As a Kiwi the whole nation was devastated in the death of Sir Peter Blake. He was and still is a national hero. He was a lion of a man, many New Zealand sailors owe their love of sailing to Peter. All New Zealanders loved Peter and his courage and determination was unstoppable. He will be forever missed. RIP Peter.
One night I woke up to footsteps on deck above my aft berth. This was in my marina slip in New Jersey. The three individuals that were walking on my deck were arrested that night. Two of them had guns. They left my boat when they triggered the motion detecting light in the cockpit. While I’m glad for the motion lights and cameras I had installed, I was even more glad that they weren’t my last line of defense.
There are a few unknown things. First are the people robbing you only after the dingy or do they wish to harm your kids, wife and you in that order. Then leave you adrift in a possibly non functioning boat in the ocean? The second unknown is if you are armed and have trains to deal with multiple threats. If robbers knew people were armed it’s reasonable to believe they wouldn’t rob you. Prevention is always good. So is a well trained marksman.
@@Engineer-Machinist The problem is this: Most robbers and thieves, especially professional ones (not just opportunist thieves), don't care about lights and alarms. They just know: Who will identify them? How? The victims may have seen their face, but just think of any case where a serial killer's face was shown to the public: it's not like anyone called in like "hey, I know that guy. That's joe from the office". Most people aren't even aware anything happened, see the drawing let alone positively identify someone. Camera footage is useless if the victim can't name the assailant themselves. Descriptions only to lead to immediate arrests if the thief gets spotted right at the crime scene and right after. So yeah, in short: They don't give a damn. But this is not pro-gun. I am kinda on the fence myself, it is a good way to defend yourself, especially in poor and/or remote locations, but then again: Guns might make things worse. Peter B. might not have been harmed if he hadn't shot at the robbers, better to lose a watch and an outboard and just get away with your skin intact than die over a few watches and an outboard. On the other hand: It's only speculation and you don't know. Every situation is different. And there are other stories as well, like the americans who were attacked by pirates and shot dead 3 or so and successfully deterred the criminals. There are stories on both sides, and both have their legit pros but also cons. Guns can make the outcome a lot worse for you or your family, not to mention the fact, that not only good guys are allowed to have guns on their boat then. You also have guys like John McAfee who are totally coked up, paranoid and shizophrenic lol. My personal take is: I don't know what is the best policy.
Wasn't aware of the full story of Peter Blake. Top achiever! Tristan Jones, met the man once, said he packed a bow and arrows and would demonstrate proficiency on shore for the locals, and as a deterrent when in tricky areas. Sailing acquaintance of mine went through the Panama canal, west to east and a day out the other side had a power boat closing in. Having a bad feeling he changed course and so did the other. At that point he dropped sail, turned on the stereo full blast echoing bagpipe music across the ocean while blasting at beer cans being lofted over the stern with his marine 12 ga. The boat that was following left the area. This was not the beaten path. Piracy is right up there with the most heinous crimes humans can commit! Agree stay on the beaten path. Keep a low profile while staying alert....situational awareness. When it's time to move your ass...MOVE IT.
Oh... Old Tristan! I think I have every one of his books. He did "embellish" a little, but he ALWAYS had great adventure stories. I'm too old to do the 'sail around the world thing (I had to work to make my retirement cache). So now, for me "The World" will be mostly the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays and an ICW trip around Florida into the Gulf and Gulf States. And, I'll have some of my shootin' irons with me for sure. It'll be my choice between the 12-gauge or the flintlock blunderbuss as to which one any bad actor who boards my boat will see.
Currently living in Texas, having guns is to a great extent expected. But when I decided to become a live-aboard international cruiser I had to to think seriously whether it was worth it to travel armed or not. As you mentioned the issues clearing customs with firearms can be challenging. You may think you have a good hiding place for a gun to get away with not declaring it. Keep in mind, though, the penalties for having an undeclared firearm can be rather harsh. But the real deciding factor was that true pirates were going to be significantly better armed than I could be. So rather than having a gun which could increase my willingness to take a risk, my preference is to keep a sacrificial wallet with some cash in it available. Things can be replaced. As a side note, I remember watching the video of the Whitbread race with Steinlager duking it out with Fisher & Paykel in the Southern Ocean. Seeing 80 foot maxies hitting 30 knots surfing down waves was incredible!!
