Guns on a Boat, Yes or No?

[LaidBack OldMan]

Sailorboy1, I am investigating what I can and cannot do, where I can go, and what kind of boat to get. I am trying to gather as much info as I can BEFORE I jump in the water. Measure twice, cut once. I have never been on a sail boat! I want to retire to one. My first move will be to rent one, probably skippered, for a period to see if it is what I really want to do. I still have a lot of digging to do.

[ontherocks83]

Laid Back if you get really bored try asking what "type" of gun you should use when cruising. Talk about entertainment

Luckily though it sounds like you already know about the business end of a firearm, so hopefully we should be spared the forum fire fight.

[yalla]

like others said, search and you will find more than enough info and opinions.

I will respond to something the OP wrote:

I would not be comfortable in a strange land without some kind of protection

Now I do not know the OP, and he may very well be a laid back old man, but... that sentence there says alot. IMHO approaching such a voyage with this kind of fear is simply worng. Best you stay home where I assume you are comfortable. Otherwise I suggest you learn about those "strange lands" before going so they don't seem so "strange" and scary. I reckon you will be safer by learning the local language instead of packing heat just in case.

Regardless of the laws and culture in the US, in most countries carrying a gun is regarded as very agressive behavior, unless the gun were to stay on the boat at all times.

[travellerw]

I can only offer my advise based on my research..

It simply was not worth it for me.. Period.. Too much hassle..

If AND A VERY BIG IF, I ever have a problem, then I will simply use the tried and true method of just giving them anything they want. It seems that this will work %99 of the time. Only in the event of a kidnapping for ransom would this not work. That is a very rare event that is isolated to particular waters.

[ontherocks83]

Originally Posted by avb3

I probably have more guns than most on the forum,

Challenge accepted..........

On a completely unrelated topic where do you live again

[ssanzone]

ignore everyone but me...

50 CAL on your foredeck. the ONLY way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what i am about to share is (soon to b was) the best kept secret ever:

Tactical Walls

sadly... not big enough for an anchor.


lastly, you are my new hero... 1st post about guns? i wanna be you when i grow up!

loves it!
-steve

[onestepcsy37]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Welcome aboard!

There are two subjects that will start never ending threads here. Everyone is passionate about Guns and Anchors (good rock band name!).

The answers are always as follows.

Your gun is too small, it's the wrong kind and you don't have enough ammunition. Your anchor is too small, it's the wrong kind, and you don't have enough chain.

Guns and Anchors. As usual yòu come up with the best one liners.

Sent from my SCH-I200PP using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[weavis]

HI People

With the CF longtimers, it will come as no surprise that the moderation team are keeping a weather eye on this thread.

You know the rules, no hitting beneath the belt, no nasty words and have a generosity of spirit in your exchanges.

Please.

[onestepcsy37]

Interesting. Laidback oldman dreams of cruising off Into the sunset. Finds a cruising forum. Of all the first questions he might ask, having zero knowledge of the cruising lifestyle, is "can I bring my guns".

Sent from my SCH-I200PP using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

Interesting. Laidback oldman dreams of cruising off Into the sunset. Finds a cruising forum. Of all the first questions he might ask, having zero knowledge of the cruising lifestyle, is "can I bring my guns".

Sent from my SCH-I200PP using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

+1 LOL

[ontherocks83]

Originally Posted by onestepcsy37

Interesting. Laidback oldman dreams of cruising off Into the sunset. Finds a cruising forum. Of all the first questions he might ask, having zero knowledge of the cruising lifestyle, is "can I bring my guns".

Sent from my SCH-I200PP using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

I get where the humor is, but as a Firearms Instructor, a Veteran and an honorary "Red Neck" (read all of those as gun "enthusiast") I can see his side of the question/concern too.

When you grow up with them, work with them and depend on them they are at your fore thought of concern and consideration in most things you do.

[scuba0_1]

Originally Posted by ssanzone

ignore everyone but me...

50 CAL on your foredeck. the ONLY way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what i am about to share is (soon to b was) the best kept secret ever:

Tactical Walls

sadly... not big enough for an anchor.


lastly, you are my new hero... 1st post about guns? i wanna be you when i grow up!

loves it!
-steve

Why stop there go with the tank turret oh yeah it would fit perfectly on a deck Salon

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[GrowleyMonster]

YAY! Another guns on the boat thread! I love this forum!

Seriously, what they said about Mexico. It's not worth it. If you think you need a gun in Mexico, don't go to Mexico. Same with other countries having harsh anti gun laws. Which means most of the world.

Otherwise I personally believe a firearm of some type is a good idea, but only if you are comfortable around guns, familiar with and trained in them, and you have researched prevailing law regarding ownership, posession, and God forbid, use of them. That really should go for crew and guests, as well.

Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6. Yup. Except when you light up a bad guy with your boat gun, the misery is just beginning. Typically even a righteous shooting will cost u over 10k in legal fees, and the sky is the limit. Even if it is obvious that you were prudent and reasonable in your actions and would likely be dead or at least dispossessed of your property had you not fired, your case automatically goes before a grand jury in most jurisdictions in the US. All you need is a bunch of granola crunching sandal wearing gun hating liberals deciding your fate, and logic goes out with the trash.

Gun ownership is also a big responsibility. Some unauthorized person could take your gun and do bad or stupid stuff with it.

Don't want to scare you away from having a gun, as I am what some would call a gun nut. But be aware of the down side. And remember, sometimes a gun saves lives and property. Sometimes it doesnt, when the bad guy prevails for whatever reason. Or as we say in south louisiana, sometimes you eat the gator. Sometimes the gator eats you.

[a64pilot]

I do want to think all my gun control friends for not killing this thread yet, it shows a lot of self control, but we all know it's doomed.
Ya'll just wanna kill it now and go back to bashing production boats?

On a little more serious note Laid Back Old Man, there are a lot of people who don't like guns in sailing, and to a great many of them, guns are an aberration, and if they just went away, many people would be saved. To them absolutely nothing justifies gun ownership, nothing.
And guess what? We aren't going to change their minds anymore than they are going to change ours.
It is about the most controversial subject here

On edit, welcome to the forum, where are you located? might get a forum member to take you sailing just for you to get a taste.

[atoll]

no point in having a gun on the boat these days,you are much better off with some sort of rocket launcher,my favorite is the rpg 7,cheap, easy to find ammo for,simple to use,just drop it over the side before arriving in europe