Fun With The Coasties
 

running in 4+ footers in lake mich. today i notice ahead a jet ski getting his jolies doing spins and jumps. first i was going to go to his right and then he does a reversal and i have a choice, either cut it hard and hit the waves sideways, yikes, or go to his left , between him and the pierhead. i did the latter, plenty of room by the way, the next thing i know i got the coasties chasing me down barking orders to shut the motors down NOW! get boarded, he is telling me i'm operating the boat in a negligent manner? he has got to be kidding, i have got more years in a boat than he has on this earth, including 5 in the Saber. he insist on doing a complete inspection even though i had that pleasure up north last month and had papers to show it. long story short after 15 minutes bobing up and down and making my passengers seasick, he gives me a "warning" cause its my birthday. dont they have more important things to do? or do they like stare at my wife as i have noticed?

Hey, are you the guy that lives on Baldwin Ave??? Friends with Bill Gibson??

How close to the pier did you get?? Coasties were probably bored. I got pulled over last year and they actually told me that because I was about the only boat on Lake Mac at the time, they pulled me over. "Oh and by the way Mr. Ozinga, Nice boat. Can we see the motor??" Gear head coxswain just wanted to see the motor. They were acutally really cool about the whole thing. Issued no motors, never boarded me. Just wanted to see life jackets and fire extinguisher.

yep thats me, i was no closer to the pierhead than any other boat usually is, maybe150 feet. tired of them for sure.

Ya it sucks and I used to be pissed about it. I used to get pulled over EVERY time I left the harbor. You start to see the same guys over and over for the "rutine" inspections. WELL I do not complain any more as they did save my but when my friends boat was going down at the races. They spared NO expense to make sure we were ok. They did do some stupid things but all in all they got us back to the harbor ok. :D:D You never know when you may need them.

Jon

thats fine when they help you but when they do things like this they are just wasting valuable time and equipment. i have noticed offshore boats get more than their share of inspections. bottom line is i do not need to be hassled by them 3 times in 2 month's. two times i was at complete idle. two years ago i picked up friends on shore. they had a young one with them and as they got on the boat i handed them a life jacket for her, as mom was putting it on i pulled away from the dock. who was right there? i get a ticket because she needed the jacket on before she got on board. this is splitting hairs in my opinion.and certainly not worthy of a $50 fine.