Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Had a visit from the coast guard on the river this weekend. Normally they don't have the machine gun mounted. They picked on a boat that was on the beach and ordered them into the boat. As soon as it was floating they boarded it and pulled everything out of it during their search. Whole thing took about an hour. They let them go.

I have never seen them order a boat off the beach before.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

:eek: :eek: :eek: wow

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

thats some bull crap if iv ever seen. I cant wait to give my coastie buddy a pic of that.

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Maybe the dude banged one of their girlfriends...

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I had that happen about 10 years ago. Almost got arrested I was so pissed. They wanted everything out of the cabin so I started throwing the life jackets at the punk kid standing on their boat. JO's

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Nah, that cap'n got promoted under the don't ask don't tell dealy...he just liked that dudes muffler :evilb:

Them boyz are just to full of das homeland deFENCE. Thank Allah someone had the sense to Barney Fife those phucktards and only give them one bullet. :bunny:

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Lets not toss all the coasties in one group. I used to hate getting pulled over by them and still do. However, I have a totally different view about it since I needed them one day to save me in my buddies sinking boat!!! :eek: :eek: They backed me up with the cops came to arrest me for threatening the environmental guy who refused to tow me in. :eek: This situation does sound messed up but there HAS to be more to the story then that. If you are drinking on the beach or even at anchor and are totally plowed then they can not do a damn thing. So even if they were drunk as chit this would have gotten tossed out I am guessing. My thought is that some one said that there was something on the boat that was illegal, maybe a pissed off girl friend?

Jon

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Wobble, we've seen the same boat (with mounted MG) in Clear Lake several times. Pretty dang intimidating!

Been pulled over a couple of times, never had any problems. Just make sure your chit is in order... :D

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Coast Guard: Guys who couldn't get into the navy.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Got nothing against the Coast Guard at all. Just thought this was very unusual.

They waited about 20 minutes then called the driver out to them and told him to get his boat in the water.

It was threatening to rain. Normally 15-20 boats pulled up at this spot. Only 3-4 at this time.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

For what reason??

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Only part I know was that they wanted to inspect the boat, as overheard by someone. Have no idea what happened after that. Might see this guy next weekend and find out the rest.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

they dont need a reason

maritime law :rolleyes:

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Sooo, they were on the beach right? what if they refused to move the boat? "Sorry, got a leak, wont float, engine broken".

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You guy's are kinda tough on our military.There could be more to it than meets the eye.Ya know,two sides to every story.Also,it's harder to get into the CG than the Navy.And ,no, I wasen't in either.My .02. Semper FI BOB

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

I have to jump in here and defend the CG.

There must have been more to it.

I see them all the time. Guns and no guns.
There is a CG station in the same basin as one of the yacht clubs that I belong to. They are always friendly and professional.

They have saved many more people that they will ever inspect.
They probably saved a dozen lives this week in the US.
I support the CG. I do not subscribe to the belief that they are people who couldn't get in the Navy. During the first gulf war, my cousin spent the war on a CG fast attack intercepting boats in the persian gulf and rounding up Iraqis. Put the tie wraps on the enemy's hands. That ain't a wuss job.

Maybe it is because I do my boating in serious waters with international ship traffic that I support and salute the Coasties!!

Thanks for keeping me and my waters safe Coast Guard!! :drink:

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

No reason in my case fund. They just picked out a nice boat and pounced.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

I'm sure that there a power trippers in every business.
Sounds like you had a bad experience.
I wasn't dismissing your case Bill, but I felt the need to defend them, since they defend me all day.

I'm sure that if you felt that your rights were stepped on, they were.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

I had a situation outside the golden gate were I was chasing another similar boat to ours, the coasties came after me maybe because I was the slowest, wanted to know what the rush was, boarded, inspected, had us turn over all cushions cushons, lift up storaged areas and very politely help put all the cushions and articles back in the before locations And helped put our boat back in order. They gave us a signed inspection notice to flash anytime any coast guard wanted to board that was good for 12 months.
Personally, i believe these guys have a tough job and I salute them, I am sure some(cg) can get outta control but I want to beleive that that is the exception not the rule. I guess that I was lucky they did not find a reason to detain me anymore. I later found out that the bar rest stop (sailboat bar) prior to the incident, someone made a comment that 'those guys must be running dr#g$ ' and made a joke about it that traveled through the cafe sundeck and some jealous wind fairy decided pass on the rumor to a couple local coasties that were getting there vessel ready to do their rounds . I have since installed mufflers, maintained a lower profile (at the snail bar) and carried visine eye drops :eek: .
I have never had any problems since except for a friendly wave in all the bay location that I frequent.
my .02

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

I am not trying to slam the CG in any way. I worked offshore for 7 years worldwide (oilfield) and always felt safer when I was in US waters.

The point of this post is that it seems that being on the beach is not the necessarily safe spot I have assumed it to be. I do keep all my equipment in good order.

The driver of this boat obviously wasn't planning on leaving whilst the CG were there. He had been on the beach for at least 5 hours.

