What we do:
Operations--
During the boating season, we operate between miles 365 and 426 on the Upper Mississippi River (from Keokuk, Iowa to Keithsburg, Illinois) conducting Safety Patrols, Regatta Patrols, and Aids to Navigation Patrols.
Our facilities:
George Peek prepares his boat (and our newest facility)--Grendel--for
patrol. With 115 h.p. on the transom, she is nearly 3 times
more powerful than Jubilee!
Important note: Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel have NO law enforcement authority of any kind. We WILL NOT board your boat or give out "tickets." When we are on a safety patrol, we are there for just that--SAFETY! We will render any assistance we can to boaters with problems or questions. We will conduct a vessel safety check for you at your request. When you see us out on the water, think of us as your friends, especially in time of need!
Public Education--
The Coast Guard Auxiliary safe boating course is designed to acquaint recreational boaters and operators of personal water craft (PWC) with technique, rules and the legal requirements that will be helpful for safe and pleasurable boating. The course is generally offered by our flotilla in the Spring. Please e-mail our Public Education officer Kurt Ayres for future course dates.
Interesting fact: Flotilla 87 held a special Safe Boating and Seamanship class for the Burlington Police Department's newly- formed Water Patrol Division with twelve officers participating.
Vessel Safety Checks--
Vessel Safety Checks are voluntary examinations of recreational boats which evaluate compliance with both federal and state boating regulations. You can pass a VSC, but you cannot fail it!; any discrepancies are pointed out to the boat's owner, and once the condition has been remedied, the boat is re-examined and passed! Again, we do not hand out "tickets" and are not involved in law enforcement (see the "important note" in the Operations section above). The purpose of the checks (as it is for all of our programs and activities) is to help promote safe boating by safe boaters.
Program visitation--
We visit marine dealers in our area to provide free boating safety information for them to share with their customers, and to make ourselves aware of issues of concern to local boaters. Keeping in touch with Marine dealers is a great way to keep in touch with the boating public!
Promotion of recreational boating safety--
The "Fall Festival" Parade, Bushnell, Illinois, August 26, 2004:
Meetings--putting it all together--
Flotilla 87 meets monthly to conduct business, receive training, coordinate our efforts, and enjoy fellowship. Due to members' schedules, the date can vary. If you would like to come and be our guest at the next meeting, please send an e-mail, or call 309-255-3046, to receive date, time and location.
Upper Echelons:
While the Flotilla is the basic unit of organization in the Auxiliary, there are also Division, District and National levels which coordinate our efforts.
The National level
District 8 Western Rivers
Division 8
