Got Boarded by the U.S. Coast Guard...

[GodGuns&Guitars]

Wanna bet these Coasties were/are armed. I never boarded a vessel in Florida or California unarmed. To those of you serving the Coast Guard now, God Bless you. In Alaska I remember boarding Russian, Japanese, and Korean fishing vessels. Trick was getting up and down the jacobs ladder to and from the small boat. Let some of these complainers try that one. Let alone the icy cold water if you fell and managed to NOT get yourself smashed between the small boat and fishing trawler. I'm glad I was young and agile back then.

Go Coast Guard
http://www.military.com/news/articl...-in-drugs-off-streets.html?ESRC=coastguard.nl

 

[Mandolin]

The author is Todd Newan. Think of the book as The Perfect Storm, only set in Alaska and with only one boat. I won't ruin the rest of it though. THere is a lot of swearing, though.

 

[SFB]

SSN Vet - This coastie will still be your friend. I know you were just having some fun, but I wanted you to know that the CG's mission is serious, and good men and women die doing it. I have nothing bad to say about any of the other services. We all have a serious and dangerous job and we all sacrifice a lot to do it.

 

[EvanWilliams]

MY dad is retired army. He said if he had it to do all over again he would have joined the USCG. His reasons: 1. You rescue people 2. You clean up the environment or prevent damage to the environment 3. When you are shooting at people they are scumbags (Drug traffickers, smugglers etc. ) and not some poor slob sent their by politicians to get shot.

 

[Isher]

Article in the local paper lately, up here on the Olympic Peninsula.

The Coasties around here just finished training for full auto weapons,

And are now carrying (details not supplied).

Some might call it Mission Creep, others

The new freakin' reality.

By the way, I'm talking about the inshore folks

And the chopper jocks,

Not the offshore folks, who have had that mission for years.

In any case, now,

In addition to saving the lives of dumb**** recreational boaters

(And the unbelievably stupid stuff they regularly pull)

And the commercial guys and gals in genuine distress,

They now have an additional, everyday defense responsibility

Which potentially puts them even more in harm's way

My hat is off to them.


isher

 

[jnyork]

Betcha don't know

United States Coast Guard pilots flew air rescue helicopters with the Air Force during the Vietnam War, serving with valor and distinction. Here is a great website describing their efforts: http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history06.html

 

[CPerdue]

You know how you can tell the CG is hard a**? When one of them says, "Bang, bang," over the radio during a drill, half of the D.C. metro area freaks. Happened 9/11/09, sad but true.

 

[oldgoat46]

On a 42' boat I have to assume it was a doccumented vessel (It should be) If it is the owner of that vessel is accorded the same rights and privelidges under maritame law as a captain in the Navy. The vessel is technically the property of the US government in times of crisis and can be called up for emergency service. Generally the Coast Guard personel are very aware of this and treat the vessel owners/Captains with due respect. conversly the Owner is expected to conduct him/herself accordingly. I have been boarded many times over the years and I have found that a simple hailing over the radio such as This is Captain ----of the sailing vessel ----- We are a united states flaged doccumented vessel en-rout from--- to --- Please board on the windward side of the vessel. doccuments and papers will be presented upon request. That statement will set the tone for a mutually respectful meeting. As for multiple boardings. you may request a doccument form the boarding officer on the first boarding which you can present to subsequent requests. It will not prevent you from being delayed but at least you may for go multiple searches the same day. Iv'e found the coast Guard to be pleasant to deal with and very professional.

 

[ar10]

In addition to saving the lives of dumb**** recreational boaters

I have to hand to the CG on Lake Erie. They've put up with a lot of crap from the drunks-on-boats. During the time I was boating up there I heard a ton of calls for help, most came from the walleye nuts off Toledo. They go out early spring in water that 45degs, leaving the safe harbors around 7am. By noon the Westerlies are pushing wave 5~7', a number of them are drunk. When the CG gets overloaded they get on the radio and request any boaters in the area if they can assist so-n-so vessel. I helped once, pulled the idiot aboard, he was so drunk and sucked in enough water he puked all over my boat. He never even said thanks. After that I never helped another one.
IMO the CG patrolling Erie deserve a campaign medal for the crap they have to put up with.

 

[GRIZ22]

As for multiple boardings. you may request a doccument form the boarding officer on the first boarding which you can present to subsequent requests.

I believe that's a TD 4100 form. the USCG always just gave the captain a copy when I did boardings with them.

United States Coast Guard pilots flew air rescue helicopters with the Air Force during the Vietnam War,

The Coast Guard did a lot more than that in Vietnam. Read it here:

http://www.uscg.mil/History/uscghist/VietnamPhotoIndex_A.asp

The first knowledge I had of the Coast Guard in Vietnam is when a Coastie sat next to me when going to Sydney on R&R. I was 18 then and I'm still learning.