TOPIC:

BNature wrote:

For those of you who want to avoid being stopped by the coasties, contact the Coast Guard Auxiliary. They'll do a courtesy inspection and issue you a sticker. When the Coast Guard is looking for people to board, they will often by-pass boats displaying the auxiliary sticker.

Good point Mike! They usually come to Marina Shores on a couple of weekends and do inspections for those who want it. I've had the sticker for the last 5 years and have not been boarded out on the lake.

Southshore,
I saw them early last year around this time of the season. Glad to see them around, and they know the word gets around quick that they are out and about. I'm sure that they get us all thinking safety first. We have been blessed with good fishing in this extremely cold water. I'm not a youngster anymore, and don't want to think of my chances if I had to hit the water.

Not sure if district 10 has their boat in the water yet, but knowing that the coasties are out there patrolling is good for all of us.

I like what Brother Nature posted as I did forget about the auxiliary making inspections.

The USCGA will again be out at Marina Shores doing vessel safety checks and teaching informational demonstrations and boating safety for the day of Saturday May 13th.
You can call the USCGA directly and schedule your private inspection any time. The flotilla in the Portage area, 35-09, Jason Bogue is the guy to get ahold of 219 405-9504.
Each flotilla is assigned to a certain area so you would have to check your area.

Several good points and comments, a couple things to add. The Auxiliary Sticker is a good way to make sure you are up to standards but does not mean you won't be boarded as I have been boardes and checked several times with current stickers and inspection paperwork. Second and probably most important, since 911 the Coast Gaurd is a division of Homeland Security which means any major violation that they cite is a federal violation. So, not that anyone would do this but a weapons or DUI/DWI/OWI would now be a federal not just local issue for that person. They also do have the power to and depending on the situation will lturn you over to the local authorities which will likely also charge you with the violation so you will be fighting it twice in two seperate courts.

Also as stated the Coast Gaurd does send Auxiliary personnel out on routine patrols but they are not your average snot nose teenage kids. They may not have a lot of sea time, some do, but they are highly trained and will be profesional or they will not be on the boarding party.

Bottom line is stay safe, follow the rules, and you will have no problems from the Coast Guard or any other Law Enforcement Unit patroling the lakes. There is or at least used to be a link/checklist on the IDNR website that listed all safety equipment required for boating on the different bodies of water, boat size, and occupancy. Also if you are not familiar with the Life Jacket age requirement I suggest you look at it.

I'm in no way down on the Coast Guard, I love having them around and have numerous encounters with them. As a licensed captain responsible for the prudent operation of my vessel, I would definitely engage in a conversation with them before consenting to a routine, random boarding in conditions I feel aren't safe. Ultimately the boat with .50 cal on the deck is going to decide how that conversation ends.

Back to checklists, I remember a few years back talking to a guy at Mik Lurch that got poppped with a big ticket because he did not have a life jacket on board that fit every passenger. Something to consider if you're taking out a jumbo buddy or kids.

According to this article, the Coast Gaurd can board your vessel at any time on the water. They do not need your permission or probable cause.

www.sailfeed.com/2012/10/coast-guard-boa...dment-rights-part-1/

Wow, S.C., I just read that whole series of articles and and skimmed through a bunch of the comments. That was a very interesting read. Ac ouple highlights I noted were the coasties admitting that they would to paraphrase, engage in a routine stop under dangerous conditions on purpose as a training exercise, and then there was a snippet about a guy who had 2 grand worth of damage done to his boat during a routine stop and they Coast Guard was not responsible for the repairs. Doesn't seem right to me.