I surfed 25 knotts down the backs of 30 foot waves in a 65 foot aluminum mini-maxi delivery to Fla. in the mid '80's, preGPS. It was incredible. Because of the flat bottom hull in front of the fin keel, coming off the top of a huge wave, that surface area would "oil can".(flex in & out). These are not the conditions the boat was designed for. Therefore, we had to do our best to steer (5 foot diameter wheel) to windward quickly when coming off the top of a wave so the side of the hull took the impact down the back side of a wave. However, the rudder was not so easy to steer until the stern started to lift.It had to be "timed" perfectly. It was a tremendous physical work out to try to keep the hull from oil canning, for that part of the trip where we encountered those unexpected huge seas..
I used to be more scared of the authorities having a problem with guns on board than of pirates. Then I actually went cruising and I am way more scared of pirates than the authorities. I was chased for hours 100 miles off of the Yucatán in the GOMEX. When they caught up with me I made a show of going below and returning wearing a hooded sweatshirt in the sweltering heat with my hand in the pouch holding my flare gun. I also had two peanut butter jars full of gasoline at my feet. It was a 50’ steel fishing boat made up mostly of rust with a foot of growth on the hull. There were 7 extremely dirty mean looking and drugged out “fisherman” lined up on the rail. I yelled out “que paso?” And the didn’t reply, just stared at me. I asked again and after another long pause they just asked for some water. Basically, the leader was supposed to give the sign to jump but seeing me with my hand in the sweatshirt pouch made him think twice. If you think it is a good policy to comply with pirates you are an idiot. Maybe if it is only men aboard but if you have an attractive wife or daughter aboard then the chances of them not having something horrible happen to them are next to none. Using the Blake incident as an example of why not to fight back is lame. He was drunk out of his mind and had a single shot rifle.
As a Brazilian born grandson of a Kiwi, my family was extremely saddened by this tragic case. Things have improved in Brazil, but we have a lot to do. This is a very helpful discussion and whereas I was always taught to never react and always hand over material posessions, there is something about carrying a weapon which is appealing, even though the circumstances in which they might be put to effective use are probably very rare. However.... effective action number one is to not go close to where there is a high homicide rate!! Macapá, where Sir Peter was killed, has 64 homicides per 100thd inhabitants. Santos, on the coast of São Paulo, where I live, has 2.5 per 100thd. Bahamas is about 29 but then you have to look at where in the Bahamas. As a matter of interest, Macapá is closer to BVI than it is to Santos. Stay away from bad areas is number one action.
Thank you for sharing this amazing story with me. For those of us who are new to the world of sailing, it’s important that we learn about these iconic individuals
Where were you in 2000 when I was seriously thinking about single handling around the world, much less cruising the Caribbean for the rest of my life? Now I am 70, and I don't think I have the health and the stamina to even do the latter. Your channel is an inspiration. Keep up the good work!
Hey, I'm 68. For us old-timers who worked and dreamed for that Cruising World future that eluded us, just remember -- we're NOT done. Think about a smaller boat that is easy to maintain and single-hand (in case the wife doesn't share the dream) and plot out an area that will be your version of "The World." For me, it's the Chesapeake Bay and other nearby waterways like the Delaware Bay, ICW, etc. Just plot things out so you can explore and anchor wherever you want. Live on the hook as much as possible and try to spend nothing on marinas. Use a dingy when you go ashore for food and booze, or couple the trip with a fuel stop, shower, lunch/dinner ashore, etc.
@@yepiratesworkshop7997 WELL SAID! My mom is 75, for her, it’s kayaking and fly-fishing the Adirondacks and the Florida Keys. She stays fit and stays at it, because all of her friends who never paddled anything but the recliner are getting frail and having trouble climbing stairs. Stay active, it’s worth EVERYTHING.
