do certain boats get boarded more than others?

msilva4 · 03-09-2010, 06:41 PM

I've been boating for many years , never been boarded (been boarded on a couple of charters) my new boat(used) is a YELLOW FIN 32 with a bright yellow hull draws attention to it I'm wondering if I'll be more likely to be checked even with the safety inspection sticker on the boat

basically my question is are boats such as YF , Intrepid,Fountain,Venture , SeeVea etc---- more likely to get checked kind of like the guy on the highway thats driving the same speed as everyone else but gets pulled over because he's driving the sports car

msilva4 · 03-09-2010, 06:44 PM

Sorry , meant to post on the main forum

parrott · 03-09-2010, 07:33 PM

.

ezlimitz4 · 03-09-2010, 09:23 PM

in San Diego boats with 10 brown guys w/backpacks get boarded a lot.

captmark 30 · 03-10-2010, 03:54 AM

used to get boarded more when I had my 25' boat maybe easier for them to handle, but Fish n Game have never boarded me, talked to them on occasion but never boarded

ruuster · 03-10-2010, 06:06 AM

before my kids got old enough to go everytime i hit the water i got stopped more, now not hardly ever

shemstreet · 03-10-2010, 10:19 AM

More likely a question of when and where you are. If you boat early and late in the season, your odds of getting boarded go up, since the patrols are out there anyway and get bored just cruising around they'll stop the occassional boat just to break up the day.

dukey · 03-10-2010, 11:23 AM

all black go fast boats running to the u.s. at night with no lights probably stand a pretty high risk

tango tomas · 03-10-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukey

all black go fast boats running to the u.s. at night with no lights probably stand a pretty high risk

You mean they are profiling. Oh, please tell me it is not so!!! LOL

1K1MOA · 03-10-2010, 08:29 PM

I have swordfished at night about 30 miles straight south in the lower florida keys on a 43' Torres numerous nights over the years. It is a boat you could easily put 30 or so Cubans or Haitians in. It seems the majority of the times we go out we have a visit from the officials. We have been buzzed by jets and helicopters before dark as we are setting up. Having a jet circle you 200 feet over the water is quite a site. What is really a hoot is them "sneaking" up on us with their lights off. You see this boat approaching fast on the radar but cannot see them out there. You just hope they are government, I would hate to think their intent if they were not. They hit their lights about 400 yards out as they come in rest of the way. We normally are asked where we were, what we were doing, how many people on board, where we came from, and where we are going. Only once did they actually pull along side to board, but when the saw all these 40 something guys bloody and sweaty from fishing, rods hanging everywhere and a swordfish on the floor, they decided not to. We have never been approached while fishing, always when running back in towards Summerland Key which is normally between midnight and 4AM. I think it is quite simple - just respect their authority, be polite as possible, let them know you appreciate their diligence, and answer their questions directly. If you treat them with respect they have always returned it to us.