Defending your boat (pirates, angry mobs of fisherman etc)

[GreenHeaven]

The world is becoming increasingly violent and attacks on boats more common. Just last year a friend told a story of someone he knew disappearing in the red sea area. Even in Med countries, fishermen, locals can take great offence and try to board you.

I read a post of long time member who described ways to defend his boat during the somali pirate days, but didnt specify how. He has gone. website up, but email not working. I think his name was John? he has stories on his website, one of a boat being attacked and a giant container ship helping but I cant find it now

I would love to hear some practical defense strategies. Firearms are illegal in most countries, but I suspect some carry anyway because when seconds count, help is only hours away!

I would also like to discus no lethal options if there are any.

This is a serious problem and it deserves to be discussed in the same way life saving equipment and safety equipment. imo laws regulating firearms are designed for land based populaces for obvious reasons. The ocean is utterly different.

[Franziska]

I'm sorry, but let's ignore this thread. It's been discussed a thousand times and will be just a repercussion and stress for the moderators.

If you want, just use the search function in the forum, and you have endless hours of reading material.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Franziska

I'm sorry, but let's ignore this thread. It's been discussed a thousand times and will be just a repercussion and stress for the moderators.

If you want, just use the search function in the forum, and you have endless hours of reading material.

Have to agree, all I would add to the OP is that cruising is perhaps not for you.

[Bmorgan562]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Have to agree, all I would add to the OP is that cruising is perhaps not for you.

I don’t usually smile and laugh so early in the morning (still waking up). but these first replies are awesome (not being facetious). WHY WASTE TIME!

[RedneckRedcoat]

Originally Posted by Bmorgan562

I don’t usually smile and laugh so early in the morning (still waking up). but these first replies are awesome (not being facetious). WHY WASTE TIME!

Agree , been full time cruising 3 years and never felt the need for a gun on board. If you’re in a location that has pirates move to a safer location. Have owned guns on land but don’t see the need for them in a boat.

[Giro]

Originally Posted by Franziska

I'm sorry, but let's ignore this thread. It's been discussed a thousand times and will be just a repercussion and stress for the moderators.

If you want, just use the search function in the forum, and you have endless hours of reading material.

None of us should decide what posts should be ignored and what posts should not be ignored. Perhaps it is because I live in the USA, where freedom of speech is still allowed, that I feel the way do. Freedom of speech is still allowed here, currently, at least.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Giro

None of us should decide what posts should be ignored and what posts should not be ignored. Perhaps it is because I live in the USA, where freedom of speech is still allowed, that I feel the way do. Freedom of speech is still allowed here, currently, at least.

Just to be clear, 'free speech' is not allowed on CF. In fact, it is specifically denied in a variety of ways. See https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ork&page=rules

In particular note - We believe in public freedom of speech but that right does not infer that others have to publish your speech. Cruisers Forum is not a public resource; it is privately owned and we require members to abide by our rules and by the decisions of our staff. If you post outside these guidelines your post may be edited or deleted - this does not violate your right to Free Speech.


Remember, these are the conditions you agreed to when you signed up for free membership to CF.

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by Giro

None of us should decide what posts should be ignored and what posts should not be ignored. Perhaps it is because I live in the USA, where freedom of speech is still allowed, that I feel the way do. Freedom of speech is still allowed here, currently, at least.

Your freedom of speech in public spaces does not place an obligation on me to pay attention or even notice that you have spoken whether in public or private.

The corollary of freedom of speech is freedom to ignore.

Under ThreadTools there is an option to ignore a thread.

If you click on a particular poster's username in a post or PM there is a menu offering the option to Ignore that member's posts and I assume their threads. Ignoring a member hides all their posts, but quotes of it will still be visible.

Franziska brought up ignoring this thread as a means of avoiding the trainwreck it is likely to become. In the end this thread will likely be closed when it turns into a flame war and various members will likely be sanctioned to varying degrees depending on how rude/insulting they become.

