USCG is bored and....

tuna taxi · Oct-16-2007, 11:22 PM

looking for something to do, or should I say, "doing their job"? Went hoop netting Saturday evening for the second time in just as many seasons. The plan was to hit the outer rigs for some rock fish and get back to the wall right at sunset. Unfortunately, we fell behind schedule and decided to skip the fishing

As we were driving into the launch (Davies) we could see the USCG puled up along side a small boat with three men on board. I couldn't tell why they stopped them but I started to run a simple checklist through my head, registration, driver license, insurance, pfd's and so on. We back up into the launch, launch the boat, my buddy parks my truck and as I'm headed to the dock I could see that the USCG had stopped another boat that was headed in, really had no clue what they were after.

So, off we go, past the launch, under the bridge and we go past the USCG. As I'm headed out they slowly start to creep up and now we're moving side by side with the USCG, I ask my buddy to take over while I put a jacket on and no sooner do the blue lights come on. They pull up and ask me when was the last time I was boarded by the USCG, "A few years ago" I responded. Needless to say, they pull up, ask for our ID's/driver license, pfd's, flares and before we could reach for our wallet the officer ask, "Without reaching for anything do you have any weapons on board", I told him that we had nothing but that I did have two fillet knifes on board and pointed them out.

As he's calling our personal information in I get the pfd's and flares and notice that my flares had expired Sept 2007

HOLY SHIT!!! I immediately tell him that they had just expired

and he tells me to please stop at a boat shop and pick up some new ones ASAP.

All of our information comes back OK, CF numbers are OK, pfd's are OK and I didn't get much shit about the flares. Overall I'd have to say that it was a pleasant experience dealing with these guys. I've heard others bad mouth the USCG, you won't be hearing that today. If I can give any advise, keep your cool, be polite, have your shit ready and don't forget to check the expiration dates on your flares!!!

invictus · Oct-16-2007, 11:30 PM

Sound advice.

skelly1 · Oct-16-2007, 11:56 PM

Yeah, mine were expired in 2004 last time I got checked. They told me to go to dana and get some new ones and that was that.

Drydocked · Oct-17-2007, 01:21 AM

Flares expire every 36 months...Also make sure your fire extinguisher is in the green, you have your throwable life preserver/cushion easily available and your horn works. All things I have gotten dinged on over the years...Now I check them every time before I go out!.

bassspotter · Oct-17-2007, 07:11 AM

I got no problem with them stopping and doing a vessel check. Be sober, have your stuff in order, don't be an a-hole and they'll be cool with you. And be thankful that when things go bad they put themselves on the line.

ConSeaMate · Oct-17-2007, 08:14 AM

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">They have never been rude to me....always very polite....
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johnnylite · Oct-17-2007, 08:17 AM

Amen to that. What those guys do in a rescue situation is beyond belief.
Cut em some slack and keep everything in order. Great report.

Halibut Howie · Oct-17-2007, 09:01 AM

Thanks for the update, especially the flares date. I keep all the items the CG requires in a large yellow retangular bag you get at WM, ie. pfds, flares, extingusher, registration, past boardings, etc. Now when I get pulled over I'm not searching for stuff.

HH

Kurt · Oct-17-2007, 09:12 AM

I'm glad they are finally checking boats on the outside too. Guess having La Jolla cove mimic Normandy is too much.

skipjack-20 · Oct-17-2007, 09:33 AM

I was boarded this year and they were nothing short of respectful and professional. BTW, we CAN have weapons here. Godbless America!

TROB · Oct-17-2007, 10:09 AM

kind of like this? My registration was 2 weeks expired, no flares. i think our extinguisher was ok. had a couple pfd's, etc, then he asked for a handheld bilge pump in case the boat electronics went out.....uhhh. i told him i didnt have one and he said show me something you can bail water out with. so i cut the top off a water bottle with my fillet knife. he said OK.

then he asked for a 'noise making device' like an airhorn. i found a tiny one way back in some drawer, it was rusted as hell and the 'bell' was broken all the way to the metal bar.....he said " if you can make a sound with that thing, i'll let you go with a warning". shit. i could feel it was pretty empty, so i shook it like hell, pressed the button and a little *chirp* came out. "ok have a nice day. i was gonna give you a warning anyways"

theyre alright in my book, but shit, i guess i should be more prepared

califblondee · Oct-17-2007, 10:17 AM

I got a warning for not having a trash place card posted in the boat. Did not know we had to have one, also not having my documentation papers on board, only had the boat 5 weeks and had not recieved it yet. They were very nice.