Coast Guard Detains Uncooperative Boater After Chase On SF Bay

[Mimsy]

Actually, it now sounds like schizoaffective disorder which is really one of the saddest diagnosis' you could possibly have. I hope he gets the help he so obviously needs.

[bill352]

Originally Posted by psneeld

As an aside...for the first time in 50 years of boating have I been boarded by the USCG...even in very high areas of USCG operations.

They came aboard my vessel while underway before I even knew it. I felt a bump and the next thing I knew was there was 2 persons walking down my side deck towards the door.

I thought someone else would ask this before now, and I've just got to know - how did someone get aboard your vessel underway without your being aware of it? I am not being accusatory or judgmental, and I know from your profile and previous posts that you are an accomplished seaman, which makes it even more curious. What happened?

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by bill352

Couldn't agree more. I have a cousin retired from the CG, they have helped me out more than once, and I still have fond memories of the day we had to divert to Elizabeth City and were met with hospitality above and beyond the call.

But - they are effectively a military organization doing police work. Red flag.

They have so much power that their officers have to discuss the proper amount of restraint to be used. What happens when those officers are replaced by others less restrained?

What happens when the chain of command above them changes? They are military. They will follow orders.

I am posting this because my previous post about "the innocent have nothing to fear" was maybe a little snarky, although I do feel that anything sounding like that should be challenged on the spot.

But mostly I am posting to say, once again, that while we do indeed need law enforcement, and we need to delegate power to accomplish it, that power has to be kept on a very short leash.

Today, Lassie - tomorrow, Cujo. Don't let your guard down.

Honor, integrity and tradition....

While it exists elsewhere...never like I have seen in the service.

There were some officers that I would have smeared with bacon fat and let the dogs eat them..but the vast majority put almost all of my civilian friends and acquaintances to shame with those virtues.

We had to depend on each other for our lives..most civilians I can't trust to pick up the right lunch for me.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by bill352

I thought someone else would ask this before now, and I've just got to know - how did someone get aboard your vessel underway without your being aware of it? I am not being accusatory or judgmental, and I know from your profile and previous posts that you are an accomplished seaman, which makes it even more curious. What happened?

Cruising along...driving from inside steering due to outside temps...FM radio on but not loud....in a narrow part of the ICW where concentration is ahead and on next turn, shoaling sides...not behind.

I questioned why no siren or vhf radio call....they said they had the siren on...I say OK but it was turned way down.

Slight bump and it felt like every other time I passed a small feeder creek and there's a slight jolt to the keel.

It's really no problem...I've been through training to get aboard your vessel and have you cuffed before you can blink...not that hard but those weren't the circumstances...just a calamity of little issues.

It was a nice day and we were just droning along after already droning along for 400+ miles without the slightest interruption or issue.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by nimblemotors

being crazy is not illegal, but it is not looking good for Mr. McCormick.

Has he been vanishing his wooden boat without adequate ventilation?

Being crazy in itself is not illegal...but it's often what you do that defines you as crazy that is illegal....

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by psneeld

There are a lot greater thing to fear in this country other than the USCG.

Yes apparently a " raging Democrat"

[SaltyMonkey]

Forget all that news stuff. Tell me the good stuff.

When is the Coast Guard gonna sell off his boat cheap, and where, so I can be there?

[captain58sailin]

Much has been made in this forum about the cost of SAR, it costs just as much if not more to deal with this individual as it does for a real distress. Actually the USCG may well have protected the local folks from someone who is in serious need of help.

[ryon]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

Much has been made in this forum about the cost of SAR, it costs just as much if not more to deal with this individual as it does for a real distress. Actually the USCG may well have protected the local folks from someone who is in serious need of help.

They probably saved his life by getting there ahead of S.W.A.T.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by captain58sailin

Much has been made in this forum about the cost of SAR, it costs just as much if not more to deal with this individual as it does for a real distress. Actually the USCG may well have protected the local folks from someone who is in serious need of help.

..Yup...Carrying a shotgun is always a bad sign for public safety. The best thing for the tax-payer would be not to prosecute but deport without option of re-entry. Let his country of origin have him back.

[bill352]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Cruising along...driving from inside steering due to outside temps...FM radio on but not loud....in a narrow part of the ICW where concentration is ahead and on next turn, shoaling sides...not behind.

Thanks for the story. I can see how that could happen.

I have to question the judgment of the boarding team, though. I hear there are people (no one on this forum, obviously) who would come out of the wheelhouse with guns blazing in that situation.

And possibly one guy on SF Bay.

[MarkSF]

If you look at the amount of teak on that boat, it's quite clear to me that he had been driven crazy by varnish fumes. I'm getting that way myself.

[Khagan1227]

The more we hear on this story, the better it gets.

[Sea Frog]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

When is the Coast Guard gonna sell off his boat cheap, and where, so I can be there?

Yes, that's the good question!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Will be interesting to see if the USA reciprocates past hospitality for sailors with free Healthcare.....

.....or they criminalise the problem person.