Hypothetical

[Kraken]

I have been dreaming of sailing away for over 10 years...in 4 or 5 years it looks like I really will. But I have a personal foible...I am a sucker for hard luck cases, particularly women who have gone through ugly, abusive divorces/breakups and have a stalker problem. I am war-gaming my latest project, and it is a doozy.

The woman and her ex are old friends of mine, though I haven't seen either one in 10 years. I am a software guy and have helped women secure their stuff and shake electronic tails before, but this guy is a step or two above me in hacking and seems to have gone totally over to the dark side. My advantage is, he doesn't know I am involved.

To apply this to sailing: let's say I got my dream and had my boat, and was living at a slip in a marina or better yet in a mooring field. What is the state of the art in that environment for cameras, proximity sensors, possibly sonar for divers, etc? I have a set of 7 blink cameras plus glass break, door and window sensors (which is a challenge in a house with a dog AND a cat). My current house is secure, and any thieves will be thwarted and attackers will be detected.

I may have this or some other "project" end up with me, or I may find a new one down the line...I seem to have a rep for this, and word of mouth keeps bringing questions and requests for help, and I provide it when I can. Some of these guys are armed and crazy, and I need to be able to see them coming. And with this new one, him coming to a boat in SCUBA is NOT out of the question. These guys, and especially this one, are talented, dedicated and downright mean and dangerous.

Assume the following: I'm PRETTY sure I can DELAY him getting location info but he WILL get it in a matter of a couple weeks as things stand today. He is patient and WILL discover I am involved and will recognize me, and figure out what boat is mine easily. He is a coward and won't go for me frontally, but will come at me in the sneakiest way he can, and he will at least bring a knife, probably a gun. I am living in a marina either at a slip or in a mooring field and have his objective staying on my boat. I am well armed with good communication and can quickly contact the marina and cops/sheriff. Whatever security the marina has in place, he will ignore or defeat.

So how could a boat be set up so I could see him coming and take appropriate action, short of sitting 24/7 listening intently and scanning the approach? A side question...does anyone have a link to info on proximity alarms for warning me of nearby boats/land or big obstacles in the water (like the loose container that did in Redford's boat in "All is Lost")?

[SailingHarmonie]

WTF???? You aren't even about getting a boat for 5 years and your worried about this?

P.S.: All is Lost is total BS

[Kraken]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

WTF???? You aren't even about getting a boat for 5 years and your worried about this?

P.S.: All is Lost is total BS

I started planning the Financials for this over 10 years ago. I started helping people in trouble maybe 7 years ago. I have started strategizing that new life (narrowing boat choices, how to set things up, etc) over the last year. The next 5 years will be spent learning how to sail bigger boats (18 feet is the biggest I've sailed so far), getting training and time, etc.

And as you can maybe guess, I have made a number of residual enemies over the years. Security for my living situation is a much bigger priority for me than most. Probably on a par with having a decent navigation system.

[nightowle]

I don't think you need a nautical security system. You need therapy, my friend.

[Scubaseas]

Hi Bernie!!

[Kraken]

Maybe. But the question remains. I just read a thread about a guy getting thrown off a boat at gunpoint. Does nobody in this lifestyle think about personal/boat security? Does making plans for that indicate a need for therapy?

Again, maybe. But I'd rather spend the money on some decent sensors or cameras.

[Adelie]

In general the worst you see is occasional theft when cruising. Yes there are stories of violence, but since it is so rare it’s big news when it happens.

Cruising among various countries means that taking firearms is very complicated.

As far as normal home security measures such as cameras, you are in a marine environment where electronics that aren’t purpose designed or aren’t kept in humidity controlled containers tend to have relatively short life expectancy.

Once you are cruising I would expect that it would be difficult to track you in real time unless you spent extended periods (>2months) in one place. Not that it would be impossible, but it would be difficult especially when traveling between various countries.

Hurricane/typhoon season will be periods where you may need to hole up in one place for up to 4months.

[Ballsnall]

No different to on land, security cameras, padlocks, alarms and guns.

[Drunkonwatch]

don’t drop the hook till your so far away you can party.

[Chotu]

Without getting into the madness of your approach, I’m going to just offer advice on topic.

you are in over your head. If you think you are defending your boat against someone you are describing without weapons you are not going to be defending your boat. cameras, motion detectors, brute forcing their Instagram password. what’s that going to do?

I will tell you my defense and I don’t care that the world knows it after this post because no one can break it.

1) be visibly hidden on your boat
2) have a single point of entry to get to you
3) have a pretty over the top firearm
4) kill anyone coming through the single point of entry. (works for multiple people trying to come in)


Your inexperience on boats also is showing. If a mouse moves on the boat it wakes you right up. no one is sneaking onto your boat. No one is coming up with diving gear. That’s absolutely stupid actually. Amateurs like this person you are trying to defend from will bump the small boat into the large boat and you’ll hear it. amateurs like the guy that you are describing probably doesn’t own diving gear and also certainly doesn’t have a PADI certification. You’ll also hear their propeller unless they are rowing. But if they are rowing they’re going to bump into the boat. The minute they step on the boat the boat will move and you will feel that. You just don’t understand how connected you are to the boat. You are your own security system. And what is the camera going to do? Just film you getting killed? You’re not on land anymore. You’re on your own. So you have to be responsible for yourself.

But finally, you should stop worrying so much. You’re headed to an early grave from your own brain. People don’t care that much about you. And they won’t especially when you are not within easy reach.

Plus, if you actually are intelligent, which is questionable, you won’t be giving up your location to everyone. So whatever guy this is that has you petrified, and he’s completely winning because he does, won’t even know where to look for you.

I agree with some other posters who said you should get therapy. Because the problem is you sound like somebody who is so paranoid you’re going to kill the girl that you are with thinking she is someone else when she goes out for a little air in the evening on deck. You are Way way overly paranoid. You need to get that under control.

[Dogscout]

You'll need Sharks with fricken LASER BEAMS.

[leecea]

I often feel that people are trying out story ideas by getting the forum to help. I have the same feeling about the ex-Russian military guy with the laser sighted pistol.

[Drunkonwatch]

Originally Posted by leecea

I often feel that people are trying out story ideas by getting the forum to help. I have the same feeling about the ex-Russian military guy with the laser sighted pistol.

Is it a full moon on the forum or what

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Kraken

But I have a personal foible...I am a sucker for hard luck cases, particularly women who have gone through ugly, abusive divorces/breakups and have a stalker problem. I am war-gaming my latest project, and it is a doozy.

So how could a boat be set up so I could see him coming and take appropriate action, short of sitting 24/7 listening intently and scanning the approach?

Suggest you recognize times when you are not the right solution for person in need.

This sounds like one of those instances...

-Chris

[Benz]

If the stalker is bent on murder or violence, and you have credible evidence, your duty to the female is to advise her to get the police involved.
If you're setting yourself up as a private security company, you probably need a bunker, not a boat, and you can trick it out with all the cameras and motion sensors it'll take to comfort your fears.
My fear for you, though, is that you're not living in the real world, but in a fearful, paranoid, and delusional corner of your own imagination, where your many enemies have CIA-style resources all focused on harassing you, and the malice to care enough to track you and your friends down. Delusions of grandeur, anyone?
I agree with the others that you need therapy. Just be careful selecting a therapist, since they might just be creepy stalkers bent on mischief themselves.