If you had the chance to cross an ocean, or even sail around the world in your Cape Dory, would you take a gun (or several guns) with you for protection against pirates and other intruders?
If so, what kind of gun do you think would be best? A rifle would obviously better for long-range defense, but a shotgun might be a better close-up deterrent, depending on what kind of ammunition you load it with. As for a handgun, it's easier to conceal and might be useful as a last resort and for fending off sharks.
Bear in mind that you would have to declare your arms in most ports of entry, and in some countries they would be confiscated until you are ready to sail. So you wouldn't want to leave some fancy hunting rifle to rust and be thrown around in a foreign armory.
I know some cruisers hide their guns on board, and don't declare them, but I'd be scared to do that for fear they'd confiscate my boat along with the gun.
I presume nobody carries an assault weapon -- or do they?
Finally, is it possible to sail around the world under the American flag without a gun of any kind these days?
John V.
Armed voyagers
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Sea Owl
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Monmouth Beach, NJ
Weapons on board...
John;
Interesting question, especially in light of increased piracy in areas. As a little background, I am a retired Army Officer.
I don't believe you should carry a gun for protection unless you are ready to kill somebody with it to defend yourself. Few people are really prepared to do that. Taking any kind of a weapon, and thinking that 'waving it around' will do any good is a bad assumption. The incidents I am aware of have involved one or more boats with multiple heavily armed people who were used to using them. The average cruiser (and I am making some assumptions here) would only have one single shot or semi-automatic weapon, of smaller caliber, with limited ammunition. Additionally, the odds are high they have rarely fired the weapon at anything, and are as likely to put a hole in their own boat as the pirate or the pirate's craft. Worse yet, might shoot their own crew!
Finally, there is the matter of protection. They will have massed firepower, and you, the victim, will have little or nothing to hide in/behind that will stop a bullet. Even the thick Cape Dory fiberglass won't stop the average automatic weapon or most rifles and pistols.
Pull a gun on serious pirate or thief, and I think you will find you will, in the brief moments left to you, find you have brought the equivalent of a knife to a gun fight.
For a common thief, I would advise reading Joshua Slocum. Something like tacks on the deck is much more likely to discourage a thief, and not meet with local authority displeasure.
Firearms, customs aside, and their use can land you in MUCHO hot water overseas, even if you were 'right'. Kill a local thief, and it will turn out he/she was the son/daughter of the local chief/mayor/governor, and use of weapon is.....well, I hope you get the idea.
Personally, there is nothing other than the lives of those aboard (at least on my small Cape Dory!) worth killing anybody over. I would not (and do not) carry a weapon, but instead would rely on avoiding known piracy areas, look poor at all times, and maintain a low profile.
Short version; I think a weapon on board (unless you are shark fishing!) is undesirable in a sailing boat, and might encourage risky behavior (we can go there, 'cause I have my trusty S&W!).
If you (talking to the general reader here, not you John!) carry a weapon, don't take it out unless you intend to use it and shoot to kill. If I am approaching you, and you pull a weapon, and I had one, I can guarantee you my attitude would be exactly that - I am going to assume the worst and shoot to kill before you do.
It a sad note that nobody (not just Americans) are really safe sailing the world in places, but it is what it is.
My two cents.
Sailing season is almost here locally - fair winds and tides to all!
Interesting question, especially in light of increased piracy in areas. As a little background, I am a retired Army Officer.
I don't believe you should carry a gun for protection unless you are ready to kill somebody with it to defend yourself. Few people are really prepared to do that. Taking any kind of a weapon, and thinking that 'waving it around' will do any good is a bad assumption. The incidents I am aware of have involved one or more boats with multiple heavily armed people who were used to using them. The average cruiser (and I am making some assumptions here) would only have one single shot or semi-automatic weapon, of smaller caliber, with limited ammunition. Additionally, the odds are high they have rarely fired the weapon at anything, and are as likely to put a hole in their own boat as the pirate or the pirate's craft. Worse yet, might shoot their own crew!
Finally, there is the matter of protection. They will have massed firepower, and you, the victim, will have little or nothing to hide in/behind that will stop a bullet. Even the thick Cape Dory fiberglass won't stop the average automatic weapon or most rifles and pistols.
Pull a gun on serious pirate or thief, and I think you will find you will, in the brief moments left to you, find you have brought the equivalent of a knife to a gun fight.
