registration and anything to satisfy the inspection items. Is the criminal check usually part of a boarding? Just curious.
 
Sounds like they were looking for someone/something... maybe with a description similar to your boat.
 
We have a CG training site close by and I get stopped about once every year and a half. I've never had them ask for everybodies drivers licenses. Usually the captains (me) and the registration.
 
I'd agree with JimG. I believe they have the authority under Maritime Security portion of their charter. Like Bucit, I've never been asked for my DL. Everytime I've been boarded though I provide my military ID and DL as a proof of ownership. It's just easier.
 
Been boarded many times, by both U.S. and Canadian authorities , and all except one were just typical safety and compliance inspections.
It's a different world post 9/11, and living and boating in a cross border area has become somewhat more of an inconvenience. Within the past few years, I have given up on visiting Canadian waters with friends on board, just too much of a hassle should I get stopped, and the U.S. authorities are just as thorough. The one time that I did have my boat searched top to bottom, it felt like an invasion of privacy, but they were professional and courteous, and put most of our personal belongings away, neatly were they were found. I have to admit that I probably provoked the search by something that I said. They were just doing their job.
The closer you are to border waters, the more scrutiny you can expect.
 
I'm becoming a pro at this. I probably deserve all the boardings and "inspections", because I do irresponsible things such as following a course, following a channel, visiting marinas and islands. It clearly makes me look like a terrorist. During the most recent stop, the guys suggested that we hold up the inspection form the next time we're approached, as that may deter them. I doubt it will. They admitted that they completely ignore the CG-Aux inspection stickers.

The last few stops have had a theme: "I smell alcohol" (BS, and the same phrase was used in OH and FL) and running a check on all passengers.
 
Henry Boyd said:
I also suspect this was related to border issues. We have friends up in Maine who have told us the farther north they go, the CG boardings become more detailed.

Henry
Click to expand...

Tell your friends in Maine to redirect the USCG south to the Rio Grande River.
 
RollerCoastr said:
I'm becoming a pro at this. I probably deserve all the boardings and "inspections", because I do irresponsible things such as following a course, following a channel, visiting marinas and islands. It clearly makes me look like a terrorist. During the most recent stop, the guys suggested that we hold up the inspection form the next time we're approached, as that may deter them. I doubt it will. They admitted that they completely ignore the CG-Aux inspection stickers.

The last few stops have had a theme: "I smell alcohol" (BS, and the same phrase was used in OH and FL) and running a check on all passengers.
Click to expand...
We always get the Coast Guard Auxiliary Inspection sticker. In San Francisco Bay it has a pretty good chance of saving you from a B.S. or "Practice" Boarding. If you get one, you will see why. Out of about 430 boats in our Marina there are usually less than 15 with the sticker. It also helps you keep current on the rules and what a real boarding should be looking for as far as safety compliance, and environmental mandates. Plus it is free. Many moons ago we were basically rammed by another boat. After I was sure we were not shipping water, and our ability to stay afloat was not in jeopardy, I called the coast guard, reported the crash. The other boat was not monitoring their VHF and they somehow decided we were attempting to flee the scene (at like 3 knots), but we yelled back and forth (exchanging universal hand signals with some common sailing language). We were instructed by the CG to wait at the docks on Angel Island. Even though I had called the CG, they did a full boarding (and breathalyzer test on the operators) of BOTH boats. This was a big lesson for me as I commonly used to have a drink, or two, underway. It was a minor miracle that nobody on my boat had been drinking. EVEN IN THIS SITUATION the CG only asked for ID for the captains and helmsmen. They did want to know if anyone had recently completed a CG boating coarse, or had any certificates. My friend who was at the helm when the crash happened was an OCSC Sailing instructor, and loaded with paper indicating he was an able seaman. Just lucky again. I believe the boarding described by the OP was specifically looking for someone or something. The sticker would probably not have deterred them.
 
Interesting about the DL's. In Florida there is no requirement to hold a drivers licence to operate a boat nor a requirement that any passenger have one. All must be able to produce ID in the event of a reasonable search but not a vessel inspection. So my approach normally when an inspection extends past requirements (happened to me by the Fish and Wildlife twice and we weren't even fishing) is to comply then before they exit inform politely of the their over-reach and the contact information of their supervision. It's all above the table and professional.
 
It seems a DL is just more of the norm as a form of identification. Anybody of the age will have one, and most likely have it on their person. In NY they have integrated an anchor icon for people that have completed the CG certification...just makes it easier to have it all on one document.
 
We were boarded on the St. Clair River as we were doing the sea trial for our last boat purchase. I don't recall them asking for my ID, but they wanted the owners ID and boat registration. They basically said just keep doing whatever you were doing and they would make their rounds carrying out the safety inspection. Everything went fine, but the BIG concern was making sure everyone had a life jacket available. A missing flare, they could overlook, but not being short a life jacket. They checked the engine, the plaques, ran the registration #s, etc.

They gave a receipt that they said was good for a 90 day inspection pass, but damned if they did not date it for 2007 instead of 2014.

Overall very quick and simple. We were one of the only boats out and it was clearly early season training for the new guys.
 
Ozshadow said:
We were one of the only boats out and it was clearly early season training for the new guys.
Click to expand...

That was the case in this instance as well and I had absolutely no problem with anything the officers did. I was 100% compliant with every requirement and had done nothing to warrant any kind of boarding other than a routine inspection. Even supplying my license wasn't a shock but when that request went to the passengers, it surprised me a bit.
 
Boarding's are common up here, not many boats so it keeps them busy.
In 4 boarding's over the years guests on the boat were only I.D.'d once.
We had friends visiting from Canada with us at the time and the C.G. were more than courteous as usual.
 
Couple of things I forgot:

The first question before coming aboard was did we have any weapons on board.

Another thing that has puzzled me is my boat has the walkthrough windshield. There's really not much room to go around the outside where the bow rail meets the cockpit, but the new guy somehow managed to do it.

I'm not sure how many were on the USCG boat, but two came aboard, one at the helm, one worked a large fender, and another extended a hand to the boarders to get back.

It was one of the large RIBs.

You really do not have a lot of rights when you are cruising an international border.
 
I think random boardings are ridiculous, and should be unlawful. Please, stop boaters that are doing stupid stuff. Our boat gets annual safety inspections, I want make sure we have what we need. We obey the rules. Please don't stop me for no reason.
 
Ozshadow said:
Couple of things I forgot:

The first question before coming aboard was did we have any weapons on board.

Another thing that has puzzled me is my boat has the walkthrough windshield. There's really not much room to go around the outside where the bow rail meets the cockpit, but the new guy somehow managed to do it.

I'm not sure how many were on the USCG boat, but two came aboard, one at the helm, one worked a large fender, and another extended a hand to the boarders to get back.

It was one of the large RIBs.

You really do not have a lot of rights when you are cruising an international border.
Click to expand...
Has anyone had a weapon on board during a USCG boarding?

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
 
bahamabreisus said:
I think random boardings are ridiculous, and should be unlawful. Please, stop boaters that are doing stupid stuff. Our boat gets annual safety inspections, I want make sure we have what we need. We obey the rules. Please don't stop me for no reason.
Click to expand...

that at could be applied to R.I.D.E. Programs to stop drinking and driving vehicles. Most stopped aren't doing anything wrong other than driving through the area where the stop is set up. I personally don't see an issue being asked for ID. I've been asked for it when paying with my credit card. No big deal as far as I'm concerned.

My 2 cents.

Mark
 
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