Local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary promotes safe boating
SANDPOINT — Did you know that a civilian arm of the U.S. Coast Guard is based in Sandpoint? USCG Auxiliary Flotilla Lake Pend Oreille (Flotilla 87) has your back serving Bonner and Boundary counties.
Flotilla Lake Pend Oreille is a group of volunteers responsible for promoting safe boating through direct contact with boaters on the water, on shore through voluntary boat inspections, and through public education and events. We also act as a force multiplier in support of Coast Guard-authorized missions.
Together with Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River, there are over 60 miles of recreational boating water within a portion of Flotilla 87’s service area. Priest Lake, also included in our geographical area, includes another 19 miles of recreational boating area bringing the total service waters to nearly 80 miles of waterway. On occasion, Flotilla 87 supports boating events on Lake Coeur d’Alene and portions of the Columbia River.
Flotilla 87 is under the supervision of the U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington. As a unit we serve Lake Pend Oreille, the Pend Oreille River, and Priest Lake. In addition to supporting the Coast Guard, Flotilla 87 also provides summer on-water support to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, Marine Division, by conducting on-water patrols to assist boaters when called upon.
Flotilla 87 offers free, no-consequence boat inspections to ensure that you are aware of what equipment is legally required to have on your boat for safe operation. If you pass the inspection you will be given a sticker to place on your side window to show law enforcement that you have passed a safety inspection. If the inspection reveals that you need to add items to your boat a follow-up inspection can be conducted to confirm that all required items are now on-board. Inspections are normally conducted at boat launches but with advance notice can also be done at your home or at a boat storage facility. Simply contact us and we will be happy to help you out.
Every year Flotilla 87 offers a Boating Skills & Seamanship (BS&S) course available to the public. This year, beginning in the Spring, the course will be provided with topics that include boat selection, equipment, trailering, boat handling, signage, “Rules of the Road”, inland boating, boating safety, navigation, lines & knots, weather and radios. The course is usually taught every Monday and Wednesday nights from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Class dates and cost will be announced in a future article.
In addition to the BS&S class, a course designed primarily for women by women, Confidence in Boating, will be offered as well. Because boats are usually operated by a man, the course’s goal is for women to feel more comfortable with handling a boat if they are put into a situation where they are "suddenly in command"! By the end of the day attendees will feel comfortable in knowing what to do if the boat captain should fall overboard or become incapacitated. Through discussion and hands-on training, women are encouraged to voice their concerns and help them build confidence by learning some basics of boating such as using the radio to call for help, stopping the boat, turning the vessel around, and bringing someone back into the boat if there is a "man overboard"! We also share information on boating concerns such as dealing with fear and improving communication with your boating partner. The date and time of the class will be included in a future article.
Anyone interested in learning the basics of boating, what equipment is required to have on a boat, or attending classes is encouraged to contact Brian Willcox at 208-946-3994, or bwillcoxx@gmail.com.