For a common thief, I would advise reading Joshua Slocum. Something like tacks on the deck is much more likely to discourage a thief, and not meet with local authority displeasure.
Firearms, customs aside, and their use can land you in MUCHO hot water overseas, even if you were 'right'. Kill a local thief, and it will turn out he/she was the son/daughter of the local chief/mayor/governor, and use of weapon is.....well, I hope you get the idea.
Personally, there is nothing other than the lives of those aboard (at least on my small Cape Dory!) worth killing anybody over. I would not (and do not) carry a weapon, but instead would rely on avoiding known piracy areas, look poor at all times, and maintain a low profile.
Short version; I think a weapon on board (unless you are shark fishing!) is undesirable in a sailing boat, and might encourage risky behavior (we can go there, 'cause I have my trusty S&W!).
If you (talking to the general reader here, not you John!) carry a weapon, don't take it out unless you intend to use it and shoot to kill. If I am approaching you, and you pull a weapon, and I had one, I can guarantee you my attitude would be exactly that - I am going to assume the worst and shoot to kill before you do.
It a sad note that nobody (not just Americans) are really safe sailing the world in places, but it is what it is.
My two cents.
Sailing season is almost here locally - fair winds and tides to all!
Sea Owl
CDSOA Member #1144
CDSOA Member #1144
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Neil Gordon
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Underwhelming force
As an expert on Naval Warfare (i.e., I swabbed decks on a heavy cruiser something like 40 years ago), I wouldn't take a ship, large or small, into combat without overwhelming force on my side. In most of the scarios I can envision, with or without a handgun on board, I'd lose. Escalating the conflict just seems to increase the odds I'd lose my life as well as some stuff.
Consider this scenario: Local kids in a dinghy approach your boat, smiling and waving. They don't brandish weapons if they're out of range, so how do you know? At what point do you show them your gun? As the previous post points out, pulling your gun is an ultimatum; you can't show it if you'e not prepared to use it in deadly fashion. My sense is that the odds favor the gun getting me into more trouble than it saves me from.
Consider this scenario: Local kids in a dinghy approach your boat, smiling and waving. They don't brandish weapons if they're out of range, so how do you know? At what point do you show them your gun? As the previous post points out, pulling your gun is an ultimatum; you can't show it if you'e not prepared to use it in deadly fashion. My sense is that the odds favor the gun getting me into more trouble than it saves me from.
Fair winds, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA
CDSOA member #698
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA
CDSOA member #698
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fenixrises
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Hi all,
John wrote:
While I am a real 2nd Amendmant advocate I have never owned a personal firearm. I have learned to use one very well, compliments the USMC.
I did not carry on my trip because of the hassels involved with clearances.
I met a Namibian in Fiji that checked his rifle in upon entering his first Fijian island. The officials would not return the rifle until he cleared the country. He could not carry the rifle between islands.
The long and short is that he had to pay a government official to hand carry the rifle, by air, from the first island to Suva and then reclaim the rifle before departing. This took about one month of third world paper shuffeling to accomplish!!
Ditto Sea Owl as per having one and using it. Most people have no idea how they would react to the need to use a firearm in a life threatening situation. If you do not know probably best not to have the opportunity to confront your own demons.
On the other hand you may not wish to go down without a fight.
When quiried by an official somewhere out there if I had any fire arms aboard, I replied that I thought my best defense was a smile and a friendly attitude. She smirked. I still do not have any holes in me.
Take care,
Fred
John wrote:
If I am not mistaken I just did thatIf you had the chance to cross an ocean, or even sail around the world in your Cape Dory, would you take a gun (or several guns) with you for protection against pirates and other intruders?
While I am a real 2nd Amendmant advocate I have never owned a personal firearm. I have learned to use one very well, compliments the USMC.
I did not carry on my trip because of the hassels involved with clearances.
I met a Namibian in Fiji that checked his rifle in upon entering his first Fijian island. The officials would not return the rifle until he cleared the country. He could not carry the rifle between islands.
The long and short is that he had to pay a government official to hand carry the rifle, by air, from the first island to Suva and then reclaim the rifle before departing. This took about one month of third world paper shuffeling to accomplish!!
Ditto Sea Owl as per having one and using it. Most people have no idea how they would react to the need to use a firearm in a life threatening situation. If you do not know probably best not to have the opportunity to confront your own demons.
On the other hand you may not wish to go down without a fight.
When quiried by an official somewhere out there if I had any fire arms aboard, I replied that I thought my best defense was a smile and a friendly attitude. She smirked. I still do not have any holes in me.