To have a firearm onboard is a personal choice depending on your local laws etc. Being ex-British army and having served all over the world in both peace keeping and combat roles I can see both point of views (defence vs escalation). I'm going to assume that anyone that would consider having a firearm onboard has the appropriate skill and training to be able to use and service it correctly. That said I would point out that the effective use of a firearm in a highly stressful and potentially deadly situation is very different from going to the range now to practice but that's a topic for a different thread. All that said I would strongly advise that anyone thinking about having a firearm onboard consider the following as a starting point: Legal and regulatory considerations: Different countries and regions have varying regulations regarding firearms possession and transportation. When sailing across international waters or visiting foreign ports, you may encounter legal complications and restrictions. It's essential to familiarise yourself with the laws of the countries you plan to visit and comply with their regulations. Safety risks: A sailboat is a confined space, and discharging a firearm on board can pose significant safety risks. Bullets can penetrate bulkheads, rigging, or other structures, potentially endangering crew members or damaging the vessel itself. The recoil and noise generated by firearms can also be challenging to manage in a small, unstable environment. Potential for escalation: Carrying firearms on board may increase the risk of dangerous situations escalating. While firearms can provide a means of self-defence, they can also escalate conflicts and increase the likelihood of violence. It's important to consider alternative strategies for personal safety and conflict resolution, such as situational awareness, communication, and de-escalation techniques. Perception and interactions with authorities: Some countries and regions may view the presence of firearms on board as a potential threat or cause for concern. This could lead to heightened scrutiny from local authorities, potential delays, or other complications during immigration and customs procedures. It's crucial to be mindful of local customs, regulations, and the potential impact of carrying firearms on board. Maintenance and storage challenges: Firearms require proper maintenance to function reliably. The marine environment, with its exposure to saltwater, humidity, and other corrosive elements, can pose challenges for firearm upkeep. Additionally, securely storing firearms on a sailboat to prevent unauthorised access while ensuring their protection from the elements can be challenging. Ultimately it your choice.
Marine of 8 years, hunter for most of my life prior, i am very familiar with guns. As someone else commented "be proficient, maybe practice a couple invasions." But if you cant stop them from coming aboard... is anything on board worth your life, or your loved ones? Think long and hard. Only pull that gun if you are 99% certain you will prevail.
Being unarmed when you are boarded is no guarantee of being left alive either… I’ve had a number of friends and family on both sides (Scottish and American) in the US/UK Navies and US Coast Guard through the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s, some of whom had very grim stories of finding plundered boats at sea, a couple still with their occupants shot to death inside. A lot of times such plundered boats are simply reported as ‘abandoned”, or victims of piracy are simply reported as ‘missing”; assuming anyone even notices they are gone. The simple truth is that piracy is a very real and very dangerous problem, and simply relying on the ‘good nature” of men willing to take everything from you and leave you for dead at sea; isn’t a viable option. Better to keep a firearm you may never need, than to need a firearm and be 8,000 miles from the nearest gun shop…
Just got back from a trip to New Zealand and got to go out on Lion for a day and I gotta say it is impressive! Also, got to see the America’s Cup and his red socks.
I just watched the news about the retired couple from Virginia whose ransacked boat was found near Grenada... Timely. A very sad story. The idea of not having access to a gun is one if the biggest line-items in the CON category of our PRO/CON list of cruising. Prayers for that couple and their family.
Personally, no gun. Too many complications. I did meet a well known sailor in the US who was hailed by a boat in distress on the Intracoastal. And when they saw the off-watch casually bring up a twin barrel shotgun, all of a sudden they had no trouble motoring away. The simple SIGHT of the shotgun stopped a hijacking.
When ever a closer look at the stats is taken this is the most common outcome with guns. Far more likely to end a situation without violence than to escalate . Gun owners are not likely going to report the incident in many situations.
@@beorbeorian150trust I’ve been in two situations where I was almost robbed n didn’t report one was a guy trying to car jack me at a red light n another was in front of my house coming home from work late at night but hey we’re looking for someone n thought I was there friend either way guy in my passenger window def had something in that hoodie n I was cornered in my own car after parallel parking.
