No Experience, but Need to Make a Voyage - Advice Requested

[bangkaboat]

David,
In case the many other posts haven't sunk in, the answer is "No, not a chance!". In fact, not for twice the amount, from the dollar perspective. Thrice? Doubtful. Aside from the substantial funds needed to bring the boat up to snuff & be capable of sustaining 8, the safety & nav gear will run you way over 10 grand. Price an 8-person offshore liferaft, for example.

Up to a point I believe in "live & let live". But, if someone in the berth next to me were planning such an excursion, I'd rat them out to child protection services(by whatever name) and not regret it for a second.

You need to spend a couple of weeks reading some of the many threads on these forums to "see the light", learn how to sail & navigate - not by watching Youtube - & get a job that allows you to save enough to have the boat & equipment you'll need. Then, you need to learn something about repairing/replacing your boat's systems.

[MarkJ]

You guys are nuts. I'd get out of the USA if this was the President:


Oooooops! Sorry! This is the President of Madagascar. Loved by the people by all appearences. Photo taken in 2009


But the country sounds nice! :

, Madagascar suffers from extreme poverty among 85 percent of the population, and bears heavy burdens from infectious diseases like malaria, devastating tropical cyclones, and deforestation of agricultural land.


Infant Mortality Rate per 1,000 live births 87.7

Maternal Mortality Rate per 100,000 live births
550

HIV & AIDS Adult Prevalence 1.7%

Population Living Below US$2 per day 85%

Life Expectancy at Birth, Both Sexes 55 years

www.msh.org - Management Sciences for Health - Madagascar


If I wanted to leave the Rat Race Madagascar would have to be on the list!

By the way the horrible USA has an Infant Mortality rate of 6.8 per 100,000. Australia 4.9 per 100,000
World Bank, World Development Indicators - Google Public Data Explorer
The chart on the above link compared Madagascar, USA and Australia.

Maternal Mortality Rate per 100,000 live births in USA: 24

As Osirissail says, you may well be jumping out of the fryingpan...

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by David.Freeman

It's not about money. Flying is not feasible, unless you know somewhere that is accessible by land in Can-Amerexico where TSAs (or the local equivalent) will not subject children and adults to degrading, immoral and scandalous naked body scanners, harmful radiation and potentially traumatic and definitely sinful arbitrary groping.

!

I think you'll subject the children to much worse if you set out on this poorly thought out scheme.

[maytrix]

Originally Posted by Vasco

I think you'll subject the children to much worse if you set out on this poorly thought out scheme.

I agree.

Going through airport security really isn't that bad.

Simply dress knowing you are going through security - why people cover themselves in jewelry baffles me - they just end up taking it all off. Take off your shoes, belt and put it on the conveyor. Step into the scanner, stand as directed, wait 5 seconds and you are done.

Simple as can be and the person seeing the image at the other end isn't concerned with seeing you naked. Its not the same as seeing someone without clothes on.

I think the people that tend to have issues are the ones that go to the airport expecting trouble and having the OP's attitude causing them to be more heavily scrutinized.

[markpierce]

In my personal, first-hand experience (occurring because I've taken several point-to-point ocean cruises), those with one-way airline tickets are more closely scrutinized than those with round-trip tickets. Suppose this is because suicide bombers don't plan on returning.

[markpierce]

My funniest airport security occasion was at the Charles de Gaulle Airport where we changed planes. The security guy was going through my carryon and pulled out a clear plastic bag with a bottle of talcum powder. When he opened the bag, some powder puffed out. "What is this," he asked. I said it was baby powder. He asked "is a baby accompanying you?" I said no, it is for me. He said "what a big baby!" I laughed so hard my GF at the end of the hall could hear me. (He let me through with the powder.)

[Lucky Larry]

I'm getting into this thread late, and my math may be off but the way I add it up, this guy needs to get out of GA without the use of valid identification for one or all of them. GA has recently stepped up their pursuit of illegal aliens. Hmmm...

California welcomes illegal aliens and will even send the illegal kids to college now on the taxpayers dime.

I'd recommend a drive to the land of fruits, nuts and flakes. I claim that I can say that since I was born there.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Lucky Larry

I'm getting into this thread late, and my math may be off but the way I add it up, this guy needs to get out of GA without the use of valid identification for one or all of them. GA has recently stepped up their pursuit of illegal aliens. Hmmm...

California welcomes illegal aliens and will even send the illegal kids to college now on the taxpayers dime.

I'd recommend a drive to the land of fruits, nuts and flakes. I claim that I can say that since I was born there.

I know were not supposed to get into politics, but this post says it all for me. "Illegal kids" indeed. Disgusting. Kids should be taken care of wherever they come from, IMHO. It's not their fault...

[itdave5]

hi,
Where are you now? where are you going?
How serious are the reasons you need to Leave, are they life threatening?
what is your and the rest of the crews nationalities?
Try the embassies?
Why can't you fly?
Are you in trouble with the local law? (hopefuly not).
8500nm is doable but you will need years of experience to take it on and you would need to at least double yor budget.
can you pay for your passage on a merchant ship?
good luck!
p.s. you could ask someone to come get you with there big sail boat and they could sail to wherever you want to go safely for a fraction of the cost.
don't do it 'till the bullets start fying !!!!!!!!

[Codacap]

Time for plan b

Get to an embassy and request asylum

Plan A is outrageously wrong on all levels.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Codacap

Plan A is outrageously wrong on all levels.

No schnitt...........

This thread is hilarious.

Some of you (lots) actually answered with paragraphs.

[Sailagain]

I don't think the OP is reading or responding anymore

[itdave5]

who cares if if they are or are not responding?
Maybe they got a 65ft boat all ready for ocean passage making for 5K and spent the rest on yoga mats, pictures of budha and lead underwear which is far more healthy and ethical than having a body scan.
i've seen some of the female customs officers and must addmit that i secretly hoped one of them would take me into a........ I but i digress.
good luck to them anyway.

[vintageray]

Originally Posted by Sailagain

I don't think the OP is reading or responding anymore

He probably took his post to the S/A forums where he'll get more sympathy, as he might if he were in Madagascar.

[Bruce626]

The OP originally asked about guns (I know, a toxic topic) - like he thinks that the right to keep and bear arms is a worldwide basic right and not just a USA thing. I actually live in a third world country (the Philippines) and foreigners are not allowed to have firearms (which includes pellet guns and possibly even Airsoft guns). I suspect that the government of Madagascar probably doesn't allow foreigners to have guns either.

I am thinking that a lot more research on the destination is called for - Africa, all of it, just sounds a tad too dangerous for me. Most third world countries are just not that welcoming to immigrants (tourists yes, or perhaps retirees with a substantial - by their standards - pension anchored in a first world country). I was however impressed with the real advice and concern shown for the OP and his family.