Security on the high seas

[Vulcan1600]

I don't own a boat yet, but one of my major concerns about owning one is getting hijacked or robbed or killed out at sea where I would be a long way from help. Is this something that rarely happens, or does everyone have to arm themselves?

[Vulcan1600]

I'm sure you're right. But this thread is about piracy and guns. You could start your own thread called something like . . . Other Ways To Die

[Wayan Young]

Completely agree with you Ed..

and just to say it: I dont get you Vulcan.. you want to sail the world, but you're worried about getting to the bar on foot... that doesnt sound like a big world traveller..
And i really don't see the point on getting to a desserted island and riding your bike all over it.. is that supposed to be fun or something?
Last but not least: i think guns on board would not be a good idea.. it will only work to scare off weaponless opponent (or very few of them).. if there's more than a few, and they are there with a mind-set of robbing (usually they're very scared and will do stupid things!!!), even if they are only armed with sticks they'll get to you! and they'll do even worst since you've hurt or killed their friends!!


-WY-

[T. Arthur Boing]

Seems to me that a cheap old ex-military sporterized deer rifle with a scope for distance would be scary enough to ward off most beginer pirates and even a few professionals. It would be explainable to the local authorities in foreign waters as a justifiable "Shark Gun". I believe that you would have to report it to when you check in to local customs and possibly let then lock it up for safekeeping when you are in their country. As long as you are open and above board about the long gun you should not have to much trouble in ports around the world. You should always log on to the internet and find the official country sites and inquire about the local procedures before you go visiting.
The gasoline water ballon/flaregun combo is clever. Perhaps a sling or bolo-like delivery mechanism would be more workable. Practice with water filled balllons until you can range in and hit your target with accuracy. With water it could be fun.
Good luck and God speed.
Tj

[CommodoreSwab]

I wonder about the gasoline water ballon theory, would the gas melt the ballons?

[T. Arthur Boing]

Hello Commodor Swab,
Sorry it took so long to reply about the gasoline water balloon theory. I guess that if your in this position and facing pirates you would just fill the balloon and throw. The gas probably would burn through the ballon if you tried to make them up ahead of time. In practice sessions you could experiment and work out the kinks.
Making a primitive batch of napalm would be intimidating and I believe it is made up of gas and soap, but do not quote me on this. Check the formula somewhere like the net. Two rubber balloons would be best for this primitive hand artillery.
So fire for effect and remember water balloon for practice.
Sincerely
Tj

[Jim]

You have a better chance dying by falling overboard....or sinking.

If this is a MAJOR concern, I suggest stay at home, where you have a chance of a random drive by shooting

[Vulcan1600]

Its not a MAJOR concern till it happens. But then, it will be too late to worry about it then.

This is a thread about piracy and guns so thats what we talk about on here. I'm sure i'm more likely to die in a car accident but thats not what we're talking about here.

You could go to another website where they're talking about good recipes for a chocolate cake and try to tell everyone that they're wasting there time baking things themselves. They could just order a pizza. It tastes better and is more nutritious and you can even make a phone call and have it delivered. Why bother making chocolate cake? Pizza has just as many calories . . .

[Suky Cannon]

Check out Commodore Swab's Bronze and Lead Cannons... real beauty's and the small ones use golf balls and pack a punch. He has lots of info.
Armed thiefs or pirates ~ I've crewed often on a 60 foot cat. In the owner's 20 years of sailing in Florida, Bahamas and the West Indies, the boat was boarded by thiefs 3 times when the owners were aboard ~ sleeping. None of those times, were they after the boat but the valuables and they boarded when it was clear people were aboard. One at slip in Ft. Lauderdale, once by boat, when they were at anchor in Bahamas and another time in Roatan.
Since the robberies, the last 5 years ago, they always bring the dinghy aboard, and lock the companionway before retiring to bunks, if it's a questionable anchorage. There are a lot of drug runners in the Bahamas to be wary about.
Today, I was wondering what pirates feel is superstitious and then using that to prevent them even attempting a boarding. I like the idea of having a couple of cannons mounted on deck. Appartently you can have these on aboard legally but I don't think you can say the same about guns. Extra flares and flare guns are legal.

[Suky Cannon]

This looks to be an really interesting web site about piracy on sailing boats.
http://www.yachtpiracy.org/en/the_new_peril.htm

[Vulcan1600]

Finally, somebody knows what I'm talking about. Thanks for the post and link, Suky. I was looking for some real stats on piracy against yachts and small boats. I keep finding stuff on piracy against large cargo ships and tourist liners.

Most of the people responding to my thread seem to be blissfully ignorant of the real dangers of pirates. They think it only happens with heavily armed gunmen that only go after the big ships.

[Vulcan1600]

I think piracy against yachters is much more common than people realize. Like the pirates say . . . "Dead men tell no tales". You can't report that you were attacked by pirates if you were killed and thrown overboard. So most incidences don't get reported. And if it happens in foreign ports, the last thing they want to do is scare away the tourists, so the local authorities won't want to report it either.

[Vulcan1600]

Here's a news story that I just found, an article from the LA Times . . . http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pirates1-2008ju...