1. Authority? Yes, they call it a "Safety Inspection". Actually those High
School grads have Federal powers of arrest, same as a FBI Agent.
2. Technical knowledge to determine the manufacturers intended use for your
fuel line? Not! The ones I've had contact wouldn't notice if your outboard
was mounted upside down and on the wrong end of the boat.
3. Anal retentive? A friend was boarded while cruising the Carib and had to
wait topside while his boat was trashed, when he went to survey the damage
and restow just about everything he found the Coasties had emptied all but
one round from his revolver and hid the rounds. Didn't make much sense to
him either.
During the "Inspection" the Coasties found unpainted fiberglass on the
inside of the hull in the bilge and wanted to drill a hole to see if he was
stashing something. My friend asked that if they wanted to drill holes in
his boat, please do it above the waterline (should be under 2. I suppose).
"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
Does the US Coast Guard have the authority to stop, search or do a
"routine" safety check on a vessel of US registry or US state registration
fully within US waters and obviously not suited for long offshore travel
without cause?
I am not asking because of anything that has happened. I have never been
stopped or checked by the US Coast Guard in freshwater or sal****er. I am
just curious about their legal authority.
The vehicle in question would currently be being operated in a safe and
legal manner following navigation guides, traveling at legal speeds, and
being operated in a courteous manner to other craft. All registration
numbers being current and properly displayed and lights being in full
correct operation or not required if during daylight hours.
The reason I ask is because I have a small craft I was thinking of using
to do some bay fishing. I bought it as a shell and rigged it out as a
bass boat. I wired it, installed the outboard, and otherwise rigged the
boat myself. I am confident that the basic stuff is all done correctly,
but I would hate to get hassled and cited because I used an automotive
fuel line (which I didn't) or something like that.
I am very careful to try and meet the appropriate safety regulations, and
I have only ever had a safety check done on one of my boats once in the
past. An Imperial County Sheriff's Deputy stopped me for violating a speed
reg on the Colorado River. I argued the reg was not properly posted and
un-enforcable. He decided to do a complete safety check and not cite me
for the speed violation. Obviously he felt I had a case, but he wasn't
going to let me go without citing me for something.
I have had my fishing license checked many times while fishing, but I have
never had game officials do this. I have heard the Coast Guard can be
anal rententive about things. I hope to avoid that type of experience. I
do have all required safety gear, and my craft is rigged correctly to the
best of my knowledge. I have read several more recent publications on
safe boat operation, and I took a small craft certification course with
the Coast Guard Auxilary about 25 years ago.
Anyway, I take all appropriate steps with my craft to avoid violations,
but I am curious about the legal authority and circumstances I may run
into.
--
Bob La Londe
http://www.YumaBassMan.com