It's bad enough when the Power Squadron/USCGA types confront you at
every boat ramp and marina for permission to snoop around your boat.
Ok, this has come up twice in this thread...I've been boating all my life
and have never been "confronted" by anyone from the USCGA or US/PS at any
time. I have, on occasion, been approached in a polite and neighborly manner
for boat safety checks. This is absolutley voluntary! In addition to
enhancing everyone's safety, vessels that are found to be properly equipped
get a decal that gives the regular Coasties notice that you're operating a
safe boat...thus decreasing your odds of an on the water stop & check.
Where. pray tell, is the problem in that?

James

On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 18:53:11 GMT, "James W. Sloan"
wrote:

It's bad enough when the Power Squadron/USCGA types confront you at
every boat ramp and marina for permission to snoop around your boat.

Ok, this has come up twice in this thread...I've been boating all my life
and have never been "confronted" by anyone from the USCGA or US/PS at any
time. I have, on occasion, been approached in a polite and neighborly manner
for boat safety checks. This is absolutley voluntary! In addition to
enhancing everyone's safety, vessels that are found to be properly equipped
get a decal that gives the regular Coasties notice that you're operating a
safe boat...thus decreasing your odds of an on the water stop & check.
Where. pray tell, is the problem in that?

James

excellent point. the CG aux doesn't 'snoop' around folk's boats.
thanks for the update...
---------------------------
to see who "wf3h" is, go to "qrz.com"
and enter 'wf3h' in the field

"James W. Sloan" wrote in message link.net...
It's bad enough when the Power Squadron/USCGA types confront you at
every boat ramp and marina for permission to snoop around your boat.
Ok, this has come up twice in this thread...I've been boating all my life
and have never been "confronted" by anyone from the USCGA or US/PS at any
time. I have, on occasion, been approached in a polite and neighborly manner
for boat safety checks. This is absolutley voluntary! In addition to
enhancing everyone's safety, vessels that are found to be properly equipped
get a decal that gives the regular Coasties notice that you're operating a
safe boat...thus decreasing your odds of an on the water stop & check.
Where. pray tell, is the problem in that?

James

I see it not much different than inviting the police into your house
so they can look through your rooms, closets and stuff. Besides the
sticker does not ensure you are operating a safe boat. All it states
is that you have certain minimal equipment on boatd. The operation of
a safe boat is entirely up to the vessel's captain.

No big deal. I just say no when approached. It is annoying when the
same guys ask every other weekend, though.

It's bad enough when the Power Squadron/USCGA types confront you at
every boat ramp and marina for permission to snoop around your boat.
Ok, this has come up twice in this thread...I've been boating all my life
and have never been "confronted" by anyone from the USCGA or US/PS at any
time. I have, on occasion, been approached in a polite and neighborly manner
for boat safety checks. This is absolutley voluntary! In addition to
enhancing everyone's safety, vessels that are found to be properly equipped
get a decal that gives the regular Coasties notice that you're operating a
safe boat...thus decreasing your odds of an on the water stop & check.
Where. pray tell, is the problem in that?

James

James:

Exactly the definition of the purpose of the VSC program. Voluntary, and no
law enforcement reporting are involved. See the VSC manual, available at:
http://www.cgaux.org/cgauxweb/manual...al/vsc_man.pdf

For those not wanting to read the whole manual, here's the definition taken
right from the text:

"The mission of the Coast Guard Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) program is to
minimize the loss of life, personal injury, property damage and environmental
impact associated with the use of recreational boats, through preventive means,
in order to maximize safe use and enjoyment of U.S. waterways by the public.
The Vessel Safety Check program fully supports this mission.

The VSC program helps to achieve voluntary compliance with federal and state
recreational boating safety laws, particularly regarding the carriage of safety
equipment. It also raises boaters’ awareness of safety issues through
one-on-one contact by volunteer vessel examiners.

Using the information in this manual, vessel examiners will educate boaters
through direct, face-to-face boating-safety information exchanges. With this
knowledge, it is hoped that recreational boaters will become more involved in
maintaining and operating their boats in a safe manner, taking boating safety
courses to increase their knowledge and skills in boating, and promoting safe
boating to others.

