St Lucia murder

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by rockDAWG

Likewise, the intruders can pour gas in the Companion way and light a match. It serves both ways.

They could also use a nuclear hand grenade (purchased from the Russian Mafial)...

These chaps aren't assassins, they're thieves! Let's not get carried away by our imaginations.

Jim

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

They could also use a nuclear hand grenade (purchased from the Russian Mafial)...

Nuclear hand grenade, really

Defeats the purpose and makes it pretty to get away

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Nuclear hand grenade, really

Can be amphibious tank with some AP rockets if You wish

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by DoubleWhisky

Can be amphibious tank with some AP rockets if You wish

I was thinking more in line with radar and heat seeking auto targeting twin 50mm rail guns!

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Someone cant use a knife or a tomahawk through a secured companionway. But you can sure use gas!



Gas, gell and flares go though. So you can remain safe inside while the bad guys are on the outside.

I have never heard of an attack, or injuries, on a cruising boat where the people were locked inside at night. People lock up at home but not cruising. Why not????

Hey Mark,

As I stated in an earlier post I hope the boarders don't get their hands on your dink gas when you use the bear spray on them. I think a squirt or two of gasoline through that beautiful grille work would get me out on deck real fast. And have you checked how strong that aluminum extrusion the grille slides into is? But then again, most of those boarding usually are barefoot so you might be ok.

[Capt'n Ricko]

MarkJ:

I like the Hatchway Bars... I notice you made them one piece - any thoughts on a 2 piece setup (easier storage)?

Thanks!

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Hey Mark,

As I stated in an earlier post I hope the boarders don't get their hands on your dink gas when you use the bear spray on them. I think a squirt or two of gasoline through that beautiful grille work would get me out on deck real fast. And have you checked how strong that aluminum extrusion the grille slides into is? But then again, most of those boarding usually are barefoot so you might be ok.

Don't be ridiculous. Mark has the right idea... to keep the bad guys out and make himself a less desirable and more difficult target. Fighting through the companionway bars with gas... that's a little weird too.

My gutt feeling... when the thieves encounter the companionway bars, they'll move on to another boat without the bars.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Hey Mark,

As I stated in an earlier post I hope the boarders don't get their hands on your dink gas when you use the bear spray on them. I think a squirt or two of gasoline through that beautiful grille work would get me out on deck real fast. And have you checked how strong that aluminum extrusion the grille slides into is? But then again, most of those boarding usually are barefoot so you might be ok.

Hi rick

It beats F All. And thats how most cruisers anchor, including everyone killed that I know of. They had F All security.

And ehy would the attackers alert everyone to what they are doing by lighting up the place with flames?
What can they steal from a burnt out boat?

Finally, of course I can get out if there is a fire. They still wouldnt get any money because it would be burnt. So there no cost:benifit for the criminals to be stupid.

The screen is armoured. A boot wont go throug it. And only a moron would get on and try when theres other boats in the anchorage with no security whatsoever.

@ Cpn Ricko, yes you can have them made anyway you like them. I took my companionway door in for them to use as a template.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Don't be ridiculous. Mark has the right idea... to keep the bad guys out and make himself a less desirable and more difficult target. Fighting through the companionway bars with gas... that's a little weird too.

My gutt feeling... when the thieves encounter the companionway bars, they'll move on to another boat without the bars.

I think once they get aboard you're in trouble. The bad guys are committed. Don't think the metal grill will do much. The slider is plexiglass with a two cent lock held in with 5/8" screws. Is the slider metal too? But if it makes you feel more secure, fine.

In the latest attacks the boarders do not appear to be afraid of noise. They are not cat thieves. They come aboard and in some cases bash the occupants around to get at the "secret" stash of cash or valuables.

One good hammer blow will open most companionway hatches, metal or not. It's not like a safe room in a freighter or mansion.

[sec906]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Someone cant use a knife or a tomahawk through a secured companionway. But you can sure use gas!

I think what he meant is that the grill would allow his gas to escape, and it smells so bad it would drive anyone away.

[DumnMad]

They were delayed in leaving which means there may have been an official who was an accomplice who fingered them as worth robbing.

One of my neighbours wondered why they had been told to anchor a little way off from the other boats................They found out. (It was Panama.)

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by sec906

I think what he meant is that the grill would allow his gas to escape, and it smells so bad it would drive anyone away.

Must be the homebrew.

[CarinaPDX]

Originally Posted by Vasco

I think once they get aboard you're in trouble. The bad guys are committed.
.
.
.
One good hammer blow will open most companionway hatches, metal or not. It's not like a safe room in a freighter or mansion.

Completely disagree. Soldiers are committed, and police in some places. Thieves? They are committed to themselves - any credible threat or obstacle does deter most of them. They do not want to risk their lives for some loot, and they sure don't want to go to jail.

While it is true that most companionway hatches are easily broken through, my argument (and Mark's) is to change that by hardening and locking them. At the very least you will have time to prepare whatever defense you have when confronted with armed robbers. But most crime is simple thievery by sneak thieves, and they aren't about to do something that will put them in front of an angry sailor.

No defense is perfect, but most crime can be eliminated by simply hardening access. If you lose the lottery and are confronted with heavily armed desperadoes in an isolated anchorage then you are going to be a victim short of possessing an arsenal. But this is the least likely scenario, if also the scariest. And certainly not an argument against a good hatch.

Greg

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

While it is true that most companionway hatches are easily broken through, my argument (and Mark's) is to change that by hardening and locking them.
Greg

How is an open metal grill any stronger than the heavy plexiglass hatchboards that are standard on Beneteau 393's?

[neelie]

Bluntly, is there anywhere in the Caribbean where one can live a normal relaxed life instead of bolting everything down and locking one's self in every night? I suspect that this may be a much shorter list than the no-go islands list.

There are plenty of other places in the world with clear water and coral and with decent human beings living there that it now begs the question - why even bother cruising in the Caribbean? What is the point in living in fear behind a cage, sleeping next to a can of bear spray?