Homeland Security Boats

[Catigale]

Does seem foolish to bark a warning at every vessel that has to pass you in a channel which makes it close to the regs doesnt it??

Of course, the COLREG 100/500 yard rules s apply to Navy, not CG vessels, although Im willing to bet you have a local notice about approaching those CG vessels

[Mark Prouty]

Me and Condy decided to strap ponies on the back in case we wanted to go wakeboarding

Ya,

And Condy helps refuel them too.

[DLT]

I've seen our tax dollars spent in much worse ways than 'two boats to pull over a mac' or even 'two cruisers to pull over a driver'...


These guys/gals are out there working and they never know what they will come across. Yeah, most stops (both traffic and marine) are routine. But they never know when it won't be routine... Besides, if the second cruiser or boat isn't tied up elsewhere, why not?


hull, back in my Army days, we always tried to get a 3-1 advantage on the bad guys...


Personally, I'd rather hear 100 stories of them bringing too much equipment to bear than was 'required', than 1 story of a Cop or Coastie getting ambushed...

[Frank C]

... Besides, if the second cruiser or boat isn't tied up elsewhere, why not?

PreCisely !! When assets are already afield, I say USE 'em

[BK]

Terrorists don't sail.
I was watching one of those meet the press shows and they brought up what terrorists have in common. Other than a passing interest in soccer, they were not interested in sports. They need a lot of free time to read the propaganda to become a terrorist. That's why they go after students.
Maybe we should spend more time teaching kids how to sail.

[k9piper]

Terriosts dont sail,
You are almost correct they power boat remember the USS Cole?
Terrorists will use what ever it takes to create the hull they want to put on the people.
This war has been going on for years and it is now being taken onto the streets, our neighborhoods and our homes.
Don't take it with a grain aof salt. Keep a watchful eye and understand where you are at all times. Don't be afraid but use caution and stand with eyes open. Do not fail to report what you see as different , what you do not understand or what you think someone should check out. Doing that will make everyone safer.
When you sail and are out and about enjoying your pastime, help to protect what you all love to do. If you see it, if you think it seems funny or should not be as it may report it and have it checked out...that is what Homeland Security is trained for , paid for and is employed for.

K9piper

[Casey]

I have been employed by the government for several years. I have noticed that government agencies love to spend money allocated in their budget; they most certainly do not wish to turn money back in to their central agency. I have also noticed that they will do what they are supposed to do. If congress increases money to enforcement of laws, that part of government will enforce laws. A lot of laws are out of date. However, if enough money is made available, old laws such as spitting on sidewalks will be enforced.

To tie this into a sailing issue, I am not sure that a whole lot of money spent in homeland security is going to make me safer sailing on the water. I do know that if I am hassled frequently while sailing, I will tend to sail less. Just as I used to love flying, I will no longer fly within a 15 hour radius. I will drive simply because I do not wish to submit myself to being patted and frisked and all of the homeland security functions which appear to be very inefficient. And yes, we are in a war but no one really thinks we are in a war or acts as if we are in a war.

In summary, police people tend to fill out the paper work after the fact for the people that have insurance. If people do not police themselves, the cost of having people police them will eventually be a loss of their freedom.

Sorry for the diatribe but I am up late.

[John Skardzius]

Last weekend we were on a cruise with Rich and Lori (Halcyon M26X) that took us to Niagra on the lake. The Niagra's width is measured in yards, not miles and is split in half by the border. There is a lot of traffic there...literally hundreds of boats and no large fence, bouy system, sign, laser beam or other way of marking which country you are in. We saw one small coat guard vessel patrolling the US side and nothing visible on the Canadian side. There are several marinas on the US side and a few on the Canadian side. The border clearing process on the Canadian side is to pick up the phone and let customs know that you've landed. I'm sure that the US side is similar. This process has worked for many years and is representative of the good relations that have endured between our two countries (since a little after 1812!)

It is fun to imagine what is was like back then with a fort on each side of the river 3/4 of a mile apart and keeping watch for the "hostiles" on the other side. A certain Monty Python skit came to mind....It is saddening to realize that there is a potential for the barrier to be raised once again should the "war on terror" escalate.

