[C320-list] Boarded by the Coast Guard

[Chris Burti]

Gary,
Do your inspections require the ineffectual rubber covers in battery
boxes such as we have on the C-320?

On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 12:05 PM, Magnuson's Time A Weigh
<gary.magnuson at frontier.com> wrote:
> http://www.usps.org/national/vsc/      Here is a link to our USPS web site
> for some additional information.  I took the class to do these VSC's last
> year and offer them to boaters as a free service to keep people from getting
> fined for not having the required safety equipment on board.  It is a joint
> program between the United States Power Squadrons, and the Coast Guard Aux.
> I encourage all to have one done every year to be sure you have all the
> right stuff.  The items I find mostly revolve exposes battery terminals,
> PFD's inaccessible, Visual Distress signals, expired, sound devices, and
> fire extinguishers inoperable.  Our inspections are all voluntary by request
> and help to possibly  avoid the CG boardings.  In our area, if they find
> something missing result in a termination of use and escort home. On the
> inland lakes, if boarded by the DNR, there is usually a fine involved.
>
> Gary Magnuson
> Time A Weigh   # 205
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Warren Updike" <wupdike at hotmail.com>
> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 3:57 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Boarded by the Coast Guard
>
>
>> CG boardings around the Chesapeake are not uncommon, especially in
>> proximity
>> to a CG station.  Apparently, they operate under a quota. One told me they
>> focus on the workboats during the week and recreational boaters on the
>> week
>> end.
>>
>> We were with a group of boats on the Choptank R. when the CG approached
>> one
>> boat for an inspection.  Being the wise a.. that I am, I got on the radio
>> and announced that so-and-so is being boarded. I ended with, "if they want
>> to board me, they have to catch me first."  Clearly a tongue-in-cheek
>> remark
>> as I was under sail and they were in a patrol boat with about a zillion
>> horsepower behind.  Sure enough, I was next.  They were very professional
>> and nice guys.  The inspection was as Ray described and, happily, we
>> passed.
>>
>>
>> The CG Auxiliaries may conduce what they call (I think,) Courtesy Safety
>> Inspections at no charge. They use the same checklist as the CG.  If you
>> pass, they issue you a report and a decal to display on your mast (port
>> side
>> about 3' up.)  I've heard that the CG may pass on the boarding if your
>> decal
>> is a year or two old.
>>
>> Warren & Pattie Updike
>> 1994 C320 #62 "Warr De Mar"
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Ray Durand [mailto:durand.mail at verizon.net]
>> Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 11:58 AM
>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>> Subject: [C320-list] Boarded by the Coast Guard
>>
>> As I was leaving Avalon Harbor (Catalina Island) a few days ago, I noticed
>> a
>> Coast Guard boat just outside the breakwater.  Sure enough, a dinghy with
>> 4
>> or 5 guardsmen approached our boat and they asked when was the last time I
>> had been inspected.  It was about 4-5 years since this last happened to
>> us.
>> Two guardsmen came aboard.  FYI - here's what they wanted to see:
>>
>>
>>
>> Fire extinguishers
>>
>> Flares (they checked the dates)
>>
>> Bilge
>>
>> Placards re oil and trash disposal
>>
>> Registration
>>
>> ID (driver license)
>>
>>
>>
>> They also wanted to see that my holding tank through hull valve was
>> closed.
>>
>>
>>
>> Last time this happened to me, my flares were out of date.  They wrote me
>> up
>> and I had to send in proof that I had purchased new flares.  There wasn't
>> any penalty associated with this.
>>
>>
>>
>> Ray Durand, #822
>>
>> Marina del Rey, CA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>



-- 
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC