Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

7 Sherif boats and a big trailer. Must be some kind of boat inspections???

Mike,
Looks like the local Sherif's and CQ are doing their annual boat inspections at the ramp. They do it a lot over in Stockton, at Ladds.

They do this as a "courtesy" before you get on the water, because they just issue warnings and give you a green light pass to go. It's voluntary, but if you wait until you're on the water, then the inspections get longer, and the results are tickets.

if you're there, you should get inspected - its great because once you have their sticker, you get a much quicker pass when stopped on the water.

- either that, or somebody drowned on the water and their about to do a search and rescue - oops!

Kopper

I read in the Stockton Record today they are doing massive enforcement this weekend in San Joaquin, Solano, Sacto and CC counties. It's a joint effort with the USCG. Could be part of that.

The Coasties were sitting in Sandmound last Wed - well hidden behind the first northerly tulie island - Looking to catch more people blowing the 5/No-Wake zone.


Ran into BrothA Gumby near there and as we were playing Katsup with TM's down- They motored to us and I imagined they were going to board us for inspection. But they didin't and passed by us with a good wake ~~ in the No-Wake zone.


I forgot to put my fire-extinguisher back in the boat after I emptied it on Sunday (Suddenly remembered it when they were comming towards us ) - and I was not looking foreward to possibly being boarded.

hey mike , I think they were looking for a walrus

bahlzar wrote:hey mike , I think they were looking for a walrus

Good for a chuckle, but the really reason, is the state and fed's are hurting for money and are pulling all stops to get dollars.
The only problem with that is they will only waste and miss-manage thier budgets as they have and continue in the same old rut that got them into this mess (economy) in the first place. Very sad. Bill K

Make sure you have:
BC-1 or better fire entinguisher
PFD for every person on board
A Type IV throwable PFD (easily accessible)
3 day/night VDS (Visual Distress Signals)
Sound producing device
Navigation lights

And its good to have:
1 extra PFD
First Aid Kit
Rope to tow a distressed boater
Throw lines
Anchor with appropriate amount of line
Boat hook
Additional distress signals (smoke, flare guns, etc.)
Hand held VHF Marine raido

Even if you accidentally forgot something, having the extras shows you're a consciencous boater and not just some jerk that goes boating without regard for the state and federal laws.
Show that you know and abide by the laws, and more often that not, you'll get a bit of leniency when you do forget something.

Can you help me understand what is a 3 day distress signal? How do I get one? Thanks.

spotfin wrote:Can you help me understand what is a 3 day distress signal? How do I get one? Thanks.

I have this on my lifevest and a spare in my tacklebox.... That used to be in my hunting pack before I started fishing. They are not cheap - But I came across a couple some time back.

The strobe itself will almost blind you from 2AA batteries.



~~> http://www.rivermarinesupply.com/xcart/ ... 39953.html




BassManDan - Also mandatory is a single paddle --- What good it does on a 21' boat ~ I will never understand.

In case ya hit a mangroove and the CL's fall overboard.....

we bought with our tax dollars.

spotfin wrote:Can you help me understand what is a 3 day distress signal? How do I get one? Thanks.

I didn't know either ... so I looked it up on the Coast Guard site.

But after reading it, I'm still confused ... it SEEM to say that if during day use, you can use a 3x3 orange flag ... the Coast Guard site states:

Orange distress flag (Day use only):

• * Day signal only.
  * Must be at least 3 x 3 feet with a black square and ball on an orange background.
  * Must be marked with an indication that it meets Coast Guard requirements in 46 CFR 160.072.
  * Most distinctive when attached and waved on a paddle, boathook, or flown from a mast.
  * May also be incorporated as part of devices designed to attract attention in an emergency, such as balloons, kites, or floating streamers.

So, can someone confirm that the flag is sufficient to satisfy that requirement? Further, where does one get one of these flags??

http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/Revi ... info2f.htm

I read it as the flag is one of 3 required.
you need 3 signals in combination of day and night.


so 2 night signals and one day. or 1 night signal and 2 day.

some signals qualify for both day and night.



so if you have the flag you could pick up 2 night flares and then be good.

Is the CG requirement the same for inland waterways, like Castaic?
I've been stopped by the CG Auxiliary there, and passed, even though I just have the small orange flag that came with my boat, and no flares or lights, other than my running lights.
My flag looks like the one the skiers hold up when there's a skier in the water.

I looked at it...

http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fedreqs/equ_vds.htm

I'm not saying that VDS aren't a great idea, but doesn't this chart exclude the River, as soon as it narrows to less than two miles from "Open Water" as not requiring VDS? Pretty much all fishable freshwater. Don't get me wrong, the safer the better, but the chart looks like it says when it narrows, even it gets wider than two miles further inland, VDS not required.

Here is the Coast Guard press release concerning the event. Maybe one of the moderators should call the public affairs office on Coast Guard island and request to get on the distribution list for press releases.

www.uscgsanfrancisco.com/go/doc/823/278018/





As for CG Aux on Castaic, it is not, but the AUX is a group of volunteers that just want to keep everyone educated and safe. Great group of people.

Saw that going on saturday... Was heading back from disco to russo's to weigh in and there was one sheriff boat doing inspections, luckily preoccupied.

We had no idea we needed all the extras. Thanks for the list.

I bought a day visual distress flag from west marine in Antioch yesterday for about 6.00. It was on clearance and originally about 16.00. They have one left. This one is inflatable. Even if it isn't required for lakes, I think it is a good idea to have, if I ever need to hail for help.