[Jack O'Brien]

Catigale wrote:

"As a result of Oakland's curb policy, airport pickups have discovered an informal parking area adjacent to United's maint. hanger, about a mile distant from arrivals. My Mate must wait there until I phone that I'm standing ready at the curb, and then she can swoop-in for my curb pickup ..."

At Palm Beach International Airport there is a designated area, a half mile from the terminal, marked with direction arrow signs, for cars to park while awaiting a cell phone call from someone ready to be picked up at the "Arrivals" curbside.

[Tony D-26X_SusieQ]

let's jsut hope that they have some type of serious firepower hidden somewhere, or what can the do...ram some potential terrorrist boat?

It would be like park rangers not being allowed to carry firearms....CRAZY...just CRAZY...

Rich

That mount on the bow is for a 60MM machine gun. They can get your attention if they have to. By the way don't ever forget that these are the same men and women who will go out in any conditions and put their lives on the line to pull your fat out of the fire when you need it. God bless them.

[Catigale]

John

The INS has about an expensive camera looking up the Niagara river at Youngstown watching the river all the time.

If you sail from Toronto across the lake and approach any of the harbors on the Niagara frontier, there is a radar installation which will track you all the way and you will be greeted when you land.

All recent additions.

Once you throw enough money to create an agency, it takes on a life of its own to justify its own expenditures and existence and grow them. There are no checks to dis-assemble said agency or review its actions to see if they make sense. Thus we strip search 80 pound grandmothers for box cuttters because they bought a one way ticket to snowbird in Florida.

[DLT]

That mount on the bow is for a 60MM machine gun.

WOW!

Ok, I seriously doubt 60mm... I've fired 40mm grenade lauchers, both M203 and M19 variations, but I've never even seen a 60mm machine gun...

I have seen 60mm mortars. But, I can't imagine them being fired at an automatic rate...

hull, isn't the A-10's monster cannon only a 30mm?

[John Skardzius]

John

The INS has about an expensive camera looking up the Niagara river at Youngstown watching the river all the time.

If you sail from Toronto across the lake and approach any of the harbors on the Niagara frontier, there is a radar installation which will track you all the way and you will be greeted when you land.

All recent additions.

Once you throw enough money to create an agency, it takes on a life of its own to justify its own expenditures and existence and grow them. There are no checks to dis-assemble said agency or review its actions to see if they make sense. Thus we strip search 80 pound grandmothers for box cuttters because they bought a one way ticket to snowbird in Florida.

Well, that is a bit better...non intrusive, but gets the job done! thanks for the info...I kept kidding Rich that I was going to nudge them over the line to see what would happen...I could hear it now..."but Officer, I was NOT trying to get accross the border...this is a Mac, it has a high freeboard and its not a really powerboat so it doesn't handle the current here so well...we wander off all the time! Honest! " "Sure, son, now come along with me...boats are boats (imagine the sound of a rubber glove being snapped on....)

[Catigale]

I dont know the regs on your side, John, but we cross the line all the time - as long as we dont land physically in Canada we dont have to report back in to INS on our side.

They got a lot tougher last month - you can purchase a pass but you have to get fingerprinted to get this - some of us have problems with this as a liberty issue

The alternative is to use the videophone to check in, which is easy as long as it is working.

If it is not working, you have to drive to the nearest border crossing point (Lewiston Queenston Bridge) and check in like a car. PITA.

[Frank C]

That mount on the bow is for a 60MM machine gun.

WOW! Ok, I seriously doubt 60mm... I've fired 40mm grenade lauchers, both M203 and M19 variations, but I've never even seen a 60mm machine gun...

He probably meant caliber, not mm ???

CHAPTER 2.5. DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES

12301. (a) The term "destructive device," as used in this chapter, shall include any of the following weapons:
(1) Any projectile containing any explosive or incendiary material or any other chemical substance, including, but not limited to, that which is commonly known as tracer or incendiary ammunition, except tracer ammunition manufactured for use in shotguns.
(2) Any bomb, grenade, explosive missile, or similar device or any launching device therefor.
(3) Any weapon of a caliber greater than 0.60 caliber which fires fixed ammunition ...