The Vessel Safety Check is intended to serve as a “prevention through
education, outreach and volunteer compliance� activity and to help
recreational boaters gain a respect for the boating environment as a result of
the Vessel Safety Check encounter.

Vessel Safety Checks are generally performed on recreational boats under 65
feet. Vessel Safety Check requirements parallel federal and individual state
regulations regarding equipment and safety conditions of the vessel. A VSC is
not a law enforcement action. No official report is made to any law enforcement
authority. A Vessel Safety Check is performed only with the consent of the
owner or operator, who must be present at the time of the examination. A Vessel
Safety Check does not circumvent the right of any federal, state or local law
enforcement officer to verify the presence and condition of safety equipment."

In regard to the last paragraph above, the State of Michigan has passed
legislation recognizing the VSC program. If the vessel has a current VSC decal
it is no longer legal for a state LE officer to stop and board a vessel to
check for required safety equipment without cause, other than to ask the
operator to display the required number of PFDs. The State DNR and Michigan
Sheriffs will also, in the near future, offer the exact same VSCs through their
officers, who will be trained in the program initially by the Auxiliary. They
will then issue the same decal, instead of the myriad of county sheriff decals
and the DNR decal.

On the subject of the original post, in our district we've had no uprising
relating to the new security check requirements. No one at our last flotilla
meeting expressed any reluctance to comply with the mandate. If one wants
membership not operationally-related, the requirements only add fingerprinting
to what was asked at enrollment- namely, that the prospective member was a U.S.
citizen, over 17 years old, and had no felony convictions. I'd imagine that
the only way to check on the felony issue is to have fingerprints to verify
identity.

Semper Paratus.

Bud (9CR 10-05)

The USCG can be transferred to the DOD. CG were in Viet Nam. Also the
Persian Gulf during Gulf 1 and probably 2.

"Hewel" wrote in message
...
I was looking at some photos of Coast Guard vessels. I'm puzzled, why do
Aids to Navigation vessels like the Juniper Class buoy tenders have
"provision for 25mm Bushmaster" chain gun? That's a lot of gun! I'd bet
every one of them is armed with the 25mm and then some, right now. I've
seen other buoy tenders, icebreakers and tugs with 12.7mm machine guns
and/or 7.62mm machine guns as well. Keep in mind these ships were
commissioned before the Department of Homeland Security in most cases.
The Coast Guard while having some military and law enforcement missions
was under the Department of Transportation. I look at a buoy and think
why would you need to shoot it?
I can see that those non-military and non-law enforcement
responsibilities returned to the DOT as civil service jobs at some
point, but would that mean these boats would have to become unarmed?
They don't let other civil service employees have weapons. Where does
that leave the Auxiliary? I wonder if it will end up becoming
militarized at some point. I hope not. It would be an easy step for
someone to take in Washington, kinda like a floating militia.
The job of the Coast Guard has become very complex. Perhaps there are
elements that should remain as military units and some that should be
pushed away from their military ties?

Capt Lou wrote:
When the Coast Guard was transfered into the Department of Homeland
Security,
so was the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Now all auxiliarists have to be
fingerprinted, and if they want to volunteer as crew or for other jobs,
they
have to pass a security background and criminal check. I know an
auxiliarist
friend of mine who had long hair and was told to cut it. Does anyone
feel that
the government is going a little overboard for civilian citizen
volunteers?
What about the auxiliarist who has been volunteering for the past 15 or
20
years? Is he or she a security threat? Maybe it is time to consider the
U.S.
Power Squadron and tell the USCGAUX enough is enough! I hear that 60% of
the
auxiliarists in my division will not submit to the fingerprinting.
That's a lot
of dues paying members dropping out!

"Listen to the live broadcast of 'Nautical Talk Radio' with Captain Lou
every
Sunday afternoon from 4 - 5 (Eastern Standard Time) on the web at
www.959watd.com or if you are in Boston or Cape Cod set your radio dial
to
95.9FM.

