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From: Bob Richards (no email)
Date: Thu Feb 26 2004 - 16:05:47 EST
Hi All:
We are new to both cruising and living aboard; having purchased our boat
2 years ago in the PNW, and have been living aboard her as our primary
home for a little over a year and a half now.
We began our journey from Anacortes Washington to NYC with a Coast Guard
encounter.
Thirty miles off Cape Flattery, at 2AM, after about 14 hours of running,
I did my engine-check, and found oil in the bilge, and the main perkins
"making oil". I had to shut down the engine as the oil pressure was
dropping. Turned out a bad injector was causing raw deisel to pump into
the lubrication system; but that's another story of Nea Bay and La Push.
Weather was foul, seas were about 6-8 feet, and what started out as a
most pleasant cruise instantly turned into a VERY uncomfortable
situation.
So, I called the Coast Guard. Was asked a multitude of questions, how
many souls on board (3 humans and a cat), sea state, condition of
vessel, position, etc etc etc..... We were told to standby on 22A, and
we would hear back from them within half an hour.
Sure enough, 20 minutes later we were called, and were told that a
cutter was dispatched, and would arrive at our position within an hour.
During that very uncomfortable hour, we were called every 15 minutes,
and asked if our situation had changed, and for our new position.
The cutter called us, saying they were "here" but could not see us, so I
lit off all our deck lights and a flare, and saw this wonderful orange
big boat (a 43 footer I think) bobbing as we were. The waves had grown
to the point where we could only see each other when one of us was on a
crest.
So they told us to send 2 crew forward, and they would shoot us a line,
which we were to haul aboard and pull a bridle and heavire line to our
boat, we were instructed how to attach this bridle through the port and
starboard Hause Pipes, and re-fasten the steel attaching mechnism with
it's bolt.
They stood by fairly close, as we struggled with the operation, on a
tossing, wind/rain-swept foredeck. They had spots on us, and I could see
that they were prepared to jump in after us if a misshap were to occure
(we told them we had never done this before).
When all was attached, we were towed to Nea Bay, almost 2 hours away,
and very carefully and gently put at a fishing dock, and tied up. The
Dock was so full of bird-turd, that one of the Coastie crew fell on her
butt, and almost went into the cold water!
We were then officially "boarded", papers and ID's checked, safety
equipment looked at. Nothing else! They gave us a yellow paper, to be
showed to any other Coast Guard boarding party we might encounter. and
was told that we probably would not be boarded again.
They gave us a phone number for the general store, told us we could
arrange help from the locals in the morning. In short they were very
helpfull, very polite and professional. The female crew joked about how
the male crew were all barfing, and how the women were "dealing with
it". They were cheery and chatty, and most pleasant.
They brought us to safety, and did it for free!
This was our first and only direct run in with the Coast Guard.
Much later on in our journey, in the Gulf of Mexico, off the Texas
Coast, we heard an emmergency weather broadcast about a violent thunder
storm with "excessivly lethal lightning" heading off shore. The
broadcast was hillarious! People aboard vessels should go below and not
touch any metal objects! How does one accomplish this while steering a
boat with a brass wheel??? Kelly and I laughed, but our laughter didn't
last long!
I checked on our charts, and it was heading directly for us; but a bit
to the north. So, being the chicken I am, I turned to the south, and
made the best speed I could trying to get out of it's way. It didn't
work, within 30 minutes of hearing the broadcast we were in the midst of
a very violent storm with winds so high it was hard to keep the bow into
the waves (the wx broadcast claimed 80+ kt winds), and it tore a flag
literally to shreds. Lightning bolts striking all around, with no
apparant delay between the flash and the crash, blinding at times! My
fear was that we would get into serious trouble, and would loose our
radios. So; I pre-emptivly called the Coast Guard. After the usual
questions we were told that the situation at their station was exactly
the same as what we were in, and our course-change to the south was
"probably" the right thing to do, as the storm was moving to the east
and north.
I gave them my position, course, and speed, and they told us they would
call us every 15 minutes to make sure we were OK. Like clock work, for
the next 2 hours, we were called every 15 minutes, gave our position,
course/speed and a report on our local weather. Finally, the storm was
far enough out over the Gulf where I felt it was time to turn around and
resume our original course, did so, and told the Coast Guard we didn't
think we needed the "watch" any longer.... OK said they, we will call
you one last time in 30 minutes... "Safe trip".
