Bow and arrow aboard? Do or dont?

[Pieter]

Hello friends,

Does anyone has experience in having o board a bow and arrows? I personaly dont like fire arms etc, but thought that having a bow and arrows (and lots of practice) could be a legal and efficient deterent with regards to possible/eminent pirate attacks. Also, to clear in and out islands and countries visiting this could be easier than guns and the likes. Any experience/comments?
Thanks
Pieter
SV Lumina
Lumina Charters – Brazilian Coastal Catamaran Sailing

[a64pilot]

Its a weapon, and in fact in some places considered a firearm.
like a machete or an Ax are I assume deadly weapons
My Pirate plan is to not ever go where Pirates have been reported.
PS, I won't for example go to downtown Detroit either.

I do have and shoot a Matthews Drenalin compound, but its staying at home, with sadly my spearguns too as apparently they are frowned upon

[chris mac]

Hav you used a bow before? I bow hunt and can hit a quarter at 20 yards. Push it to 60 yards and I can hit inside a 6" circle. Past 80 it's hard to get inside a foot.
That's all from standing on firm ground and taking time to aim, control breathing, ect.
I doubt at 20 yards on a rolling boat you could effectively hit anywhere near the pirate who is aiming an automatic rifle at you!
It sounds like an effective way of asking them to shoot you.
A64 has it right, don't go anywhere near known pirate areas and you wont have to fight them.

[skipmac]

I concur completely with the first two replies. Not sure about Brazil but in many countries and bow is regulated exactly like a gun. Some countries even a sling shot is regulated like a weapon.

[Pieter]

Thank you for your replies. I asume that pirates can be every where so just thought of being prepared... I actualy thought of taking classes with a master in bow and arrow... I any event, i wont change plans to cross the pacific next year...
Best rgds Pieter

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

.......... My Pirate plan is to not ever go where Pirates have been reported.

That's my plan as well.

[F10]

Someone once said "Give me a fast ship, for I intend to go into harms way"...

[F10]

Originally Posted by Pieter

Thank you for your replies. I asume that pirates can be every where so just thought of being prepared... I actualy thought of taking classes with a master in bow and arrow... I any event, i wont change plans to cross the pacific next year...
Best rgds Pieter

I would think a non critical arrow wound would just piss someone off. Once in the 80's we had 2 a questionable deep vee speed boats approach us in the early morning around the Bahamas. They said they were lost. The skipper on my sloop got the flare gun just in case. Since we had a new boat that we were delivering, and it had no name or registration numbers displayed, I think they thought we were running something so they left us alone. I think I would use the flare gun and maybe a baseball bat for close quarters. You could even take diesel fuel, outboard gasoline, or stove alcohol fuel to make a molitov cocktail.

[Tetra]

Seems like there's a huge need for marine non-lethal defensive weapons. I'm surprised that there are some better alternatives for recreational/cruising crafts. Until then, it's probably bear spray.

[boatman61]

Skip the diesel.. not reliable.. use petrol with a generous splodge of concentrated washing up liquid.. makes the flames stick where they land.. bit like napalm..

[LoudMusic]

Originally Posted by chris mac

It sounds like an effective way of asking them to shoot you..

I was thinking the same thing.

A weapon is a weapon in the eyes of the law. If you're going to have one it might as well be the right tool for the job.

[Bill O]

Besides conjecture, could anyone provide a real reference or specific Caribbean country regulations that you can't have a bow and arrow on board? You can fly in with a bow and arrow for hunting (e.g. Mona) and it's not illegal.

I'm not talking about spear gun, not a cross bow just a standard long bow or possibly a compound for taking feral goat/pigs for food with the proper hunting licensing.

As of yet I haven't found anything specific.

[buzzstar]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

... like a machete or an Ax are I assume deadly weapons. My Pirate plan is to not ever go where Pirates have been reported.

Gee, pirates are why I've avoided Georgia for all these years, and probably why I should not live in California, although here it is mostly land pirates. Seriously, avoidance is a good plan. I do have a machete (cheap, and quickly rusty) and an axe. They can be deadly, but that is not why I have them, and to the best of my knowledge are not illegal. Or are they?

Also, has anyone had the opportunity to use one of the highly advertised flashlights (military supposedly) that are supposedly so bright and can flash fast enough to temporarily blind or disorient bad guys (I suppose that only applies at night, or does it?).

Cross bow and bolt? Cross captain and napalm substitute (mentioned by boatman), although properly designed bottles in glass are becoming more difficult to find?

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Tetra

Seems like there's a huge need for marine non-lethal defensive weapons. I'm surprised that there are some better alternatives for recreational/cruising crafts. Until then, it's probably bear spray.

In some countries bear spray is considerd a weapon . Use wasp and hornet spray. It has a longer range than bear spray and when an attacker is hit they dont keep comming at you.
Its a bug deterent and I doubt regulated harshly anywhere.

[oregoncycle]

Funny but this weapon topic is big on my bicycle tours group. I have found that wasp spray, that is available in every country I have toured in, is legal and effective. If you step on my boat, at sea, and uninvited, watch out. It can send a stream the whole length of my boat and more.