I LEARNED ABOUT BOATING FROM THIS...

The US Coast Guard cracks down on unlicensed boat owners taking people out for-hire.

+ Why it’s a really bad idea to run an illegal charter

Iget dozens of emails from the US Coast Guard per week, perhaps the most common of which details the stopping of illegal charter boats. Whether it’s a 46-footer in Miami, a 25-footer out of Wisconsin, a 31-footer off Cape Cod, or a 20-footer in Seattle, these are boats being operated illegally by their owners. The reason? There’s money to be made. That has always been a lure for reprobate boaters. Add in today’s cheap and prevalent social media marketing, and it’s easy for untrained, unscrupulous owners to attract and risk the lives of unsuspecting customers. The US Coast Guard and other agencies such as marine police are cracking down on these criminals.

Owners and operators of illegal passenger vessels can face civil penalties of $60,000 or more for an illegal for-hire passenger operation. Charters that violate a Captain of the Port Order can face fines of more than $95,000. Potential civil penalties for illegally operating a passenger vessel include:

• Up to $7,846 for failure of operators to be enrolled in a chemical testing program.

• Up to $4,888 for failure to provide a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection for vessels carrying more than six passengers for-hire.

• Up to $16,687 for failure to produce a valid Certificate of Documentation for vessels over 5 gross tons.

• Up to $12,219 for failure to have been issued a valid Stability Letter prior to placing a vessel in service with more than six passengers for-hire.

• Up to $95,881 for every day of failure to comply with a Captain of the Port Order.

Illegal charters come in several forms. The trip can be illegal if there is no credentialed mariner (licensed captain) aboard. The captain may also hold the wrong credential for the area, the type of boat, or the number of passengers aboard. Additionally, charter operations must adhere to strict rules about drug testing, safety equipment and, depending upon the boat, vessel inspection requirements. Licensed crew are also trained in first aid and CPR, and must renew those certifications regularly, not to mention the obvious that a credentialed mariner has proven many hundreds of hours on the water.

If you’re looking to hire a boat or a captain, ask to see their credentials and make sure they haven’t expired. And if you are a boat owner but not a credentialed mariner, don’t even think about booking illegal charters.

I get dozens of emails from the US Coast Guard per week, perhaps the most common of which details the stopping of illegal charter boats.

[This page is normally written by you, our readers. But sometimes we “rip stories from the headlines.” Cue the doink doink from Law & Order. —Ed.]