Take care,
Fred
You should always have an odd number of holes in your boat!
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Sea Hunt
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I generally agree with the comments of Fred, Sea Owl and Neil. In some scenarios, having a weapon on board presents the possibility of many more problems than is worth it. I suppose there are some scenarios where it may be prudent - assuming proper training, skills, etc. in the use of a weapon. It is amazing how many people own handguns, long guns, shotguns, etc. and NEVER get any training and/or NEVER go to a range to practice.
By "scenarios where it may be prudent" I mean sailing 3 miles off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden. Of course, who in their right mind would do that? And in that area, your crew should probably be a well-armed SEAL team.
I defer to the experts on this board, but my thought would be if, after careful consideration, you make the decision that you are going to carry a gun, do not carry a small handgun. Make it a 12 ga. pump action shotgun like the Remington 870 Marine grade or the Winchester Marine 12 ga. If you are approached by a well-armed squad of cutthroats, it MAY deter them; it may well not. A handgun will NOT deter them. If you are approached by a couple of local thieves on a Caribbean island looking for easy money, the sight of a shotgun has (or should have) a significant deterrent effect.
In my judgment, one of the worst things you can do is to have a weapon on board and not declare it when approached by U.S. law enforcement (including USCG). In foreign countries, as Mr. Vigor points out, this presents its own set of problems in terms of disclosing it, possibly having it confiscated and then trying to get it back.
About 25 years ago, for reasons not here relevant, I was on a USCG Medium Endurance Cutter ("MEC") transiting the Yucatan Peninsula. At about 0200 hours the skipper encountered a 34'-36' sailboat. The skipper radioed and told the sailboat to heave to. The seas were rough. Even the MEC was bouncing around. The skipper asked the usual questions: how many people on board
; nationality ; destination , etc. Americans, husband, wife and two teenage daughters heading back to US. All routine. Then the skipper asked "any weapons on board?" Two weapons - shotgun and pistol (if I recall correctly). The attitude of the skipper and his crew changed visibly. Instead of a boarding party of 4-6, it was increased to 8 - all armed. The skipper asked the sailboat captain several questions about the weapons - location , loaded , etc. and told him to muster everyone in the cockpit.
When the boarding party returned to the MEC we learned it was a liveaboard family that had done (or were in the middle of) a circumnavigation. All documents in order. Imagine the potential problems if the sailboat skipper had attempted to conceal the weapons and failed to disclose them. Bottom line - in this case, no problems. Well, except for the embarrassment of a few of the boarding party. As difficult as it is to believe, it seems when they boarded the small sailboat a couple of very young Coasties started to get seasick from the unaccustomed rocking of the small sailboat versus the less violent rocking of the MEC. The teenage girls, who we were told were very pretty, started giggling at the sight of some of the boarding party getting sick. The CG personnel were understandably very embarrassed. The crew hazed them for the rest of the transit.
In their defense, it was a big Coast Guard cutter; it was a small sailboat; it was pitch black; and the seas were very rough.
Well, time to go the sailing club and work on S/V Tadpole - starboard toe rail sanding. O/B emergency kill switch still on back order from Suzuki. Bummer.
By "scenarios where it may be prudent" I mean sailing 3 miles off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden. Of course, who in their right mind would do that? And in that area, your crew should probably be a well-armed SEAL team.
I defer to the experts on this board, but my thought would be if, after careful consideration, you make the decision that you are going to carry a gun, do not carry a small handgun. Make it a 12 ga. pump action shotgun like the Remington 870 Marine grade or the Winchester Marine 12 ga. If you are approached by a well-armed squad of cutthroats, it MAY deter them; it may well not. A handgun will NOT deter them. If you are approached by a couple of local thieves on a Caribbean island looking for easy money, the sight of a shotgun has (or should have) a significant deterrent effect.
In my judgment, one of the worst things you can do is to have a weapon on board and not declare it when approached by U.S. law enforcement (including USCG). In foreign countries, as Mr. Vigor points out, this presents its own set of problems in terms of disclosing it, possibly having it confiscated and then trying to get it back.
