Coast Gaurd to increase checks and boardings this season

[Waterfoul]

After talking with several LEO's and Coast Gaurdsmen over the last several weeks, they are going to be cracking down on infractions this season.

That being said...if you boat on any of the great lakes or it's connecting waters (Muskegon, White, St. Clair, Dt. River, etc....) check the date on your flares (you do have flares, right??), check your fire extinguisher, PFD's and a throwable, and do you have a noise making device (an air horn or a whistle counts)??  Any of these items can get you a ticket and sent back to the ramp.  You must have them!!

It's also a good idea to have a VHF radio on board (you can get one for $99).  Your cell phone is pretty useless for calling for help, and if it gets wet it's no help at all, and you can't triangulate on a cell phone call.

Just a friendly spring reminder.  I just got done teaching the Safe Boating Class in my store and thought I'd bring this up.

Mike

[River Rat]

Excellent post, Mike! All of these things are very important and too many ppl take safety for granted...

Scott

I believe a compass is on the list, too, is it not, f you don't have GPS?  I may be wrong, not the first time.

[Redbone]

I didn't realize I needed flares to fish muskegon. Good tips!

[Team houston]

As Dan always says you will get into big trouble with flares in Canada.

[Team houston]

I mean the ones that fire like a pistol

[Waterfoul]

Yup, no 12 gauge flares in canadien waters.  Just keep the hand helds on board.

Compass is not required.... but why not?  You can get one for under $20. My boat has one.

[Eric]

I was hoping to run into them at one of the ramps this week at LSC to get my boat inspected and get my sticker, but never saw them.  I heard they were at Selfridge real heavy Saturday, but we all launched at Harley.  Oh Well.

[EKennedy]

I got checked two weekends ago now before launching at Blosson Heath.  Better to stop and get checked before you get boarded on the water.  I passed the safety check and got a sticker.  That sticker does not constituite a free pass on the water though.  If you mess around and the CG boards your vessel...they could still find all sorts of things to issue a citation for.  The Power Squadron / Auxillary guy who checked me over (who was very cordial and helpful) said basically you do NOT want to be boarded on the water...they can be very picky out there.

Safe boating all!

[Cy]

Here is the Handbook of Boating Laws Site

http://boat-ed.com/mi/handbook/index.htm

Here is a page about distress signals.

http://boat-ed.com/mi/handbook/distressdevices.htm

[mikesmiph]

Jeri and I were checked by the Coast Guard last year on St Clair. They were all very nice, and easy to get along with. They never asked about flares (I didnt have any). They mentioned the fact that I didnt have my throwable PFD out in the open, but didnt cite me for it. They also mentioned that Jeri's inflatable PFD only counted if she was wearing it (she wasnt). I never got any kind of sticker, but I did get a statement that I had passed inspection. Maybe its just like any other law enforcement department, it depends who you run across.

[djkimmel]

The various officers usually mention the thing about having your throwable out in the open, but who does in a bass boat. One officer out there (sheriff maybe) said as long as you can get to it within 3 seconds... can't remember if that is the actual regulation. Maybe readily available is the regulation. Probably does depend on the mood of the person you get. I try to be polite.

I have been getting mixed signals from Canadian authorities on the shotgun flares. I'm still avoiding them, but I had 2 different officers tell me they are not illegal in Ontario. I do have a few of the hand held rocket star type flares which I believe are actually mentioned on the Ontario boating site.

And yes, inflatables do not count as a flotation device unless you are wearing them. I've been using them a lot more lately. If you don't have them on, you need to have another type in the boat too.

Here is the Canadian safety requirements for most of our boats: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-equipment-size-greater6m-424.htm

Links here for other boats: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-equipment-size-menu-690.htm

Online Canada Safe Boating Guide: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/tp-tp511-menu-487.htm or Download a PDF copy here: http://www.tc.gc.ca/publications/EN/TP511/PDF%5CHR/TP511E.pdf

I'm going to stick with the flares they specifically mention to keep it simple.

[Waterfoul]

We will be having Vessel Safety Checks at my store on June 18 (I know... it's a ways out but it's the only open date we had).  Free.  Probably have some snacks and refreshements that day too....

[fasttrack]

Mike, offer those at our tournaments. Then the store can cover our tournament costs! (nice try)

[Skulley]

I personally have never been checked by the coast guard except in areas that were under Homeland Security.  They checked for everything except flares which I do have in the boat and just yesterday bought new ones because the ones I had were expired.  I have mostly been checked by county marine officers of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties.  A couple of guys I work with also work as Marine Officers in Macomb County.  I always ask them about new ordinances that might come into play.  This year there is nothing new except for that they are going to making more checks even if you have a sticker.  They were always very polite and were only doing random safety checks.  In June as it gets close to Jobby Nooner, more county officers will be checking boats randomly before you even get to launch.  I have seen officers not even let people launch because they did not have the proper safety equipment.  The four items they check for mostly are PFD's, fire extinguishers, throw-able lifesaving devices, and a noise maker be it an air horn or whistle.  If you have those and can show the officer them, you should have no problem.  Good luck and be safe.


BD                           

[dartag]

I looked at my flares when I got home saturday.  they expired last year.  probably won't be going back to stclair this year anyway.   

[Roy Randolph]

How to dispose of expired flares?

Just wondering if anyone knows where and who might take expired flares I have a bunch.

I thought my local fire department might but they said no thanks

I have more than a dozen all hand held poppers due to Canadian regs with some that have expired over 6 years ago

[Eric]

Just burn them.  Good practice to make sure you know how to use them in an emergency, and they are disposed of.

[tigar]

I got checked on the west side of the state last year after pulling the boat out of the water. I didnt have my life jackets and throwable out and available and he wanted me to strap them to the pedestal seat??? Dan said that his guy wanted them availabe within 3 seconds, it would take much more time to undo them than get them from where they were stowed. He was a nice guy and very informative but I think it really matters who you get, how you act and up to many versions of interpreting the rules!

[djkimmel]

Strapping them to the pedestal seat sounds like a young officer who has never been in a fishing boat? To me, that would be a multiple safety hazard. I have actually seen a few people do that, but I'm talking maybe 5-6 small fishing boats in 30+ years of boating.

You should always have your life jackets out and available when you are boating though. You should wear them and a kill switch (if you have one) EVERY time you run the boat no matter what. A simple safety measure that will also keep law officers a little happier.

I never want to be someone who finds a drowning victim who didn't have a life jacket on. That has to be upsetting no matter who you are.