Challenge: How to Build a Bulletproof Cruiser

[Wavewacker]

Great thread about what does not workon your boat. If you were starting a build or renovating from an existing hull, what features would you put in to make your boat as bullet proof as possible for extended cruising?

Items and luxuries you would have, but specifically, name brand items. Galley-pressurized or hand pumps? Drains and vents access. Same with the head, what type of head?

Electrical system tricks, pannels and access. Lighting and instruments.

Say a 32 footer with a glass hull. No through hull fixtures, access for pump outs?

Just the pains that you have encountered and what could have been done with the infill to make life easier.

Any ideas?

[colemj]

Nothing you put inside will make it bullet proof - that requires steel plating on the outside...

Mark

[Feral Cat]

I am thinking some Carbon Fiber padding used like insulation on the inside of your one inch thick plated steel should work to make it bullet proof... Unless the pirates have progressed to armor piercing rounds?

We may need to rethink the ability to stop armor piercing...

[Wavewacker]

LOL guys, OK not real bullets, just very easy to fix and set up not to break, most dependable boat you could have....

[Anzo]

Well, I might start with one of these...great song while you tour the site, too
http://www.etapyachting.com/index.html

[svcambria]

Originally Posted by Wavewacker

LOL guys, OK not real bullets, just very easy to fix and set up not to break, most dependable boat you could have....

Oh, 'cuz I was going to suggest Kevlar laid up against the hull - a new staysail here, a new jib there...

Michael

[minaret]

Originally Posted by svcambria

Oh, 'cuz I was going to suggest Kevlar laid up against the hull - a new staysail here, a new jib there...

Michael

We once built a kevlar superstructure for a power boat. It was a military contract for the CIA. Spec'd to be bulletproof. They wouldn't tell us what it was for lol...

[atoll]

it dont need to be bullet proof it allready sank.......

The Fantastic Sinking Boat by Julien Berthier | Amusing Planet

[minaret]

Every time I see pics of Berthier's boat it pisses me off. If I saw that boat in the water anywhere, I would rush to the rescue. Even from miles away, people would think it a boat in distress and go out of their way to help. Only someone who has no idea of the tradition of helping your fellow boater at sea could construct such a thing and actually take it out into a busy waterway. You'd think after inconveniencing a few people and freaking them out, he'd quit. But it seems to me that that's the point of his "art project". To freak people out. The problem is that it's not funny or even OK in this context, IMHO. Wonder who was foolish enough to buy it from him...

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by minaret

Every time I see pics of Berthier's boat it pisses me off. If I saw that boat in the water anywhere, I would rush to the rescue. Even from miles away, people would think it a boat in distress and go out of their way to help. Only someone who has no idea of the tradition of helping your fellow boater at sea could construct such a thing and actually take it out into a busy waterway. You'd think after inconveniencing a few people and freaking them out, he'd quit. But it seems to me that that's the point of his "art project". To freak people out. The problem is that it's not funny or even OK in this context, IMHO. Wonder who was foolish enough to buy it from him...

I haven't looked at it from that perspective but a couple of thoughts... I doubt that this is meant to be used as a boat. When the pictures are taken he will be surrounded by other boats, it's going to be a press event, and I doubt anyone will panic over it. According to the article it was on display in a gallery and was bought by some banker. I imagine it was then donated and permanently fixed in a public location where such a piece of art would be appropriate.

Berthier does installations and won the Lyons Dock award; I don't know if it had anything to do with the boat or not. Docks Art Fair achieves a highly praised 3rd edition

[sailstoo]

As long as we're being literal here, how about a "cloak of invisibility" (The Shadow) and a "cone of silence" (Maxwell Smart)? Other than those, I'd go for improved engine access.

[Wavewacker]

Originally Posted by atoll

it dont need to be bullet proof it allready sank.......

The Fantastic Sinking Boat by Julien Berthier | Amusing Planet

LMAO!

I can see how that would tick people off, especially the CG and other authorities.

OK, so my ideas are not so mad after all....



Gee, what I was hoping to get were opinions like routing plumbing along the sides and not under the sole, or the other way around, or reinforcing chain plates while down to a bear hull, or what head is the most reliable.

You don't need to go through the whole boat, was hoping one person might take one item...

You guys are really making me work for this aren't you?????

[atoll]

any thing with bullets in it is asking for trouble on the forum..........

[hummingway]

A composter is the only head I can think of that won't fail.

Electrical system: easy access to everything including wire runs. No areas where there is congestion would reduce the chance that working on one wire would cause a problem with another. Use bus bars where ever possible to minimize numbers of wires in runs.

[Hud3]

There are several articles on the Pardey's Taleisin homepage that address some of the issues the OP raises. The recurrent underlying theme is that the seamanship ability and skills of both partners of a cruising couple are the most important factors in making your boat safe (i.e. "bulletproof"). After that, they suggest choosing systems and equipment such that you can still raise your anchor, steer the boat, access your water, turn on your running lights, and reach the nearest port even if key equipment fails.