@@Malibus_Most_Wanted remember reading an fbi report that it is 4 times more likely a gun will be used to stop a crime than be used in one. It was from an anonymous study where people could report incidents like you stated without fear of being charged by a Democratic attorney general for defending themselves.
As a Kiwi I can tell you our country mourned Sir Peter Blake for months. Interesting side note the boy holding the basket for Peter is none other than Phillip Jameson (Blood) who I use to sell with in Wellington. Phillip was known also as Peter's Brat, he has become an legendary salior himself. Our country has very strick gun laws and I can honestly say 99.99% of us sailors in NZ would NoT need a gun.
I'm struggling with this. I believe in being prepared. And I don't plan to follow the beaten path. Last year, I was in Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Tahiti, Marquesas Islands, Mexico, and Guatemala on sailboats. I plan to continue to explore a bit off the beaten path. For most of those trips, we had a firearm aboard. What are your thoughts for those of us who venture outside the Bahamas, BVI, USVI, and Puerto Rica?
@@c8342 Only 2 places boarded the boat. Galapagos and Mexico. Neither was looking for a firearm. We had issues getting in and out of Costa Rica. But it was just a frustrating and time consuming process. We are don't ask, don't tell as far as questions asked by authorities.
@@skatersmith81 handgun. Please understand that I am not highly experienced in this. I'm traveling by land this week to Virginia. I've made the decision to leave firearms at home. It's highly unlikely to be a problem. But the consequences are just too high for my comfort. Staying within the law is highly recommended. I definitely do not want to be in a 3rd world country's prison.
One of the first things I learned in martial arts was the concept of "avoidance". If I'm in a place where I feel compelled to carry. I figure I'm in the wrong place. I carried weapons aboard my boat while sailing for months at a time during summer with my wife but we were sailing the coast of Alaska. I wasn't carrying them because I was concerned about people.
Sometimes avoidance isn't an option, or you must pick the lesser of two evils. Example, do you go around Cape Hope or through the red sea? Both have their risks and dangers. But if you are going that way, you cannot avoid a bad area.
Practicing avoidance, maintaining situational awareness, regular training in Jujitsu and with my firearms are all parts of my it'll be you and not me guarantee for anyone who wants to bring trouble my way. What's that the kids say these days, "fuk around and find out" or something like that....?
While I avoid these crappy areas too, there are scores of stories about people living in "safe" areas being victims of a serious crime. Sadly, evil knows no bounds. Safe areas are simply those areas with a statistically significant smaller probability of a major crime. Violence seems to be spreading everywhere these days. Avoidance should NOT be your entire plan to stay safe.
Sailing Alaska has its own issues. If you are stopping and hiking inland from time to time then there are many places where weapons are needed to protect you from wildlife.
Greta topic. Former cop and long time sailor. In U S waters a firearm is really not necessary. Some places it might make sense to carry internationally but the Customs issues can be a really big problem so I wouldn’t risk it. Plenty of improvised weapons readily available on your boat. I do carry a safe and simple revolver on road trips and when staying at hotels. Investigated too many cases where the victim could have used a little help. With any weapon get good training, go to the range regularly and hope you never need to use it.
Maritime laws state firearms as survival equipment for a vessel n they should be in a safe or armory aboard when you come in from what I’ve read on the forums they either document them n check to make sure you didn’t magically go missing or they will hold on to them for your stay there
I have been in a cruising situation where I did not have a gun, but wish that I did. That is a scary feeling, and I felt stupid for being unprepared to protect my vessel, crew, and myself. Fortunately, we had a bit of luck that diffused the situation, but it could have gone the other way just as easily. I will not be unprepared again. This was in the Bahamas in an anchorage at Great Sale Cay. Well traveled cruising ground and normally safe - but not always we discovered. You never have to use your weapon in a situation, but it only makes sense to have it as an option if you really need it.
Do you choose not to travel to places that will put you in prison if you have a gun? Personally, my goal is to circumnavigate, and the logistics of carrying a gun and navigating each countries gun laws makes it not worth it to me. Glad you came out safe from your experience without needing a gun. Nobody died, so no gun was the right call even though you don't think so.
