I fought the law

This July my Hobie Cat 21 SE needed some work that required the boat to be loaded up on the trailer. My boat is stored on a floating dock in Lake Norman. My son and I rigged the boat to motor the 2 miles to the public landing He drove the boat I drove the car and trailer. The 3HP Merc cranked right up and he motored up the cove. Then I realized he did not have a life jacket. No big He is the Captain of his High School Swim Team and the boat after all is a Hobie. When I arrived at the landing and backed the trailer into the water I was met by the State Wildlife Officer. Is that your boat out there and is that your son operating it he asked . He had me there why yes it is. The officer started in his best Barney Fife voice
What we have here is five seperate serious violations Class II misdomenators
1. No NC sticker I had bought one and was going to put it on when the boat got on the trailer
2. The last letter in my boat numbers was supposed to be a Y the boat had a V
3. No throwable life vest the officer said was necessary for boats over 16'
4. No life jacket I gave him the story about the swim team captain to no good
5. No fire extinguisher and a 10 minute lecture about boat fires

"What we have here is five seperate serious violations Class II misdomenators
1. No NC sticker I had bought one and was going to put it on when the boat got on the trailer
2. The last letter in my boat numbers was supposed to be a Y the boat had a V
3. No throwable life vest the officer said was necessary for boats over 16'
4. No life jacket I gave him the story about the swim team captain to no good
5. No fire extinguisher and a 10 minute lecture about boat fires"

Had to laugh at the last one..

The other 4. good luck fighting (Not sure about in NC, but in California those are not misdemenors, but infractions).
You can prob. go to court and get out of #1 (As the vessel was registered, I would have just said I haven't recieved the stickers yet..), #2 might be thrown out with #1 just say you bought the wrong decal by mistake (Though that will be up to the judge). #3, Picky bastard he was.. Technically you are supposed to also carry a sound producing device able to be heard over x distance (Usually my crew.), and flares (Never have them on board.) #4). Can't see any way out of that one.. Should have had one on board, and how well you or anyone else can swim is no excuse. Nobody can swim well when they are unconceous.

Did he end up citing you for all 5? Thats the important question..

Sorry for your bad luck Gary...how did the court appearance turn out?
Many years ago I had a run in with a Conservation Officer too.
My buddies girlfriend,Nancy and I went sailing in my little sunfish.The wind was good in the morning and we had a great time.We beached the boat and took a long lunch break and had some rum drinks.After lunch the wind just died out so we decided to paddle out and go skinny dipping(her idea,why argue?).I lefted the life jackets on shore next to my loud radio.
I did not see or hear the C.O. pull along side of my sunfish...He asked me where our life jackets were and I pointed to shore maybe 100 feet away.If we lefted the boat on the beach there would not have been a problem...
He cited me for operating a watercraft without significant number of life perservers onboard and watched us paddle back to shore...
Today,I keep my deck bag prepacked with:
1.At least one extra life jacket
2.A type lV buoyant cushion
3.A rescue throw rope in floating orange bag
4.My "Blue Tube" with misc. tools inside(this is a welding rod holder that is water tight and floats)
5.Marine whistles attacted to each life vest and extras in small deck pouch with eye glass straps
6.One waterproof hand held VHF radio fully charged
7.A medical kit in a pelican case( my mom gave me years ago,thanks mom)
I realize this sound like a lot but I just clip it down to my tramp each time I go out...

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Bill 404 21SE