About 25 years ago, for reasons not here relevant, I was on a USCG Medium Endurance Cutter ("MEC") transiting the Yucatan Peninsula. At about 0200 hours the skipper encountered a 34'-36' sailboat. The skipper radioed and told the sailboat to heave to. The seas were rough. Even the MEC was bouncing around. The skipper asked the usual questions: how many people on board
; nationality ; destination , etc. Americans, husband, wife and two teenage daughters heading back to US. All routine. Then the skipper asked "any weapons on board?" Two weapons - shotgun and pistol (if I recall correctly). The attitude of the skipper and his crew changed visibly. Instead of a boarding party of 4-6, it was increased to 8 - all armed. The skipper asked the sailboat captain several questions about the weapons - location , loaded , etc. and told him to muster everyone in the cockpit.When the boarding party returned to the MEC we learned it was a liveaboard family that had done (or were in the middle of) a circumnavigation. All documents in order. Imagine the potential problems if the sailboat skipper had attempted to conceal the weapons and failed to disclose them. Bottom line - in this case, no problems. Well, except for the embarrassment of a few of the boarding party. As difficult as it is to believe, it seems when they boarded the small sailboat a couple of very young Coasties started to get seasick from the unaccustomed rocking of the small sailboat versus the less violent rocking of the MEC. The teenage girls, who we were told were very pretty, started giggling at the sight of some of the boarding party getting sick. The CG personnel were understandably very embarrassed. The crew hazed them for the rest of the transit.
In their defense, it was a big Coast Guard cutter; it was a small sailboat; it was pitch black; and the seas were very rough.
Well, time to go the sailing club and work on S/V Tadpole - starboard toe rail sanding. O/B emergency kill switch still on back order from Suzuki. Bummer.
Fair winds,
Robert
Sea Hunt a/k/a "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
Robert
Sea Hunt a/k/a "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
First thing: You must be mentally prepared to kill a person if you intend to carry a weapon. I spent 35 years in law enforcement and encountered many individuals carrying hand guns who were not prepared to kill. The end result being having their weapon taken away from them and were used upon them. Not a pretty end result.
There are many alternatives. Awareness being number one. Security being number two. Don't leave your boat open or your dinghy unsecured. Be prepared. You can acquire stainless steel grids for the hatches which will leave them open for ventilation but preclude unwanted entry. Stainless steel lifelines (uncoated) on a fiberglass boat would be insulated from the water; connect a fence charger to the lifelines. A couple of well placed strain gauges on the deck would give you advanced notice of someone on your deck. Then you have two choices: A very loud alarm to scare them away or a very silent alarm to alert you of their presence. Bright deck lights to illuminate them or a very dark cabin so they cannot see you.
If you are away from your boat after dark can you turn on your deck lights remotely to see if someone is hiding and waiting for you to return.
When all else has failed and as a last result having acquired the hand to hand skills to defend yourself is prudent. Do you know where to cut a person to cause their leg to cease to function properly or where to cut their arm so that they can no longer use it?
There are also many weapons that you can legally carry to defend your boat and your self against those who tend to sneak on board.
Never go after someone who has crawled aboard your boat; wait for them to come to you! Always fight on your home ground; you know the boat and they don't.
Think out side of the box. Bow and Arrow for bow fishing. Spear gun for spear fishing. You can concentrate the juice of the Oleander and put it on the tip of a pole spear. Even a spud gun at very close range could be fatal. Fillet knife has a very long and very sharp blade. A can of hornet spray and a cigarette lighter makes a very good flame thrower. Carry a 100,000 volt stun gun. Keep one of the stun guns with a very long handle on the boat so you can zap someone trying to come down the hatch without getting to close to them.
Last but not least remember that you are in a foreign country and they may not take lightly to you wounding or killing one of their country men. If you find it necessary to cause one of those individuals to cease to exist dispose of the body and prepare to depart that area as soon as possible.
There are many alternatives. Awareness being number one. Security being number two. Don't leave your boat open or your dinghy unsecured. Be prepared. You can acquire stainless steel grids for the hatches which will leave them open for ventilation but preclude unwanted entry. Stainless steel lifelines (uncoated) on a fiberglass boat would be insulated from the water; connect a fence charger to the lifelines. A couple of well placed strain gauges on the deck would give you advanced notice of someone on your deck. Then you have two choices: A very loud alarm to scare them away or a very silent alarm to alert you of their presence. Bright deck lights to illuminate them or a very dark cabin so they cannot see you.
If you are away from your boat after dark can you turn on your deck lights remotely to see if someone is hiding and waiting for you to return.
When all else has failed and as a last result having acquired the hand to hand skills to defend yourself is prudent. Do you know where to cut a person to cause their leg to cease to function properly or where to cut their arm so that they can no longer use it?