Not a big commenter but given my experience I thought I should say something. I shot competitively for 12 years, 8 years as a top ten US and international competitor in 3gun (pistol, rifle, shotgun). 3gun is a tactical shooting sport. Additionally, I did LRP (Long Range Precision) work as a contractor for the military as well as working for some 3 letter agencies. Also provided marksmanship and advanced weapons training for various SF teams over the years as well. Beyond that I've got 11 years fighting Muy Thai and 10 years training Jujitsu (this becomes pertenant later). I'm a huge fan of the 2nd amendment if you hadn't guessed and I conceal carry when I'm in the US (just haven't been there in some years). Living here in SE Asia I've never thought of wanting to carry, just don't feel it's needed here (plus it's illegal for me to own a gun here). I say this as I understand different environments have different needs and I'm not here to comment on IF you should have a gun or not, you need to think on that for yourself. I'm just going to to provide a starting point for some items I think are important to consider. Here's my thoughts.... 1. IF you plan to employ any weapon you MUST practice with it on a regular basis. This cannot be overstated! 2. If you plan to employ any weapon, the first conversation you need to have with yourself is the toughest and you need to be honest with yourself. WILL I USE THIS TO TAKE A LIFE? You must think on this, a lot. Any time you potentially wield lethal force your goal needs to be ending a life. In a defensive situation the worst thing you can do is "shoot to injure" and not to kill. 3. If you plan to choose a gun areas you need to think about: a. Environment: You will be in a tight space and you are not trying to engage targets at a distance. So we're talking handgun or shot gun. A rifle is a bad idea. b. Skill Building/Training: YOU WILL NEED TO TRAIN REGULARLY! But, how often will you actually be able to shoot your gun in practice? The less you can practice the more important it is to have something easy to shoot. This brings pistols into question. Pistols are the hardest firearms to shoot as they are the only firearms we hold from a single point at the very rear of the tool. Pistols require a high level of practice on a regular basis to maintain reliable skills. Real life and the movies are very different, it's extremely easy to miss with a pistol. Now you didn't hit your enemy BUT WHAT DID YOU HIT? Shotguns are the easiest firearms to shoot. As long as you are confident on how to operate the tool on a basic level you'll be good. Practice loading, unloading, clearing jams and cycling... other than that you just need to point it in the direction of danger and pull the trigger. Want it even easier, install a small tactical light on the front of it and use the hot point of the beam as your aiming tool. c. Penetration: You must think about your environment, a boat. Okay what is your boat made of... wood? Plastic? Metal? With the firearm you're considering; how easily will it penetrate your environment. If you miss will it go through a wall and hit your daughter? Will it go through the hull and let fish in? What about into the engine room...fuel tank? Rifles are very powerful and will likely penetrate any boat building materials. Pistols will depend on the material and the caliber. Shotguns will never have over penetration issues on hard surfaces. Penetration issues also apply to potential targets as well, lets say you don't miss and you kit the target... what firearm/ammo are you using? Will the bullet over penetrate and hit your friend standing behind your intended target? d. Ammo Choice: Not all ammo is the same. Also, notice I call it ammo and not bullets. Bullets are the projectile of only two of the 3 types of firearms and not used at all with shotguns so be accurate with your speech. Ammo is the assembly. This topic matters! Pistols and rifles we need to transfer the projectile energy to the target. This applies the most intended damage and halts or minimizes over penetration. This means you are looking for a hollow point defense round and no it isn't cheap for the good stuff. But, you're going to spend the extra money and get the right gear. You aren't going to use them unless you need them and you have an expensive boat so quit crying about this and purchase the right thing. Target (FMJ or Full Metal Jacket) ammo will over penetrate reliably, don't use it. Shotgun ammo isn't all the same either. Shoot a man with bird shot and you'll piss him off for sure, buck shot and you'll stop him for sure. There's slugs but now you're back to aiming like a rifle. e. Maintenance: Oh yes my boating buddies these require maintenance too and what happens when we don't maintain our toys? That's right so we're going to make certain we clean/oil the firearm regularly inspecting for any rust. Doesn't need to be dripping wet, a thin shiny coat is perfect. Also, ammo at sea takes a beating the same as everything else so we're going to replace our ammo once per year. I'm guessing if you need the gun, you'll prefer the ammo works. f. Accessibility: