NASBLA: Operation Dry Water

They were thick as thieves out on the Maumee last night. Flashing blue lights everywhere, phucking vultures.
 
I was watching another board out here in AZ, and alot guys were leaving it on the trailer this weekend because of this.
Not that they were gonna be drunk, but just the hassle of every boat being inspected, and the "fish-heads" searching until they could fine for something.
Alot of guys canceled hotels, kept there money that they would have been spending on snacks/beverages locally, and not to mention the three meals a day in the local area at restaurants.
Really, not that smart of a move in the big picture.
In no way am I condoning drunk boating, but if you make it a hassle to go sober boating...
But we live in a country that is quickly becoming a Police state.
 
Was out all day yesterday and they did not do anything the 2 times I passed the USCG Station in Michigan City Indiana. We went by at 10:30 am and 3:30 p.m with no added patrols.
 
I was watching another board out here in AZ, and alot guys were leaving it on the trailer this weekend because of this.
Not that they were gonna be drunk, but just the hassle of every boat being inspected, and the "fish-heads" searching until they could fine for something.
Alot of guys canceled hotels, kept there money that they would have been spending on snacks/beverages locally, and not to mention the three meals a day in the local area at restaurants.
Really, not that smart of a move in the big picture.
In no way am I condoning drunk boating, but if you make it a hassle to go sober boating...
But we live in a country that is quickly becoming a Police state.

we have a mayor that spent several million making a new city marina, while at the same time he went nuts on boaters..now he wonders why people dont go down town by boat anymore...
 
we have a mayor that spent several million making a new city marina, while at the same time he went nuts on boaters..now he wonders why people dont go down town by boat anymore...

Forget it. I will spend my boating money elsewhere, and I am waiting for a ticket for parking my boat in the yard. They had better be careful, because now that most of us Toledo taxpayers earn our living in a different city (Or, like you and I.... a different state) people will just move to where they work and stop coming back to Toledo for anything. The amount of law enforcement presence in the west end of Lake Erie on any weekend could do a heck of a job on land, where the real problems are. I think that they should wait foir probable cause, rather than stopping anybody they want for any reason and giving them a shakedown. I am glad that they are out, but they should have to witness stupid behavior, dangerous seamanship, or some other warning sign to stop and board a registered, domestic vessel in this "free" land.
 
Forget it. I will spend my boating money elsewhere, and I am waiting for a ticket for parking my boat in the yard. They had better be careful, because now that most of us Toledo taxpayers earn our living in a different city (Or, like you and I.... a different state) people will just move to where they work and stop coming back to Toledo for anything. The amount of law enforcement presence in the west end of Lake Erie on any weekend could do a heck of a job on land, where the real problems are. I think that they should wait foir probable cause, rather than stopping anybody they want for any reason and giving them a shakedown. I am glad that they are out, but they should have to witness stupid behavior, dangerous seamanship, or some other warning sign to stop and board a registered, domestic vessel in this "free" land.

I am of the opinion that once you are stopped and inspected, if you pass for all safety equipment, you should get a pair of stickers to display on your boat which give you a pass for the rest of the year if there is no probable cause.
 
I am of the opinion that once you are stopped and inspected, if you pass for all safety equipment, you should get a pair of stickers to display on your boat which give you a pass for the rest of the year if there is no probable cause.

Most of the time by me they give you a copy of the reciept that used to be yellow, you could flash that if they approached you and they would give ya a wave.

On another note you would not believe the amount of boaters who have no clue about the rules of the water! I met a guy at the beach yesterday that had no clue he was supposed to have a life jacket for everyone aboard the boat! WTF!!!!!!:ack2:
 
Most of the time by me they give you a copy of the reciept that used to be yellow, you could flash that if they approached you and they would give ya a wave.

On another note you would not believe the amount of boaters who have no clue about the rules of the water! I met a guy at the beach yesterday that had no clue he was supposed to have a life jacket for everyone aboard the boat! WTF!!!!!!:ack2:

I know what you mean.

But if there was a sticker/pass program. It would give them the opportunity to inspect all instead of the same ones over and over by different patrol boats...
 
I am of the opinion that once you are stopped and inspected, if you pass for all safety equipment, you should get a pair of stickers to display on your boat which give you a pass for the rest of the year if there is no probable cause.

Years ago, it seemed that they only wanted to make sure that people went out in a coast guard "ready" vessel... for everyone's protection. If they felt that you had done your homework, so to speak... they were satisfied.

Now... it seems that they target boats that may provide revenue.

I have been around cruiser boaters, and offshore boaters. I can tell you that the cruiser boaters, who feel quite safe in their floating living room are way more likely to be drinking and boating than offshore boaters. I have been on cruisers where the primary goal was keeping the skipper's drink topped off. I have seen fridges near the helm. I have never seen an offshore boat with a beer on deck while underway. I know that it happens, but compared to the rest of the skippers, I think that offshore boaters are much more concerned with the safety of their passengers and vessel. Things happen fast at 70mph+. And the folks that I have been around take that very seriously. Not casual and careless. Deadly serious and focused.
I was on a run yesterday, and I can tell you.... the "party" didn't start until boats were docked for the day.
 
Oh... and dam straight we were wearing jackets. Some the best that you can buy. None of the cruiser passengers that I saw were wearing pfds, including small children with the cruiser crowd on the dock before we left.
 
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