There are also many weapons that you can legally carry to defend your boat and your self against those who tend to sneak on board.
Never go after someone who has crawled aboard your boat; wait for them to come to you! Always fight on your home ground; you know the boat and they don't.
Think out side of the box. Bow and Arrow for bow fishing. Spear gun for spear fishing. You can concentrate the juice of the Oleander and put it on the tip of a pole spear. Even a spud gun at very close range could be fatal. Fillet knife has a very long and very sharp blade. A can of hornet spray and a cigarette lighter makes a very good flame thrower. Carry a 100,000 volt stun gun. Keep one of the stun guns with a very long handle on the boat so you can zap someone trying to come down the hatch without getting to close to them.
Last but not least remember that you are in a foreign country and they may not take lightly to you wounding or killing one of their country men. If you find it necessary to cause one of those individuals to cease to exist dispose of the body and prepare to depart that area as soon as possible.
Last edited by sharkbait on Apr 6th, '09, 11:31, edited 1 time in total.
Have A Nice Day
firearms on my boat
The fast answer is no. There are few countries where my weapon would be welcome, and as I would be a guest in their home, I would not want to bring or do any thing that would be offensive to my hosts. That said, I have had the old 44 on my boat here at home. Not that I had fear of anyone I would meet at sea or any harbor I would enter but because I did not want to leave it in my car that I was leaving behind, to fall into the hands of someone who might break into it.
I was boarded by the coast guard on this trip and as you know the first question is, do you have a weapon aboard? I declared it and they took possession of it. when they left It was returned along with its ammunition separately and I was ask not to reload until they were gone. Had this been in a foreign land things would not have been as simple.
I was boarded by the coast guard on this trip and as you know the first question is, do you have a weapon aboard? I declared it and they took possession of it. when they left It was returned along with its ammunition separately and I was ask not to reload until they were gone. Had this been in a foreign land things would not have been as simple.
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Steve Laume
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If crossing an ocean or traveling to foreign lands included territories occupied by dangerous bears the answer would be, yes.
I did a backpacking trip in Alaska many years ago. After asking the advice of a number of locals we decided to carry a heavy revolver. A shot the gun a bunch before leaving and had a hunting background. It was somewhat comforting to be carrying but I still felt under gunned if it had become needed. The difference with bears is that warning shots could be effective.
If I was going ashore anywhere there were polar bears I would feel much better about doing so if I had a rifle or shot gun. Killing an animal would be a last resort. The noise would be a deterrent. A show of force works for you with bears.
People are a whole different animal, Steve.
I did a backpacking trip in Alaska many years ago. After asking the advice of a number of locals we decided to carry a heavy revolver. A shot the gun a bunch before leaving and had a hunting background. It was somewhat comforting to be carrying but I still felt under gunned if it had become needed. The difference with bears is that warning shots could be effective.
If I was going ashore anywhere there were polar bears I would feel much better about doing so if I had a rifle or shot gun. Killing an animal would be a last resort. The noise would be a deterrent. A show of force works for you with bears.
People are a whole different animal, Steve.
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The Patriot
- Posts: 380
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What Would You Do At Home?
I certainly second the statements and cautions of other writers on the difficulties involved. In this context "home defense" refers to persons and not property.John Vigor wrote:If you had the chance to cross an ocean, or even sail around the world in your Cape Dory, would you take a gun (or several guns) with you for protection against pirates and other intruders? ...
One way to analyze the firearms question is to compare the boat situation to the situation in one's home. The likelihood of a threatening encounter is small in either instance, but we are more likely to encounter an intruder at home than a pirate on board. So in the home, and considering the legal requirements, equipment expense, logistics, maintenance, training requirements, safety issues, children, etc., are you prepared to defend yourself and others with lethal force with firearms? Many people say "yes" to this but in the US most say "no."
If the answer for armed home defense is "yes," then analyze the boat question in a similar way, using the same lethal force criterion in defense of people and not property. In my view, while armed home defense is itself very complicated, it is comparatively simple compared to defense on a small boat, in an unpredictable location, involving unpredictable local authorities, maintenance issues, stowage and availability, etc. For example I am very familiar with the laws in my home state regarding firearms in the home, but I have no idea what laws pertain when anchored in a local cove at the shore, let alone in a distant anchorage. These complications must be analyzed well in advance.
