Ever Shot a Flare Gun at Something?

[MarkJ]

I sure as hell know who would win and who would be mince meat.

[mesquaukee]

Originally Posted by Daddy's Dream

And how they are armed.

Precisely.

[mesquaukee]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

mesquaukee: ah, you are the exception then... I really thought no cruiser here would have used a machete that much and here you are, proving me wrong ;-)

As you can see on the photo below, I'm pretty scary (not!) with a cutlass too ;-)

But anyway, I think we both have the tactic of avoiding some places. Unfortunately, we learned that you are only lowering the risk with that method, not eliminating it.

ciao!
Nick.

Risk can never be eliminated.
Risk can only be traded.
We accept the risks without question of all sorts of activities we are familiar with or should I say grew up with.
I would like to see some statistics but my gut tells me that cruising is safer than the risks we would face living a "normal" life onshore.
Statistics do show in the "normal" life onshore more people and their family members are killed with their own firearms than from weapons brought into the home by intruders.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I sure as hell know who would win and who would be mince meat.

Ha ha! I don't worry, he's 7,000 nm or so away from me ;-) When I come to his neighborhood, I'll mount a nice mini-gun on the foredeck (with advanced radar guidance systems of course!) or hire those black-water guys to escort me!

cheers,
Nick.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by mesquaukee

Statistics do show in the "normal" life onshore more people and their family members are killed with their own firearms than from weapons brought into the home by intruders.

True no doubt. However, some people prefer to leave their home sometimes. Others take it a step further and go out at night, brr, the thought alone chills me. Also, your statistic must be an US one ;-)

ciao!
Nick.

[Ex-Calif]

I have been stopped more than once in the Philippines by M16 armed men who asked, "Would you like to "contribute" to our town fiesta."

My response was always the same, "Yes, of course. How much would I like to contribute?"

To even consider opposing multiple, persons with M16s who have lived with violence their whole lives is preposterous. Everything I have, including a boat is not worth jeopardizing the safety of my family or me.

[Christian Van H]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

I have been stopped more than once in the Philippines by M16 armed men who asked, "Would you like to "contribute" to our town fiesta."

Yes, but more importantly, did they invite you to the fiesta? It's only right you know...

[Factor]

The weapon is never the key - its the preparedness and capability to use it that matters - whether thats fists oars or mini cannon. Its also the preparedness to cop a bit of pain yourself.

MAndatory content re thread title: - Dont bother bringing it into Qld - its a Firearm pursuant to our law, and we dont do guns here.

[nics0car]

While cruising off Dominica, a British Protectorate, we had a late night/early morning boarder around 1:30AM who frightened everyone on board, the owner's wife was awakened by the intruder staring down the forward cabin hatch. She screamed, "there's someone on board" over and over.... We had no idea how many intruders were on board or if we were being pirated....I yelled to the 1st mate "get the gun" which was the flare gun. The intruder jumped overboard as we emerged from the cabin with flood light and flare gun in hand. When the intruder was spotted in the water, I fired the flare gun over his head by about a few yards, a straight shot in the night horizontal to the water about 30 yards..... I doubt he will ever board a vessel off shore again.... We pulled up anchor and left the anchorage. What a great weapon instead of a firearm which if we had one would have been confiscated if we declared it OR if we had it and didn't declare it, we would have been in trouble. Each foreign soverign island has different laws regarding firearms so just have the flare gun ready in case of emergency....

[Wotname]

Just to reiterate Factor's point: A flare gun IS a firearm in Qld. (and I believe - in the rest of Australia) and as such is illegal.

[mesquaukee]

In some Central American countires if you shoot and kill a person stealing from you or severely wound them you are obligated to take financial care of their families for the rest of their lives.

[imagine2frolic]

Coming north out of Mexico, and approaching California. I had a panga with 2 men follow me, and slowly close in on me. I tried to communicate with them, but they never replied. When they finally got close enough to see faces I pulled the flare gun from below. Gave them an extremely quick glance of it's profile in my hand. Then placed it down next to me. Immediatley they did a 180.

What was their intention? I have no idea. Were they armed? I have no idea. What I do know is that they changed course, and direction. It was not my intention to let them get any closer. Even if all they wanted was PBJ sandwhich!

As far as being somewhere dangerous? 60 miles south of San Diego. Maybe 5 miles off the coastline. Trouble can be found anywhere, and even places considered safe. Your best weapon is your brain, and then a RPG.......lololol.....i2f

[s/v Jedi]

War ships have what they call their "security zone". Anything entering that zone at sea without prior permission is considered hostile and acted upon, even if it's 3rd world coastguard disguised as pirates. Crews on commercial ships learn the same thing when they get anti-piracy training.

It's common sense that anyone approaching you at sea while unwilling to communicate with you is a hostile. If it turns out they only want some water and leave after that, it's because they decided you are not an easy enough target.

ciao!
Nick.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

Coming north out of Mexico, and approaching California. I had a panga with 2 men follow me, and slowly close in on me. I tried to communicate with them, but they never replied. When they finally got close enough to see faces I pulled the flare gun from below. Gave them an extremely quick glance of it's profile in my hand. Then placed it down next to me. Immediately they did a 180.

... I have no idea. ... I have no idea.
... Your best weapon is your brain, and then a RPG.......lololol.....i2f

I wonder if there’s a couple of guys, siting in a cantina in Mexico, telling their tale of coming across this feeble-minded norte-americano?

Imagine this narrative ...

“We’d been out fishing all day, and had taken much more than we could use; so thought we’d give some nice fresh fish to this passing tourista, in a funny-looking barge.
We tried to catch his attention, but he seemed totally preoccupied with talking to someone on his radio. When we got closer, we could see that he wasn’t quite “all there”. In addition to casting comically fierce looks our way, the lunatic was playing with a plastic toy of some sort (though trying to hide it). His female caretaker, obviously embarrassed at his mental infirmity, immediately ducked down out of site.
As they were rapidly heading north, and probably no danger to our people, we turned our backs on this poor unfortunate, and returned home.
I hope the lovely young lady was able to return him to his homeland and get him the help he so urgently needed.
Anyone want a couple of fish?”


Probably not.

[Cheechako]

There is the problem.... we go out in the world to experience it dont we? I have had fisherman in Pangas come to the boat to sell or GIVE me fish, lobster etc... how do you know one from the other? Daytime I have to assume friendly... 1:30 am? I assume the other... Trying to wield a machete in a cabin or even in the cockpit (boom, backstay etc overhead!) is going to be pretty useless. I had a 9 volt trip wire activated alarm setup on the catamaran for the places I was uncomfortable with. It was REALLY loud.... I just used monofiliment. The cat was very easy to board at both sterns...those "inviting" steps.....