It’s not an "all than you can be" quest; it’s more like an "all you must be". Telecommunications Specialists are the primary radio link between a boater in distress and the Coast Guard. How they handle that initial radio call for help can make the difference between in a life-threatening situation.

Coulson, 23, is a native of Coos Bay Oregon. His grandfather incidentally was a coastie during WWII. After his four-year hitch with the Coast Guard he plans on attending Southern Illinois University, majoring in botany. If he handles his major as well as he does the Group radio room, I expect him on the dean’s list. He also plans on staying in the Coast Guard Reserve, earning weekend drill pay as a radioman to help finance his education. It touches this old Chief’s heart to see squared away lads like this and he’s not alone. His cohorts at the Group rescue coordination center strive to bring excellence to the enormous responsibility of being the ears of Lake Michigan. I recently spent a Sunday afternoon with Coulson and the Group duty officer, Quartermaster Second Class, Ian Bauer, 28, a career coastie, to see if there was a Boat Smart story to be told. Indeed there was. My only regret- I didn’t tap this Boat Smart source sooner.

I asked Coulson if he had one wish that would enable boaters to facilitate his job and their safety. He said: "I wish all boaters carried a GPS."

Global Position Systems would allow Group radio operators to pinpoint a boater’s position. With very affordable prices for hand-held GPS units now available, Coulson’s dream may soon come to pass. Until then, however, he must often deal with a boater’s own estimated position. Believe me, this can be frustrating even for seasoned Coast Guard coxswains familiar with their waters. Coulson advises boaters to use charted landmarks as references when reporting their position.

When you consider he’s responsible for radio coverage over an area that extends from Michigan City Indiana to the North Manitous, and half way across Lake Michigan, you can readily understand the enormous brain jam created by learning good-old-boy landmarks. Heck, I run the Muskegon area and local landmark jive escapes me, and I’ve served there four years with over 1,000 hours underway in Muskegon waters. Then also consider the average tour of duty of a Group radioman is only two years. So if the Group radio guys don’t understand your ‘homey’ tongue please refer to a local chart for a translation- it could save your life.

Coulson and his partner, Ian, standup and applaud Michigan boaters for switching from Channel 16 to Channel 09 as their hailing frequency. Before the switch, Coulson would often end his 12-hour watch with a splitting headache. When he first reported aboard he said, that listening to the chatter over Channel 16 sounded like playground racket. After a while, he adjusted and cut through the clamor but still feared missing a Mayday. Since boaters cleared up Channel 16, he’s absolutely confident that Maydays will get through. His headaches by the way have all but disappeared.

Sadly, however, too many of those Maydays are hoaxes. On this issue he and Ian, grit their teeth. This year alone, Group Grand Haven has processed 43 hoax cases, expended 350 resource hours, and spent $53,570 in search cost. The latter figure is peanuts compared to the morale cost. Imagine dedicating yourself to a noble cause as these fine young people do only to have it toyed with; not to mention the exhaustion these calls place on boatcrews. It makes me grit my teeth.

On the other hand, some people make calls to the Coast Guard that are not hoaxes but instead are confusing. Often these calls are made by what Ian and Evan good-naturedly call ‘Condo Commanders". They report offshore sightings from their shoreline dwellings. In several recent cases their calls have saved lives, but in others the calls have been frivolous. One caller reported seeing 50 aerial flares off Michigan City which turned out to be the red collision lights of aircraft approaching O’Hara. By no means, do we want to discourage ‘Condo Commanders’ or other waterfront reporting sources. So, here are some tips that will help expedite shoreline calls, especially the 911 calls.

911 does a terrific job on land but has little experience offshore. What’s more, Ian and Evan are trained to ask questions that relate specifically to the marine environment. Too often those who call 911, especially regarding offshore flare sightings, break the connection. That is they call 911, report the flare and hang up. I know those calls all too well: I’ve spent many hours searching while wishing I could talk with the reporting source about the flare. If you see a flare or other marine incident, please call the Coast Guard, and if you see a land incident please call 911.

As for calling the Coast Guard with a cell phone, boaters should be beware that dead spots exist on Lake Michigan and cell-phone calls can fade out, and unlike a marine radio, nearby boaters can’t hear cell-phone calls for help. Evan recommends a high quality marine radio that can carry most VHF-FM marine frequencies, especially the Coast Guard’s Channel 22 which carries marine weather and navigation advisories. Excellent point, Evan.

All the while I was talking with Ian and Evan, I couldn’t help but be impressed with how intelligently and thoughtfully they answered my questions. I asked them about voice temperament of those hailing in an emergency. They said some sound as if it is an emergency when it is not while others sound cool when it is.... These professionals can quickly determine the degree of an emergency so they recommend using a calm voice, which allows for clear communications.

Emergency or not, these guys have one uncompromising objective: to get assistance to boaters so they can get safely moored. As I said earlier, these coasties are not trying to be all they can be, they are being all they must be- help them and your self by- boating smart.

For those interested in pursuing a career in the Coast Guard you may call Randy Crawford, Petty Officer First Class, Recruiter, Coast Guard Group Grand at (616) 850-2585, or (800) GET-USCG (Lansing MI), or visit the WEB: www.uscg.mil/jobs. For those who care to respond to my Boat Smart column you may email me at trau@jackpine.com. I welcome your input.

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Boat Smart is now on the Internet: www.boatsmart.net (includes Lake Michigan water temperatures and local weather).

Use channel 16 for emergencies, and channel 9 for calling fellow boaters.