Interesting Experience With The Coast Guard Aux. This Week (North Port: appointed, for sale)

[mktobob]

Without going into great detail about my experience with the local CG Aux. here in North Port this week, I can tell you that I am very disappointed with the volunteer who checked out my boat while it was parked in our harbor.
My past experiences have been great, but this guy chewed me up one side and down the other because of the way the registration numbers were applied to the bow by the previous owner. There was not a space between the letters and numbers. I know that's the law but this guy made a federal offense out of it to the point that the four of us didn't even feel like taking the boat out for our maiden voyage. The two ladies with us actually felt threatened by his aggressiveness. I welcome the inspection, but the attitude I can do without.
Please tell me this is an isolated incident and not the norm. If this is some new way of doing business for a great organization, my boat will be for sale next week.
Your experiences?

[froglipz]

A little power and authority goes to some peoples heads! We had one once crash into the side of my brother-in-laws 1 week old boat scratching it up pretty good. And not as much as a sorry....

[beninfl]

THAT is what would make you sell a boat? I can think of a hundred reasons why I sold mine.

They say the happiest days are when you buy and when you sell the boat. It's a load of garbage. The happiness level on the day you sell far exceeds the day you bought it.

[Headacher]

You wrote that your past experiences (with the coast guard, right?) have been great. So why let one powers-gone-to-the-head jerk ruin boating for you?

We all encounter persons like this now and then. Try to consider that these types are either having a bad day or that they actually have a mental problem. Just nod along in agreement as they rant and know in your brain that you're better than they are.

Did you get the guy even more upset by saying that all previous inspectors didn't say anything about the numbers not being spaced?

[mktobob]

I didn't have to say anything to get him going. The first thing out of his mouth was " and that's going to be a $150 fine". He was pointing to the registration numbers. The quieter I was the more wound up he got. Good thing he didn't have a badge and a Dick Tracey ring communicator. I would have been in big trouble then.

[photoman_6]

gotta report him. as***les not allowed

[mktobob]

Thanks for the advice. Isolated incident.

[03bluecoupe]

Originally Posted by photoman_6

gotta report him. as***les not allowed

I'm with photoman - te a-hole needs reported.

He was within his rights to write you up though if a space between the letters and numbers is required. That's kind of like me not running a front license plate on my Vette in NYS because it looks like chit. I know it's illegal and if I chose to run without it (which I don't) and got a ticket, it'd be on me but I wouldn't take a gestapo style officers aggression. He/she'd be reported in a heartbeat.