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Coast Guard St. Pete crew rescues capsized boaters

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg boat crew rescued three boaters on Friday after their 29-foot boat capsized approximately six miles west of Bunces Pass.

According to a Coast Guard press release, the owner aboard the foot boat radioed Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders over VHF channel 16 at approximately 4:20 p.m., reporting the boat was rapidly taking on water, and there were three people aboard.

A nearby tanker, Overseas Tampa, maintained a visual on the three boaters and vectored in the boat crew.

The boaters were transported to Tierre Verde Boat Ramp, and the owner is coordinating commercial salvage.No injuries were reported.

“The boaters quickly donned their life jackets, which ultimately saved their lives,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan St. John, a boatswain's mate at Station St. Petersburg. “We’d like to remind all mariners National Safe Boating Week is here, and a perfect time to get a boat safety check with your local Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla.”

“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”

South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.

Lawmaker looks to ban HOAs