It felt VERY good knowing that someone was keeping tabs on us that night
(why do these things always happen at night?) and had we not responded
due to a direct lightning strike, the Coast Guard would know where we
were, and that we were in trouble!
Our next encounter, brief as it was, happened on the ICW in Lousiana. A
tug/Tow refused to talk to us, and at a 2 whistle head-on meeting
suddenly turned toward us without warning and got VERY close to us in a
narrow channel. So close, that the barge's "suction" began pulling us
toward it. I was able to turn quickly and position our boat at right
angles to the tow, and with full reverse managed to avoid a collision.
What I did not know was that a Coast Guard SRV had wittnesed the entire
incident; as we cleared the barges stern there they were, all suited up,
and ready to go in after us if we had wrecked.
Upon seeing we had avoided a disaster, they sped up and got the Tug
Captain's attantion, then they boarded the tug! Hope they fined the bumb
real good!
Our next encounter with the Coast Guard was in Florida. We had anchored
out in an isolated cove for the night, got up early had breakfast, and
got under way. The enterance to this cove was now partially blocked by 2
Coast guard reaserch vessels. I could not get past them without getting
closer than the new rules allowed, so I approached slowly, and while
still a safe distance called them as asked if I could pass and exit this
cove.
They were very polite, asked if I saw the diver-down flags, yes I said..
did I also see the orange bouy? Yup, OK pass well clear of the Bouy. OK,
so I did as instructed. When I was exactly half way between both boats,
and fairly close, my engine reved up to over 2300rpm, and at the same
time I slowed. DAMN! said I!. It felt like I had lost my prop.
I started drifting toward one of the Coast Guard boats. I was sure they
were going to shoot us down! I called them and advised them I had lost
propulsion, and was dropping anchor, was that OK?? "Good Idea Captain"
was their response. Down went the hook... I dove into the engine room to
see what had happened, and found 6 sheered bolts on the shaft flange.
Advised the coasties of our situation, and they said they could send
someone over to help If I wanted. "If you need anything just call" "
That's terrible, sorry to hear of your problem" I was amazed! We instead
called Sea Tow who arrived quickly, and towed us to a yard for repairs.
No hostil action, no boarding, just concern and offers of help!
Our next encounter with the Coast Guard was at Hampton Rhodes. A VERY
large navy supply ship was entering the channel as we were leaving and
heading out to sea. The Naval ship was surrounded by these fast
inflatables, with heavily armed coasties. We were asked to maintain
course and speed, and were then "escorted" past the ship. One Coast
guard boat between us and the ship, and one behind us. Weapons at the
ready, and really mean-faced stares. We waved and smiled at "our
friends" but they just kept their guns on us until we were well past the
Naval ship, they then broke off and re-joined the dozen or so other
coast guard boats buzzing around the supply ship; no boarding, just a
scary encounter.
We are now tied up to a dock in New York, the Coast Guard makes their
weekly patrol up past us and around Mill Basin. They come by and break
up the Ice, stop at one of the docks and go into the office for coffee,
never a word, never a boarding, never a hassle! One night they arrived
at the Marina in the dead of night, flood lights everywhere, and hailer
blaring "party requesting assistance please make yourself known"...
seems they were at the wrong marina, and quickly found the right one.
All I can say from my very limited experience over the past year or so,
having travled quite a distance, and having encountered the Coast Guard
on many occasions; is that I am very glad they are around! They have
shown themselves to be competent, professional, helpfull, and concerned.
What more could you ask of any military service??
> On Thu, 2004-02-26 at 12:48, nathan moser wrote:
> if you want to stop the destructive searches,
I have read of such horror stories, where a person's boat was literally
dismantled in a search. How often does this happen? Is it done
maliciously? Or because there is no other way to inspect the boat?
There is NO part of our boat which can not be gotten to easily by
lifting a hatch, or opening a hinged door. One could easilly inspect
every inch of the hull, and interior without having to break anything.
There are no "voids" which are inaccessable. If a "destructive" search
were done to our boat it would have to be done for malicious reasons,
not out of need. Does this mean we are pretty safe from this behavior??
I would hate to lose my good feelings towards a service I have gotten to
like and respect.
I must confess, if such a destruction of our home were to occur by the
Coast Guard, I would very quickly become their dire enemy! Let's hope
that NEVER happens.
Regards
Bob
--
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Bob, Kelly & Tania (the cat)
M/V Tamara B Cape Elisebeth Me.
http://www.tamara-b.org
currently at N40.36.48 W73.55.09
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