There's a saying in parts of the shooting community, "Your glove box isn't a holster." Basically saying that if you're out pumping gas and get robbed, you aren't going to be able to use your defense tool as you aren't going to be able to get it if it's not on you. I'm not saying to carry the gun around the boat (unless it's needed at the moment) but I am saying it will need to be accessible AND READY. An unloaded gun is just a stick or a paperweight. It needs to be stored with ammo in it, not in the chamber ready to shoot but loaded in the magazine. g. Safety: NEVER POINT A GUN AT SOMETHING YOU AREN'T WILLING TO DESTROY! Pay attention where the gun is pointed when you're holding and no it doesn't matter if it's loaded or not. WE SIMPLY DON'T POINT GUNS AT PEOPLE unless we're about to gift them with hot lead. Study some basic firearm safety and this means for EVERYONE onboard. Especially the kids. Ever notice kids who accidentally shot themselves or others are always located in the city? That's because city parents hide their gun and don't teach their kids while country kids get raised with firearms and are taught firearm safety when they are little. All the kids around my circle start shooting no later than 6 years old. They all understand guns and how to use them, if they need it they'll know what to do. Otherwise they aren't curious about a taboo item they know nothing about, they understand it's a potentially dangerous tool that demands respect and care. h. Protection: This is what we're really after isn't? To feel safe? Well, sorry to say that having a gun won't make you safe. It is only a tool that you may choose to have around but if it ever comes time, it's you that will need to make you safe using that tool. This means you will need to be practiced and proficient with the tool AND willing to use it and this means potentially employing lethal force (AKA killing someone). Can you do that? Be honest... can you, with out hesitation take a person life because they present a danger to you? Maybe they just want your outboard, maybe they want to kill you and rape your wife... you going to ask them first? Understand this isn't a joke, if you carry a weapon you aren't capable and willing to use then you are likely just carrying around with you the item that is eventually going to end your life. I suggest looking at other things as well and my favorite of them all is Jujitsu. Training Jujitsu is fun and builds friendships. The skills you'll learn will provide you the ability to successfully defend yourself even if the opponent is larger. In Jujitsu strength matters little and technique matters a lot. My 4'11" 40kg wife can submit you, yes you. Because she trains and you don't you wouldn't stand a chance and she'll have you twisted up begging for her to let go IF SHE DOESN'T CHOKE YOU OUT ENTIRELY. Gun or no gun, knife or no knife I'm never not armed do to the fighting skills I have and this provides me with a level of confidence navigating the world that untrained people can't have. Also with this you can subdue a person without hurting them. This makes it a great thing for kids as well. So think about training as well and may peace be your journey. If you can't tell by my writing I'm autistic so sorry if it was thick to get through. I'm here to help in any way that I can... I'll answer questions, give purchasing advice, assist with getting you trained or whatever I can help you all with. A gun is like insurance that you hope you never need to use.... sure would hate to need it and not have it though. This is a big decision indeed, hope you take it serious. May peace be your journey!
While you your comments on some aspects are very real I think you missed a couple of very very important areas to cover, These are just some of my thoughts as a non-american 1) You constitutional rights dont mean two bob in another country. 2) If you break the law in any way overseas IE carrying a concealed weapon be prepared to spend a reasonable time in gaol. 3) know the laws of the country your going into and respect their laws. IE if I come to America I respect and abide by your laws, you come to Australia I expect you will abide by our laws.
Good comment summing up the many questions you have to ask yourself about this. I'm a gun owner but almost certainly wouldn't have one on board when cruising.
Just because you have a weapon, doesn’t mean you have to use it. You do need the judgment and experience to know when it’s needed. Needing a weapon, and not having one, carries greater consequences than having one, and not needing it.
I am retired Coast Guard and saw many crimes of opportunity usually from fisherman this was usually in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Saw it all the time. We would find boats with no souls onboard or get called up they were getting attacked people whispering into mic. If Sir Peter had a handgun and knew how to use it then it would have been a different outcome. Remember it is not illegal to have firearms onboard unless you enter another country's waters. Almost all fisherman carry guns to protect themselves from other fisherman.
