Prove need for Coast Guard's safety checks

I have been boating on one body of water or another for 65 years. For the past 40 years I have boated on the St. Lawrence River. I own property and live on Calumet Island, located in the Thousand Islands area of the St. Lawrence River, in the summer months and through the fall. I am an experienced boater.

Somewhere around the middle of September I departed Calumet Island at about 8 a.m., heading for my mainland dock deep in French Bay. There was only one other boat visible to me on the St. Lawrence River. That boat was a Coast Guard semi-inflatable patrol boat. With blinking light on they intercepted me. Aboard were three armed men, two in full combat gear holding weapons, plus a female officer in the aft part of the boat, also armed. It was a twin-engine outboard. They requested to board my 26-foot, 45-year-old Lyman Islander.

After a thorough inspection of my boat including looking in the engine compartment, the Coast Guardsman found that I met all the safety requirements.

I would like to see statistics and data which demonstrate that such safety checks actually improve safety. As a longtime, lifelong boater on various parts of water around the world and having witnessed several events of boating accidents, I cannot think of one instance where a safety check could have prevented same. It must be that the Coast Guard on the St. Lawrence River has a quota to fill or it gives them some kind of good marks to have "one more safety check." What a mess.

That day just happened to be Clayton Day for our Canadian boater friends. Each year there is a voluntary day that is quite informal. Our boating friends from Kingston and Gananoque, Ont., come to Clayton to eat in our restaurants and shop in our stores. The word went out. The Coast Guard was doing safety checks in front of the Clayton docks. Instead of Clayton getting 25 to 30 Canadian boats, they got exactly two.

The serious question of course is why doesn't the Coast Guard limit itself and protect us, guard our coasts and stop hassling our residents? A safety check is a hassle. No matter how polite the Coast Guard may be they are still armed uniformed officers boarding our boat. It's a hassle and should stop. Don't they have something better to do?

John V. Rawson Jr..

Rocky Hill, N.J.