On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 17:37:39 GMT, "Calif Bill"
wrote:

The USCG can be transferred to the DOD. CG were in Viet Nam. Also the
Persian Gulf during Gulf 1 and probably 2.


that's true but the DOD can not overrule congress. if the CG is
transferred to DOD, the aux will still be prevented from military
operations.
---------------------------
to see who "wf3h" is, go to "qrz.com"
and enter 'wf3h' in the field

Was referring to gun mounts on CG boats / ships. Only gun mount on a aux
boat, may be for a shotgun, the owner owns.
Bill

"Bob" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 17 Jan 2004 17:37:39 GMT, "Calif Bill"
wrote:

The USCG can be transferred to the DOD. CG were in Viet Nam. Also the
Persian Gulf during Gulf 1 and probably 2.


that's true but the DOD can not overrule congress. if the CG is
transferred to DOD, the aux will still be prevented from military
operations.
---------------------------
to see who "wf3h" is, go to "qrz.com"
and enter 'wf3h' in the field

"Calif Bill" wrote in message news:ZhiOb.14775

....Only gun mount on a aux
boat, may be for a shotgun, the owner owns.

.....and that shotgun will not be aboard when under CG orders.

JG

I served on a 180' buoy tender in the late 1970s (USCGC Blackhaw, San
Francisco), and we had a couple 50 caliber guns. Because of the numerous
missions of the Coast Guard, all the cutters have guns. Buoy tenders don't
just tend buoys; they are used for search & rescue, drug interdiction, and
any other mission that comes along. In some places, buoy tenders are the
only Coast Guard presence so they have to be prepared for anything. On the
larger buoy tenders, like the one I was on, there is a billet (i.e. a
required crew member position) for a Gunners Mate.

I was on the buoy tender for about two years and in that time we never went
on a drug patrol, but we did get the list of suspect vessels to watch for.
If we had come across a vessel suspected of carrying drugs and boarded the
vessel, that would have been the most likely scenario for breaking out the
50 cals.

If maintaining aids to navigation is at some point removed as a CG mission,
I suspect it will done by contractors, not by federal employees. In the
case, I highly doubt they would carry arms.

"Hewel" wrote in message
...
I was looking at some photos of Coast Guard vessels. I'm puzzled, why do
Aids to Navigation vessels like the Juniper Class buoy tenders have
"provision for 25mm Bushmaster" chain gun? That's a lot of gun! I'd bet
every one of them is armed with the 25mm and then some, right now. I've
seen other buoy tenders, icebreakers and tugs with 12.7mm machine guns
and/or 7.62mm machine guns as well. Keep in mind these ships were
commissioned before the Department of Homeland Security in most cases.
The Coast Guard while having some military and law enforcement missions
was under the Department of Transportation. I look at a buoy and think
why would you need to shoot it?
I can see that those non-military and non-law enforcement
responsibilities returned to the DOT as civil service jobs at some
point, but would that mean these boats would have to become unarmed?
They don't let other civil service employees have weapons. Where does
that leave the Auxiliary? I wonder if it will end up becoming
militarized at some point. I hope not. It would be an easy step for
someone to take in Washington, kinda like a floating militia.
The job of the Coast Guard has become very complex. Perhaps there are
elements that should remain as military units and some that should be
pushed away from their military ties?

Capt Lou wrote:
When the Coast Guard was transfered into the Department of Homeland
Security,
so was the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Now all auxiliarists have to be
fingerprinted, and if they want to volunteer as crew or for other jobs,
they
have to pass a security background and criminal check. I know an
auxiliarist
friend of mine who had long hair and was told to cut it. Does anyone
feel that
the government is going a little overboard for civilian citizen
volunteers?
What about the auxiliarist who has been volunteering for the past 15 or
20
years? Is he or she a security threat? Maybe it is time to consider the
U.S.
Power Squadron and tell the USCGAUX enough is enough! I hear that 60% of
the
auxiliarists in my division will not submit to the fingerprinting.
That's a lot
of dues paying members dropping out!

"Listen to the live broadcast of 'Nautical Talk Radio' with Captain Lou
every
Sunday afternoon from 4 - 5 (Eastern Standard Time) on the web at
www.959watd.com or if you are in Boston or Cape Cod set your radio dial
to
95.9FM.