While I was down in the Keys this year, I was
out catching bait, me and my dad. I was catching bait, and all of a sudden I
looked up and I see the coast guard approaching. For those of you who are wondering what it
is like to be boarded by the coast guard, you're about to see. So we were just anchored up, catching some
bait, a little chumming, stuff like that, the coast guard came up. They said they were going to board us, check
our equipment, do their thing. So we're like coming on in guys. They were like "do yall guys have any weapons on
board?" I'm like yeah. Here's a quick tip, don't reach and grab the
gun. Tell them where it is at. It kind of goes for all law enforcement stops. Ok, no one wants you to pull out a gun and
stuff. Just tell them. So we told them hey it's in a bag in there. Put that right there. Stand in front of that And they start going through their typical
check stuff...procedure. Do you have your vessel registration and your
driver license? Do you want mine also? Nope, that's ok. Unless he's drinking beer and you're operating. Neither one of us drinks so that's not an
issue. Good deal. We just do routine safety boardings, just
check people's safety gear everyone is required to have life jackets, fire extinguishers,
whistles, flares on board. Okay. Especially with mini season coming up, we
also are going to check any fish holes or coolers we are going to make sure there are
no lobster. You are welcome to do it. There is a fish box here. The only thing in it is ice. Yall been busy with mini season, a lot of
boats? Oh yeah...every year. Alright so you said there was a fish hole
down here? Yes sir, right there. You can check the other 2, they are storage
containers. There is an anchor locker up front. It will zip down. It is an ice bag. What are some of the problems yall deal with
this time of year, especially mini season. Just people not paying attention. Running over other people? Not knowing...do your research, know what
you have to have on board. Know proper navigation skills, know where
you are at, know where you're going. If you aren't an avid boater, I wouldn't go
out past dark. Make sure you have flares, everyone has to
have life jackets and everything so that's what we are going to check right now. 2 life jackets? One type 4 throwable has to be on deck at all times. 1, 2 you're good. Do you have a little square one? Yeah, it's up front right there. Yeah, just keep this out on deck, whether
you sit on it or just wrap it around something first. I need to see one B1 fire extinguisher or
two. There's one on either side. They are right up under the gunnel. There's one on the other side. I got one under the bow too if he needs one. Do you have a whistle? Yeah. There is one under the seat isn't there? Yeah. As long as there is one on the boat. So have you worked any boating accidents in
the last few days? Any accidents? Every now and then we'll get overturned vessels. Probably right now, mini season is coming
and we have a lot of people not from here, Not familiar with the area. Not always looking at the chart plotter. Not knowing how to run a boat? Basically, each vessel size, so from 16 to
26 feet there is a certain requirement you have to have 1 fire extinguisher, 26 or more
to 40 feet, you have to have a certain required number of fire extinguishers. Once you get to that 26 threshold, you start needing
oil placard. We're going to check everything and make sure. If not, it's something we give a warning for. Alright you are good to go. So basically we are going to finish up your
paperwork and all it is saying is that we did a boarding. If there was a violation, I'd circle which one,
I'd note it. Basically, it's not me handing you a fine necessarily
like a speeding ticket, it would say notice of violation, if you don't correct it, it's
going to get sent through a processing system and a hearing officer will take a look at it. But you guys had no violations so no problems. Alright, this is pretty much just a receipt
saying we did a recreational boarding. Your boat's information, owner operating system. Where we did it. What we checked. X just means I checked it, circle would have meant something was wrong circle with no violations. There is information for station Marathon
that's our phone number... If you have any question call that number,
ask for any boarding officer. Everything is good to go, appreciate your
guys' cooperation. Oh any time. Be safe while you are down here and if you
see anything crazy happening or people doing things they're not supposed to, just give us a
call over 16 or via landline. Thank you guys, appreciate it. Take care . Have a good day. Good luck you guys. Alrighty you be careful. You made an A+. All in all, it was a very good experience, they
were friendly. My dad tells them a little about our show,
kind of funny. He's like guys you guys seen our show? Tune in, it's going to be on YouTube. So if you guys are watching, this one is for
you.