Our military experience continues. Today, we were boarded by the U.S. Coast Guard! While traveling to Beufort, NC, our next stop, we were hailed on the radio by a Coast Guard boat. They asked if we'd ever been boarded, and Scott replied that we hadn't. So now, we were about to get a visit.
Before we left home, Scott tried to get a courtesy inspection from the Coast Guard. They inspect your boat to see if you meet their requirements, and then post a sticker in one of your windows.
We couldn't get anyone to come and do one, so we headed off without a sticker. As usual, Scott overstocked us on safety stuff. We'd read that you need to be prepared to be boarded, as it happens frequently along the Intracoastal trip. Scott had been complaining that we had barely seen a Coast Guard boat, much less come close to being boarded. Scott's trip is now complete!
They pulled alongside the boat, while we continued to travel at a slow pace. Two men came onboard and then their boat followed behind us while the inspection was going on. The two who were aboard began to check to see that we were meeting Coast Guard safety requirements. They checked for our fire extinguishers, to see if we have our trash and oil discharge plaques displayed(stating the federal regulations for disposal of these things), flares, sound producing device, and our onboard sewage system. They also asked to see all of our registration for the boat.
At no surprise to me, we passed just fine, and they told Scott that he was more than prepared.
They chatted with us a bit, while their boat came back alongside us to pick them up. I got permission to take some pictures of our Coast Guard visitors.
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