Aye, I’ve heard many such stories over the years from my mates and family in the UK/US Navy and Coast Guard. Finding seemingly abandoned boats at sea, and others shot up, plundered of anything valuable. A couple of those stores were instances of finding boats shot up with their formerly living occupants still inside. Piracy is a serious problem which gets heavily under reported around the world. How many instances of ‘abandoned boats” are actually a result of piracy? How many people go ‘missing at sea” were victims of piracy? Quite a few countries under report such instances for fear of hurting their tourism, or for appearing weak on the international stage.. The fact that major Nations do everything they can to prohibit private boats and merchants from being allowed to keep and bear arms for defence; while they themselves struggle to manage the rise of piracy; is maddening… This is one Scotsman made American who will never be unarmed, not even at sea.
About to retire 20 years early and going to sail…I’ve carried a gun for 28 years and im really uncomfortable not having one, this is the only reason i haven’t bought a boat yet
Just get the boat. I’m not saying my boat is heavily armed. Find a good carpenter and some magnet locks and no one will find them. I don’t leave my house with out a pistol
Your allowed to have firearms according to maritime law it’s considered survival equipment you need a place for them to be locked n secured that’s the only rule when you come into port some countries will confiscate for your visit others document the serial numbers n make sure you leave with them
You said "Too many stories of crew having guns and....escalating to homicide..."Can you name them?" I haven't heard of many... But I have heard of many pirate encounters which were violent. (Yes - most not violent.)
Thank you! you changed and enlightened my mind about guns on boats 😢 what a very sad story on Sir Blake - such a needless waste and such a great man. 😇
Gun or no gun , depends where you sail and what type of boat you have. I live in Ecuador on oceanfront , I would never have a sailboat here or almost anywhere in South America . Since the pandemia , poverty had grown exponentially and fishermen are getting attacked in their small boat by the gangs and got their outboard stolen regularly even at 80 miles out ! I’ve sailed from Montreal to the Bahamas alone in 2001-2002 , anchored in the middle of nowhere along the coast and in the Bahamas near islands alone , never got scared . I had a flare gun and flare gun could shoot pretty good and it’s legal to have onboard in case of emergency right? But sailing around Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico ,I’m sitting on the top of the fence between having a real gun or not because South America is way different than the rest of the planet , after what I’ve seen here in Ecuador in terms of crimes, I would have to think twice for not having a gun on a boat. Happy sailing and be safe !
Yes, south and central American countries have the highest murder rates in the entire world in recent years. The potential for danger is certainly there. I'm definitely with you. Better to have and not need than need and not have.
You mean the north part of South America. Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and south Brazil is safe. Central America, if you talk about Panama and Costa Rica are quite safe.
I support your view on the topic of having a firearm on board. I personally own several firearms and have given the subject of carring one on board a good bit of thought. There are a lot of moving parts when making this decision but the real big question is, are you capable of knowing when to bring a firearm out and if you do you obviously better be prepared to use it without reservation. Beyond that you are then open to the consequences of your actions under what ever jurisdiction you might find yourself, which in itself is another part of the equation when making this decision.
true , after watching crime shows I'm inclined to believe the best place to carry is in your own house unless your in big city or have stupid boy running around
Thank you for informing sailors of the real world of cruising and paying respect to Sir Peter Blake too whom I sailed with and against. I have many years and miles under under my hull and I agree fully with your comments. I am also of the view most cruiser would not shoot to kill but the robbers are willing to do so and having a weapon escalates the situation. The robbers / pirates will more than likely be more skilled with there weapons than a cruise as Sir Peter Blake unfortunately found out. Yes, life is worth more than an outboard and as you eluded to managing of weapons through customs normally means the removal of the weapon off the vessel and collection of the weapon prior to departure means back tracking to the port of arrival to check out.