I will try and get the rest of the story next W/E

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Jim,

I know from our e-mails last year that you are running a 509 like mine. Have the CG given you any greif about the modified motor? Or is it stock appearing.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Originally posted by Capo71

"I was bored so I joined the Coast Guard. I leave for training July 10th. I doubt they will let me login to keep up with my posts. But I"LL BE BACK "

Hmm!! Anyone else see a connection here?? :drink: :drink:

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Mark,

Not trying to screw with you.... you have been very cool to me, and I remember you trying to help me with a problem recently. So please don't take this the wrong way...

But I am really curious what you mean "safe spot?"

Safe for what?

Safe from boarding?

Or did you mean private, like privacy?
I can understand people wanting to have some privacy... especially adults and all that....

But aside from the temporary inconvenience, I don't see why law abiding US citizens would have anything but love for the coasties. The chance of them hurting me is pretty low compared to the chance of them saving my life.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Fund, I can see both points of view here, and both are valid. I dont think anyone can argue the fact that the CG is there to help us. Without them ,we would be screwed in open water emergency. They put their own lives at risk, to save ours.
I do understand Marks point as well. Perhaps "safe" isn't the best choice of words when speaking of the CG, but me personally, if I were on the beach, minding my own business, I would also be somewhat disgruntled to be ordered to launch my boat,, just to have my boat stripped, while feeling totally embarrased in front of friends, family, etc. with that machine gun sitting there. I am sure there were plenty of other boats already under way they could have "routinely searched". Who knows, maybe they had a reason to pick on that boat, but if not, it does seem a bit cowboyish. If I had my kids with me, and that had happened, they would have been pretty scared.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Fund,

rich allen pretty much said what I meant

"Perhaps "safe" isn't the best choice of words when speaking of the CG, but me personally, if I were on the beach, minding my own business, I would also be somewhat disgruntled to be ordered to launch my boat,, just to have my boat stripped, while feeling totally embarrassed in front of friends, family, etc. with that machine gun sitting there."

I am a law abiding citizen, mostly :D I do what most boaters do when they are pulled up on a beach. When I am ready to leave I make sure everything is picked up, life jackets on the kids and off we go. If they choose to stop me at that point, that is fine with me. Have been stopped many times for safety checks by various authorities and understand and RESPECT their duty.

As I mentioned before, I have absolutely no problem with the CG, law enforcement, our military and totally support them.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Thanks both of you for posting.

I totally understand and agree that the situation described by Rich would be unpleasant to say the least.

I just wanted to know where you were coming from.

Thanks for understanding that I wasn't trying to flame you. After my post in defense of the CG I was worried that you would think I was being defensive. If we were in person it would have just been a conversation.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Fund,

I thought about the likely repercussions from starting this thread before I did. I enjoy most aspects of forums, especially when people dig into other peoples motives :evilb:

I hope I have made myself clear. I understand where you are coming from, I have read many of your posts and was not surprised to see you chime in.

Regards,

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Most people stop reading my posts after the first couple. :D

Anyway... thanks again for knowing that I wasn't trying to mess with you. Sometimes my directness is taken as agressiveness.

I hope that there are no "repercussions" from your post.

It's an interesting subject and the pics are cool.

Have a good one.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

I see my job here is done.. :D Off I go, Up,Up, and Away!!! :drink:

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

LOL, bye Mary P

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

were is banana bend?

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

They can inspect me anytime.

I have nothing to hide.

And I know they'll show up if I'm in sh!t, it's a comforting tought.

Any Coasties here keep up the good work.

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Banana Bend is a river front neighborhood on the San Jacinto river about 4 miles north of I-10 on the east side of Houston, easy acces to Galveston Bay, Clear Lake etc. About 6 miles south of Lake Houston dam.

Map http://maps.google.com/maps?q=100+Gr...0.291584&hl=en

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

can you run power boats their safetly? not talking about the coasties

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

I dont understand why they would even make him pull out...His boat was floating...They can pull right up & check anyone they want ?.............Coasties dont bother me a bit..Lot of respect for those guys !!!!!...It;s the idiot local yokels that irk me.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Very popular destination for Clear lake boaters. I would advise you get someone with local knowlege for the run from I-10 past Riverside inn to Rio Villa as the channel markers are a bit deceptive. The River varies from 12-30' deep. Have seen some very large boats (60-70') up as far as Old Highway 90.

Local knowledge also required for anything North of Old hwy 90(loves marina) You can go as far as the Lake Houston Dam.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

I don't know about you guys but, most of the time I get chit from the State Police, not the coast guard.

Coasties usually just want to check out the boat and crew..... Learned that from a friend who was in the Coast Guard for 4 years.

Worse than the State Police are the local police when they're out. They have no knowlege of the rules of the water and try to call you on something that is BS....

In the end, I wave to them all the time, they wave back, I don't do anything stupid and never have any problems.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

Same here. I grew up across from coast guard station annapolis. Shared the creek with them my entire life with no real issues. I've been pulled over by Department of Natural Resources police for "spot checks" 3 times in the last 2 years (all within 100 yards of my dock) where i live now.

I'm glad to see them checking to make sure people aren't drunk, but when i'm 100 yards from my dock I don't want to spend a half hour with some guy who wants to see the expiration date on my flares.

IMO, once they see you aren't doing anything wrong, they should say "thank you for your time and have a nice day" and let you get on with your weekend.

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

It's harder to get into the CG then the Navy, and boot camp is 100% tougher

Re: Coasties loaded for Bear!
 

It was me I took their beer :D