Elizabeth City sits at the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal and has the well-earned reputation of being a transient-friendly town with free dockage for 72 hours.
https://visitelizabethcity.com/
https://mailchi.mp/db63c7af2480/your-weekend-lineup-stars-sweets-fall-treats?e=96d535c547
The Coast Guard just made a U-turn, lit up the blue lights and called you on the radio. Here is exactly what happens next.
Capt. Chris Caldwell walks through a Coast Guard boarding step by step, from the first hail to the receipt in your hand.
In this episode of the Southern Boating podcast, training captain and Southern Boating & Yachting contributor Capt. Chris Caldwell breaks down what to expect when the U.S. Coast Guard asks to board your boat.
He covers how the boarding crew approaches, the questions they ask about passengers and firearms, why they open the engine room and lazarette first, and the paperwork and placards they expect to see, including the Navigation Rules handbook for boats 12 meters (39.4 feet) and longer.
He also explains the most common violation he sees (expired flares), why life jackets must carry U.S. Coast Guard approval, what to say and what not to say, and how a simple pre-departure checklist keeps a boarding short and friendly.
00:00 Intro
00:22 Where the Coast Guard can board you
00:55 The wave, the U-turn and the blue lights
01:53 Head count and firearms questions
02:48 Engine room, lazarette and the safety inspection
03:26 The Navigation Rules handbook (39.4 feet and up)
04:06 Pollution placards and the waste plan
04:46 Your documentation number
05:35 The boarding report and the “gold sheet”
06:18 Why they pick your boat
07:18 Big events and holiday weekends
08:10 Is there anything they cannot do?
08:23 The federal requirements booklet
08:54 Life jackets: USCG approval matters
09:43 Dewatering devices
10:20 The most common violation: expired flares
11:06 What to say and what not to say
11:30 A friendly boarding in Charleston Harbor
12:13 Your pre-departure checklist
12:52 Capt. Chris’s background
13:33 “Owning the boat”
13:55 Ask Captain Chris on YouTube
#SouthernBoating #CoastGuard #BoatingSafety #USCG #BoatLife –
— Today’s Presenter: Lori Capullo
More about Captain Chris Caldwell: https://www.captainchrisyachtservices…
Ask Captain Chris YouTube: 
/ captainchrisyachtser
FREE Newsletter *** https://southernboating.com/social/
Elizabeth City sits at the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal and has the well-earned reputation of being a transient-friendly town with free dockage for 72 hours.
https://visitelizabethcity.com/
https://mailchi.mp/1d1a53af3ca3/pumpkins-stars-a-little-spooky-fun-4334578?e=f94c759194
Elizabeth City sits at the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal and has the well-earned reputation of being a transient-friendly town with free dockage for 72 hours.
https://visitelizabethcity.com/
https://mailchi.mp/836724efb260/a-little-chill-a-lot-of-charm?e=96d535c547
Elizabeth City sits at the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal and has the well-earned reputation of being a transient-friendly town with free dockage for 72 hours.
https://visitelizabethcity.com/
https://mailchi.mp/6fec3b0724ad/your-weekend-plans-ghosts-vikings-a-little-magic?e=96d535c547
Elizabeth City sits at the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal and has the well-earned reputation of being a transient-friendly town with free dockage for 72 hours.
https://visitelizabethcity.com/
https://mailchi.mp/9c70d8d84b9a/viking-pride-ghost-stories-fall-finds?e=96d535c547
https://coastalreview.org/2026/10/paying-attention-can-indeed-pay-dividends-when-fishing//
Thanks for sharing this CoastalReview piece. The title sums up something that applies to fishing along the coast more than any gear choice: the water usually tells you what is happening if you watch it. Diving terns and pelicans, nervous bait on the surface, or a slick on an otherwise rippled area are all signs that fish are pushing bait, and noticing them a few minutes earlier than everyone else often makes the difference between a good day and an empty cooler.
For cruisers who fish from the boat while traveling the ICW, tide and current are probably the most useful things to keep an eye on. Moving water around creek mouths, inlet edges and oyster bars tends to concentrate bait, and the last couple of hours of a falling tide can be especially productive. Keeping a simple log of tide stage, water temperature and where fish were found makes those patterns much easier to repeat on the next trip through.
One thing worth adding is that paying attention also means watching the weather, especially with a storm forming in the Gulf right now. Fall fishing can be excellent ahead of a front, but conditions change quickly in open sounds and near inlets. It is worth checking forecasts and having a clear plan for when to head back before the wind builds.
Atlantic Yacht Basin, A LONG-TIME CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is located just south of the Great Bridge lock and bridge at Mile Marker 12 in Great Bridge, VA. If you have wood damage or need a few modifications with the interior or exterior of your boat, Atlantic Yacht Basin has the team to fix it right.
I have used them many times for both repairs and short-term storage during my ICW trips. AYB has a great location and can perform any repairs you may require.
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Elizabeth City sits at the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal and has the well-earned reputation of being a transient-friendly town with free dockage for 72 hours.
https://visitelizabethcity.com/
Elizabeth City sits at the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal and has the well-earned reputation of being a transient-friendly town with free dockage for 72 hours.
https://visitelizabethcity.com/
Elizabeth City sits at the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal and has the well-earned reputation of being a transient-friendly town with free dockage for 72 hours.
https://visitelizabethcity.com/
Atlantic Yacht Basin, A LONG-TIME CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is located just south of the Great Bridge lock and bridge at Mile Marker 12 in Great Bridge, VA. If you have wood damage or need a few modifications with the interior or exterior of your boat, Atlantic Yacht Basin has the team to fix it right.
I have used them many times for both repairs and short-term storage during my ICW trips. AYB has a great location and can perform any repairs you may require.
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Elizabeth City sits at the southern terminus of the Dismal Swamp Canal and has the well-earned reputation of being a transient-friendly town with free dockage for 72 hours.
https://visitelizabethcity.com/
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