USCG AUX Boat Safety
At the beginning of this season, Admiral Hull, the Commanding Officer for the 9th US Coast Guard District, asked all Coast Guard units on the Great Lakes to find ways to reach out and include all aspects of the boating public in our Boat Safety and Public Relations Outreach programs, including the human paddle powered boating community. In response to this request, Flotilla 0205 of the Marine Safety Office of Chicago, came up with a concept for a safety canoe on Chicago's river systems.
Knowing the safety and equipment requirements expected by the US Coast Guard for any Special Purpose Coast Guard Facility, the flotilla went about designing and constructing a canoe that would meet such requirements. Taking a 17 foot Grumman aluminum canoe as the base vessel, the canoe was outfitted with out riggers for stability, a secured deck to bring any in water victims on board, a light bar and emergency equipment rack as well as a motor mount. The flotilla then arranged for the vessel to have USCG sea trials on at Station Cal Harbor where the vessel was required, through live demonstration to conduct an in water body recover, tow another vessel, navigate in rough seas, navigate with a towed vessel in rough seas, and operate at night. The vessel passed its tests with flying colors and was then certified as an Operational Facility of the Coast Guard, with operational facility number 171286.
The safety canoe has been used on safety patrols in the Chicago area for the Chicago River Clean up, an escort vessel for Friends of the Chicago River canoe tours, a public relations tool for Paddling in the Park, and a safety support vessel for the Great Chicago Canoe Classic canoe race.
Cordially,
William E. Stillman