The coast guard wears several hats including law enforcement, fisheries enforcement, boating safety, port security, customs, etc. They can seize your boat and confine you, but not without reason. They are people, too. So when you are an a-hole there is a possibility they might be one too.
On the other hand, if you're in trouble on the water you couldn't have a better friend.
I've been on the water about 60 years and boarded twice, 40 years apart. Everybody was professional.
Boardings go easy if you know the regs and have your vessel in compliance. Well run boats that look shipshape get fewer boardings.
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