WARNING!!
- Thread starter HOGAN
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In the thirty years I've been boating on the Hudson I have never been boarded. I was questioned at Bowline last year because I didn't have my registration stickers yet I had just bought the boat. I explained and I was told to have a nice day. It would really suck if they stop and board random boats this season just to raise money. What ever happen to probable cause, this sounds more like harassment.
Flatsflyer
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Last weekend there where 22 Florida FWC Officers on 9 vessels waiting to hit the water in St. Augustine. They keep the boats at Comanchee Cove Yatch Basin along with 5 or 6 Homeland Security (ICE) boats that are 33' center consoles each equipped with 4 300 HP Mercs. My only thought was only the government could afford operations like this.In 30+ years of Florida boating I have only been boarded once and that was in the Keys during lobster season.
A quick no hassle inspection is good once in awhile just to be sure we are prepared. You dont need to be harrased for over an hour just because one or 2 of them think they are gods or something. Every captain is responsible for the safety of his or her passengers. We dont always tell our quests where the life jackets are or where the safety equipment is. A reminder is good and may save some ones life. Speaking of which I need to check my flares again.
Oh by the way there Fishtale, I thought it was YOU who was getting sea sick...
Oh by the way there Fishtale, I thought it was YOU who was getting sea sick...
No it was not. Maybe if you were not such a sissy girl, you could have gone out and gotten probed, I mean inspected yourself. I am sure if you were inspected they would have found your vessle wanting and short coming !!!!! Every Party needs a pooper thats why we invited you.....Party Pooper !!!!! Aside from all this... I very much agree with your comment. I am in the wholesale fish business, and we are extreemly regulated and monitored by multiple regulating agencies. A little enforcement now and again keeps a level playing field. If I have to comply, so should you.
Sorry, but I am not in that group. I do a full safety dance before every trip, unless it is with a regular passenger.
Here is where the fire extinguishers are, here are the life jackets, proper use of the facilities, proper use of the EPIRB, quick tutorial on the radio, in case something happens to me, etc. Takes 5 minutes and makes me and my passengers comfortable.
It actually came in handy when I was boarded 2 years ago. The Coasties wanted to know where the flares, jackets, etc were and my passengers were able to answer. Coasties asked how often the passengers were on the boat, when they replied it was their first time, but that I gave a safety speech, the Coasties were impressed and departed about 2 minutes after that.
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I can understand boarding the vessel to check but are they giving any safety check stickers to show that you were already checked. I mean if you take your boat out every weekend there's a chance you can get checked every time which can be a hassel.
I heard on second hand information that there was a drug sniffing dog on one of the police boats. If that is true,they probably had a tip that something was going down or it was a drill like they had at the WTC site this weekend. We'll never know. I was told by the USCG in Florida that I didn't need flares less than 3 miles from shore or in Florida bay. I should have got that in writing.
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The "real" Coast Guard does not give out stickers, only the Auxillary guys. They do give you a sheet that shows how you fared, you can show that to them if they stop you again.
I have found the CG to be polite, professional and courteous. They know the law.
I can't say the same for the Westchester Police.
boating_rob
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In the rain? Glad you got a chance to get out on the water.
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never rain where I was, although it looked like it could at any moment. I would have gone out in the rain if I had to. It was the first time my parents were able to go out on my boat, rain or shine would have been fine. Like I said it was a great day.
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Mike if pulled over will most honor the letter? I know when we were all in bowline we all just had safety checks with stickers and letters and they still checked again.
boating_rob
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I have been checked by the USCG a lot when I fished offshore. If you write down the boat, officer
and date of the last USCG boarding, they will usually check the info. out and let you go without
boarding you. I was told that after being boarded several times in a 2 week period. You just give
them your info. like name, DOB, address and phone number, and your boats info., like registration,
length, HIN and the last boarding info.
They don't want to spend their time checking the same boat over and over if you are legal every
time they check you. They don't remember any one boat unless you are carrying bikini clad babes
or you are really out of compliance. Us law abiding boaters really bore them.
and date of the last USCG boarding, they will usually check the info. out and let you go without
boarding you. I was told that after being boarded several times in a 2 week period. You just give
them your info. like name, DOB, address and phone number, and your boats info., like registration,
length, HIN and the last boarding info.
They don't want to spend their time checking the same boat over and over if you are legal every
time they check you. They don't remember any one boat unless you are carrying bikini clad babes
or you are really out of compliance. Us law abiding boaters really bore them.
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When you get a CG safety check, they give you a copy of the report. If you show that report to the CG (during this season) when you get stopped again, they most likely will let you be on your way. That's my experience.
My marina is full of CG, all the time. Got boarded right when I pulled out for my first fishing trip this year. 3 CG boats checking anything that moved in NY Harbor that morning.
My marina is full of CG, all the time. Got boarded right when I pulled out for my first fishing trip this year. 3 CG boats checking anything that moved in NY Harbor that morning.
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Of course they were not around.....It was Monday!