Coast Guard treated me great.

[Survivor]

I was motoring on the Columbia River about 40 miles down from Portland Oregon, near Kalama, WA. My motor quit with a 4 knor current running and no wind or I would have been sailing.

Thank goodness I was just outside the shipping channel. So I get on the VHF, channel 16 and call for assistance from someone to give me a tow. Coast Guard comes back and says they will assist. Doesn't happen often because we are between Portland and Astoria, Oregon. Usually we have to call Vessel Assist.

Just so happens that a number of military ships from several nations come to Portland for the Rose Festival. I couldn't believe that in 10 minutes a large cutter was bearing down on me. It turns out a fleet of Coasties were escorting all these military ships back out to sea. How lucky was I? They threw a 1.5" line around my mast and back to the cutter and in a short time I was almost surfing and back to my marina.

These guys and gals were absolutely great. I see so many negative stories about them, I just wanted to say something positive. We owe them a a great deal of gratitude. This was probably the easiest rescue they've ever made.

Harris

[tager]

I have mixed feelings about them. They are obviously there to help, but I do not feel like I am treated "innocent until proven guilty" by them. They tend to want to climb on and look around, write tickets, and be macho with their big guns. It is asinine behavior.

[JT1019]

Can you tell us what you said when you got on the radio looking for help? I only ask because more often than not it's how you ask and what you ask for that makes all the difference. Details about the conversation would be great.

Glad to hear the boys from New London are serving well.

[nolatom]

Well, I don't have mixed feelings about them. I used to be one, even if only at a desk as a reservist.

No one's perfect. The Coast Guard is the smallest of the military services, yet the one who has the most day-to-day contact with the public. They give more responsibility to their mid-level Petty Officers than any other of the uniformed services, and usually that trust is well-founded.

So when a Boatswain's Mate Third, or Second, is on the front line in dealing with the public, I'm naturally inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt if it was a judgement call.

Newly-assigned Port Security duties notwithstanding, I still think these men and women try to deal with the general maritime public in a straightforward and fair manner. If they occasionally get it wrong, I personally am inclined to cut them some slack. They're trying to do the right thing.

[WanderingStar]

Amen

[smackdaddy]

The Coasties rock. I don't care how you cut it. They can search my boat all day long and I'll call them "sir" while they do it. Because if (some might say when) I call them...they'll come. That's good enough for me.

[CharlieCobra]

exactly

[oceangirl]

Amen smackdaddy!
I was searched by the coastguard in the gulf of mexico. While they searched my boat bow to stern they shuttled out 10 gal of diesel and even a complimentary loaf of bread hot out of the oven! There were 5 of them on my little 26 footer and were very polite. It is a very dangerous job they do and I am thankful for them.
Erika

[painkiller]

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

Because if (some might say when) I call them...they'll come.

Heh heh. That one got a chuckle out of me.

[chef2sail]

They are #1 in my book. I will take them over state marine police anyday