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Jassen · 13-09-2012, 09:14

Question for those of you that stay out for lengthy periods of time: Can you collect enough food just from the ocean itself to live on? Between fishing and eating seaweed, how long can you stay at sea under sail?

Assuming you have a desalination unit of some sort, it just seems logical for me that, theoretically, you could stay at sea indefinitely. Am I wrong?

NewEnglander · 13-09-2012, 09:18

Seems to me you'd always need other supplies, not just food.

SVTatia · 13-09-2012, 09:35

Theoretically, but only if you can resist the desire of wine, women and juicy steaks...

Also, you don't need to have a desalinator, when it rains you just collect the water. Bernard Moitissier sailed one and a half times around the globe without a watermaker.

NewEnglander · 13-09-2012, 09:42

Yeah, huge amounts of water can be stored from a moderate rain, especially if the wind is calm enough to spread out a lot of canvas square footage to collect it.

I'm sure what you're saying CAN be done. I agree though: what for?

**anjou** · 13-09-2012, 09:50

Yeah, .....if you want to glow in the dark and die young. Many fish store a lot of heavy metals and nasties in their bodies.
Im sure I read someplace you shouldnt have fish more than two meals per week?

Tony B · 13-09-2012, 09:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jassen

........theoretically, you could stay at sea indefinitely....

Probably, but why would you want to?
After you have run through all of your money and resources where would you find a mechanic or supply house that will work for fish?
How about a bad injury or major illness? We dont always get injured or sick in convienient places.
I'm sure it can be done, but not by me. I would rather cruise in a more civilized manner. People like myself cruise for fun and enjoyment and the wonderment of the world. Survival cruising is not for everyone. From my personal observation of "survival cruisers" they are not as happy as they would like you to think. And those are the ones that stay in places for a while and not drift all of the time. When it comes to living off the bounty of the sea or land for that matter, it takes more work effort than you would suspect.
I think a good analogy would be like tent camping with decent equipment and minor living off the land as compared to living under the interstate and dumpster diving.
Like SVtatia said "but only if you can resist the desire of wine, women and juicy steaks... "

**Cheechako** · 13-09-2012, 09:56

Do you really mean "at sea" or do you mean "at sea and at anchor"? You can supplement your food supplies by snorkeling /hunting nearly every day at anchor. But some places just aren't that good... and the supply of fish etc is getting worse.

courageous cat · 13-09-2012, 10:02

I,m with tony on this one why put your self thru it.
ps You'll have to stop for rum sometime

**Vasco** · 13-09-2012, 10:06

Met one guy on my travels that was a "live off the land" (or sea) type. Spent his time looking for edible plants. His fishing skills weren't that great. His best meals were from mooching at the various pot-lucks. He used to scoop stuff up and stash it in his backpack.

**David_Old_Jersey** · 13-09-2012, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasco

His best meals were from mooching at the various pot-lucks. He used to scoop stuff up and stash it in his backpack.

A hunter gatherer

**David_Old_Jersey** · 13-09-2012, 10:12

It probably could be done indefinately (leaving aside the why would want to issue) - well, indefinately until something broke that could not be fixed onboard. Boat or you.

I think the hard truth is that surviving with no cash at all is impractical (and likely bl##dy hard work!).....probably the reason why professional fishermen actually sell their catch......

**Vasco** · 13-09-2012, 10:36

Wasn't there a guy who floated around the Atlantic for a year? Not the crazy guy who pretended to race around the world, a "normal" guy. Well, sort of normal.

**Vasco** · 13-09-2012, 10:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasco

Wasn't there a guy who floated around the Atlantic for a year? Not the crazy guy who pretended to race around the world, a "normal" guy. Well, sort of normal.

Found it, it was actually 1000 days!
1000days.net - Home