GL: Avoid Unnessary Boardings

[Dan & Peggy B.]

Those voluntary safety checks are a wonderful idea and are very helpful in
maintaining the proper equipment required by law as stated by previous
postings.

The reason enforcement officers will still stop you and conduct an inspection
is that the required equipment can change and often does on your boat.  You
may pick up more passengers and have insufficient personal floatation devices,
fire extinguishers go flat, battery's become uncovered and unsecured, blower
motors quit, etc.

The best way to get stopped and inspected while operating on the water is to
draw attention to yourself.  You can do this in many ways.  If your boat
stands out from all the others by an operation infraction, even a very minor
one and marine law enforcement officers are in enforcement mode, prepare to be
boarded.  They will be doing what they are paid to do if done in a
professional and efficient maner.

Dan Bowers



----- Original Message -----
  From: Ted Stehle
  To: John and Judy Gill ; AGLCA Subscriber List ; Loop ListGreat, Loop List
  Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 9:25 PM
  Subject: Re: GL: Avoid Unnessary Boardings


  John:

  Perhaps I missed it, but I have never seen any document/statement that says
  the Coast Guard will not conduct "random" checks on vessels that have
  current VSC stickers. I was stopped on the Chesapeake and two friends of
  mine were stopped on the Atlantic ICW in 2006. I was not cited, nor were
  they, for any violations; our boarding's were part of the normal operating
  routine for the day.

  Ted Stehle
  Good Times
  45 Californian


  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "John & Judy Gill" <twojscom@quadnet.net>
  To: "AGLCA Subscriber List" <AGLCA-2007@googlegroups.com>; "Loop ListGreat,
  Loop List" <great-loop@lists.samurai.com>
  Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 7:11 PM
  Subject: GL: Avoid Unnessary Boardings


  > This posting is about how to avoid unnessary boardings by the Coast
  > Guard, State Marine Police and.or Local Authorities.
  >
  > Get a FREE United States Coast Guare VESSEL SAFETY CHECK on your boat
  > every Spring.
  >
  > U.S. Coast Guard Vessel Safety Checks are performed by Certified VSC
  > Examiners of the United States Power Squadrons and the United States
  > Coast Guard Auxiliary (and some state police units).
  >
  > Each vessel is checked for all the USCG required gear and safety
  > items.  A special decal is issued and is to be adhered to the Port
  > Side of the vessel.  It tells ALL law enforcement agencies that the
  > vessel has submitted to a voluntary examination and is in complience
  > with all VSC requirements.  USCG, State and Local officials have
  > pledged to not conduct "random" checks on vessels displaying a
  > current VSC decal!
  >
  > The VSC exams are FREE and usually take a half hour or more.  There
  > are no penalities if the vessel fails and normally the examiner will
  > return to pass the vessel, if the owner makes the necessary
  > corrections, within a day or two.  This is of course far better (less
  > costly) than receiving a citation and/or fine from a law enforcement
  > agency!
  >
  > To obtain a Vessel Safety Check, simply log onto the following web
  > site and enter the zip code where your vessel is located -  then
  > request a VSC examination from the nearest Certified Examiner:
  > <http://safetyseal.net/GetVSC/>,
  >
  > Make the on-line request today!
  >
  > John R,. Gill
  > Two Js V
  > An AGLCA Looper
  > Certified USPS VSC Examiner
  > _______________________________________________
  > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop
  >
  > To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address,
  > unsubscribe, etc.) go to:
  > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/options/great-loop
  _______________________________________________
  http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop

  To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address,
  unsubscribe, etc.) go to:
http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/options/great-loop