I could be wrong, in the 13-1/2yr I have been on this forum there have been a few like this that just petered out. I'm hopeful this one does, serious cleanup after a bunfight is such a chore for the mods.

As Wotname indicates this is a private venue and members freedom of speech is somewhat restricted compared to a public venue.

In public you can be rude and the topic can drift in whatever direction people want.

Here if you are rude your posts will be deleted and you will be sanctioned.
If the topic drifts away from something related to cruising it will be brought back on topic or the thread will be closed.
If members start discussing ways to circumvent laws those discussions get shut down too regardless of whether or not they are cruising related. You want to bitch about laws, fine. Posts about circumventing laws get deleted. We are not interested in answering subpoenas for member's personal info.

If everybody can avoid being rude and stay on topic, the thread can keep going.

[capn ken]

Originally Posted by Franziska

I'm sorry, but let's ignore this thread. It's been discussed a thousand times and will be just a repercussion and stress for the moderators.

If you want, just use the search function in the forum, and you have endless hours of reading material.

Thank you for some common sense .

[Mike OReilly]

Your premise is flawed; the world is not more dangerous today. And your solution has been well discussed. Most actual world cruisers find guns to be useless and bothersome tools.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Your premise is flawed; the world is not more dangerous today. And your solution has been well discussed. Most actual world cruisers find guns to be useless and bothersome tools.

I still think my response is both appropriate and succinct. I was not trying to be insulting, but the OP’s claim is simply wrong. There is no evidence I am aware of that supports the claim that “The world is becoming increasingly violent and attacks on boats more common.”

Meanwhile, both LE and Exile have outlined the clear reasons why most experienced cruisers eschew guns as a useful means of protection. There are a litany of problems which make their effectiveness dubious in most situations. And there are far better ways to keep yourself safe. Added to this the fact that there are significant challenges international travellers face when they want to carry firearms.

As I said, the end result is that for most cruisers (Jedi being our local exception), guns are both useless, and not worth the bureauocratic bother.

[sailorboy1]

only pirates I have come across are ashore selling stuff and I nonlethal walk away

[Ded reckoner]

I think one thing that has changed the dynamic for the better is Starlink. With high bandwidth, it is possible to quickly uplink photos and videos of anyone approaching your boat or threatening you. A May Day call on VHF radio not only sends out your distress call but informs perpetrators you are aware and requesting help. If you have uploaded video, this would be a good thing to broadcast. HF radio has a lot longer range for real time contact in emergencies than VHF. DSC is a very long range distress communication, but response times are hours or even days. Other prudent measures include staying well informed. If possible, make passages in flotillas. There's that "safety in numbers" thing. Choose the best time of day for passages. If you're on anchor, do your business and be out and about in the daytime. Stay well clear of known or suspected areas of concern (e.g. sail north of the ABC's, not south of them). There are innumerable things you can do to provide non-lethal security for your boat (e.g. locks, cameras, etc).


Firearms are problematic. Most countries are hostile to cruisers carrying firearms. Many require these be turned over and stored with them, which, of course, disarms you. Some countries will confiscate your boat if you are caught hiding firearms.

If you are boarded, and you are at a disadvantage (such as with a street mugging), give them what they want. Placating perpetrators might turn their wrath and violence away from you and your crew.

[PNWSalmon]

Angry mobs of fishermen ????

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by PNWSalmon

Angry mobs of fishermen ????

Yes, there is a recent story from an investigative journalist revealing how the captain and crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel murdered crews of other fishing vessels in the South China Sea. We’re talking about head shots until all are dead and making selfies while in the act.
Only after the story came out (they found out who did it) was the captain arrested. I’m sure you can find it on YouTube or something.

For the OP: discussing this normally is impossible on this forum. Luckily there is a very good book: Pirates Aboard!: Forty Cases of Piracy Today and What Bluewater Cruisers Can Do About It
https://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Aboar.../dp/1574091654