Flotilla 95 Celebrates 55th Anniversary

On April 30, 1967, a small group of thirteen boat owners from Marco Island became the charter members of the newly formed Flotilla 95. Dedicated to the advancement of boating safety education and a strong desire to come to the aid of the boating public in times of need, these Auxiliarists began a proud tradition that continues to this day.

In those early days, the flotilla members all owned boats and used them to patrol on the 220 square miles of waterways around Marco Island and the 10,000 Islands. It was not uncommon for the members to be called out, day or night, to perform Search and Rescue Missions in response to “Mayday Calls.” They came to the aid of scores of vessels and crews that were stranded, in distress, or in need of towing to safety. This was decades before the existence of BoatUS or Sea Tow. The waters around Marco were just as challenging to navigate then as they are today. The flotilla responded to reports of sunken vessels and/or oil discharges as a force multiplier for the U.S. Coast Guard in Fort Myers,

Aids to Navigation (ATONs) were just starting to be installed and the flotilla helped map out the safe passages by performing “sounding patrols” where the depth of the water was meticulously charted. Once the markers were installed, the flotilla members monitored and inspected all the ATONs on those waterways. While working on improving the charts for our navigable waterways, the flotilla was responsible for over one hundred place names being added to the official records of the United States Board on Geographic Names that now appear on National and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) charts. 

Over the years, the Flotilla has provided escort vessels and picket patrols for regattas and boat parades, and they have conducted thousands of annual courtesy Vessel Examinations. The Flotilla has spent thousands of hours making visits to our boating partners ensuring that boaters are exposed to boating safety literature.

Thousands of residents in the Marco Island area have taken courses in basic and advanced boating taught by the Flotilla’s certified instructors.  Hundreds of third grade students were taught how to survive in the water through the “Water-Wise” program in conjunction with the Marco Island YMCA and Marco Island Fire Department. They have also conducted hundreds of lectures, speeches, demonstrations and exhibits to the boating public in support of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Safety mission.

Today, we continue the traditions started when our charter was granted.  We will move into our new home at the Collier County Community Center shortly and continue to serve our boating community.  The new venue will allow us to provide boating safety instructional programming in a state-of-the-art presentation facility.  We continue to patrol the 10,000 islands and perform free vessel safety examinations.

To schedule your FREE Vessel Safety Check, please call: John Moyer, 239-248-7078 or Coast Guard Auxiliary Station – Flotilla 95, 239-394-5911 or email John at Jmoyer1528@aol.com.

For those interested in joining Flotilla 95, USCG Auxiliary, please contact Joe Grazzini at 239-272-9493 or ciscojmg@hotmail.com