Once firearms are in the equation, they become a 24/7 proposition and there is absolutely no room for error. Only the inexperienced believe that planning to "wound" or merely "scare" a threatening invader is realistic. I have encountered many individuals with small arsenals on board, both in and outside the US. However I have not yet been able to see clearly how the whole thing "hangs together" in the general case. I suspect the consensus is that the complexities on board outweigh the advantages for most people, myself included.
Last edited by The Patriot on Apr 8th, '09, 09:50, edited 2 times in total.
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Steve Laume
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There aren't any lions, tigers, grizzly or polar bears in CT so all of my guns stay locked up in the safe.
No one mentioned dogs as a theft deterrent or for personal protection. It would be a brave soul who could confidently walk into our house at night. They would certainly not do it undetected.
Dogs on a boat are not without problems of their own but may have more merit than a firearm. You would be unlikely to find yourself in a third world jail for having a dog aboard though.
If I could blast ticks I would be carrying, Steve.
No one mentioned dogs as a theft deterrent or for personal protection. It would be a brave soul who could confidently walk into our house at night. They would certainly not do it undetected.
Dogs on a boat are not without problems of their own but may have more merit than a firearm. You would be unlikely to find yourself in a third world jail for having a dog aboard though.
If I could blast ticks I would be carrying, Steve.
I agree with all that you should never carry (or show) a firearm unless you are fully prepared to use it. To me - being prepared means both physically capable (trained with the firearm) - and mentally prepared with the notion of taking another's life.
I was an MP in the Army - and while I consider myself very capable of using a firearm - I think very few are mentally prepared with the notion of taking another's life. Fortunately - I never had to.
I don't carry a firearm on my boat - and try to avoid (as best possible) to ever be in a situation where I wish I had.
I was an MP in the Army - and while I consider myself very capable of using a firearm - I think very few are mentally prepared with the notion of taking another's life. Fortunately - I never had to.
I don't carry a firearm on my boat - and try to avoid (as best possible) to ever be in a situation where I wish I had.
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Kevin Kaldenbach
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guns
Let me take the other side of this discussion. I don’t know that I would take a gun with me, but if I found my self sailing somewhere where crime is on an increases I might just carry a gun. It would be a pistol, preferably one I bought cheep second hand with no paperwork leading back to me. ACP 45 would be my first choice since it is a slow moving hunk of lead with lots of knock down power.
The rifle idea has two draw backs. First try maneuvering a rifle or shotgun in a bathroom. Too big for tight spots. Second think how bad you would feel when you found out those pirates you picked off from 100 yards were really fishermen trying to sell you some fish.
I would declare my guns and follow the laws
The rifle idea has two draw backs. First try maneuvering a rifle or shotgun in a bathroom. Too big for tight spots. Second think how bad you would feel when you found out those pirates you picked off from 100 yards were really fishermen trying to sell you some fish.
I would declare my guns and follow the laws
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Wayne Grenier
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What would happen if you shot someone in the chest with one of those 12 gauge flares? I'd bet it would slow them down don't you think? Are we not allready armed? knives-which handles etc. I can think of many items on a boat that could be used as weapons-
A gun could go off acidentally and put a hole in the boat-then you'd feel silly wouldn't you?
A gun could go off acidentally and put a hole in the boat-then you'd feel silly wouldn't you?
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Sea Hunt
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In a post early this morning, I referenced the Gulf of Aden and Somali pirates. Now, it's happened again 
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04 ... index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04 ... index.html
Fair winds,
Robert
Sea Hunt a/k/a "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
Robert
Sea Hunt a/k/a "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
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S/V Necessity
- Posts: 147
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- Location: 1981 CD28 #305
Columbia, MO
Another rifle drawback.
Another drawback I see to the rifle is that it's main advantage (accuracy at a distance) is negated by the fact that the boat isn't exactly a stable platform.
And for those who are thinking of using a flare gun. Practice with one first for sure. I had a bunch of old flares and decided that this would be a decent way to get rid of them. All I can say is: *if* I had a cheap plastic flare gun with a bunch of old expired flares, and you had a skillet. You would win hands down.... Perhaps fresh flares would have impressed me more.
And for those who are thinking of using a flare gun. Practice with one first for sure. I had a bunch of old flares and decided that this would be a decent way to get rid of them. All I can say is: *if* I had a cheap plastic flare gun with a bunch of old expired flares, and you had a skillet. You would win hands down.... Perhaps fresh flares would have impressed me more.