The hard truth is not many understand how much training is needed to use this tool. That is what we are talking about here. No one gets to regreat not using this tool when needed twice. Knowing that a gun free zone is a place where the killer with a gun can do anything they want should answer the question. I always assume every else has a gun, because I do. We just do not have the neec to talk about it. Great Video
If it was common practice for cruisers to carry the intruders would think twice before they boarded. We have counties in the US that it is mandatory homeowners to own firearms because the crime was so bad. They passed a ordinance and crime dropped 80% in the first year.
There´s just five counties in US that has mandatory gun ownership. The only one of those five close to a sailable water is Gun Barrel City in Texas, and that is a inland reservoir. The context regarding guns on boats is not addressed at US specificly. The question is raised in a general context going abroad with one in your possession. No you don't travel abroad with a kinetic weapon of any kind whatsoever.
As a former Marine and retired police Lieutenant from Boston; been solo sailing north and south of Boston for several years now; I never sail without at least a sidearm; with the current state of the world; I’m considering a long rifle. I’m not paranoid as some will say; I’ve simply seen too many people become victims.
It's a personal decision and nobody else's business. Aside from the prohibitions in some countries or the pita legalities in others (where you might need to surrender it while in port), the pros & cons are entirely to be weighed by each boat. Honestly, don''t really care what anybody else might think about it in terms of being a factor in my decision. Yes, I am an American who is a fervent supporter of the 2nd amendment. Could you tell? Yes, I understand that if & when I visit another country I have to obey all the laws of that country.
Not sure, but sailing and boating in many waters for well over 50 years, I have opted to Not carry, but again in certain areas I would seriously consider it especially in parts of south east Asia.
Having carried a weapon for over three decades, I'll always feel better with rather than without. The most common allegory would be fire extinguishers or a life raft. While it can be a pain to cart them around and ensure they're aways ready, let alone the costs for something you hope you'll never use, it's better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them. Customs is the only reason I don't always have one on hand anymore. US , US territories, and Bahamas are reasonable, the rest are not.
My nephew and I are both in our late 50's and are fairly big guys. We've been around. We both own guns but never carry them. We also both agreed that we have been in tricky situations where it was bad enough that we may have pulled a gun had we had one. Fortunately, we managed to get out of any previous situations with nobody getting arrested or hurt. If we had had a gun, the outcome could have been different. Maybe we were just lucky.
Simply having a gun doesn’t mean you’re more likely to pull it. You still gotta use your noggin, read the room, and try deescalation. Simply having a gun means you have a backup option in case those other options fail..
As a very likely buyer in '24 or 25. And an avid 2A guy, here's my take. Depends on where I end up. Caribbean, agreed. Not worth the hassle. But if I was sailing through Panama right now, or the sea of Cortez, I'd have to seriously think about something for the boat. Concealed if necessary. But being defenseless seems insane. I applaud the man's life and impact. I'd need to know much more to pass any judgment. A jammed rifle is just tragic.
A rifle is TOTALLY inappropriate for close quarters - it's for punching holes in the fast skiff and its occupants. A good reliable sidearm (auto Beretta, Glock etc.) that you know how to conceal and draw/fire is the way to go.
@@dancarter482 A rifle is situational, just as a pistol is. If you are boarded, a handgun or low velocity shotgun is best. If a skiff is powering up towards you with a half dozen blokes with AKs, you want something that can reach out and create some standoff distance. The last thing you want to do is have to defend your boat point blank with a handgun against men with automatics. Target practice at sea can be done safely and cheaply. (Other than maybe ammo, unless you got a .22 for practice) buy some bio degradable balloons, fill em with air and a little water. Set them adrift (far from any coast or boat traffic) and start practicing your moving target skills on a boat.
I'm 73 years old with many international miles under my keel. The U.S. Marine Corps provided my weapons training. I've never felt that escalating a situation, with any weapon, improved its outcome ... the John Wayne solution is best left on the big screen of fantasy.
Thanks for taking on such a controversial and important subject. I don’t think that there’s an easy answer but I come down on the side of, if there are two guns it’s more likely that someone is going to be shot than if there’s only one.
Great subject and thank you for the video. My first time coming across the channel and so glad I did. I do agree with just about everything you said. That being said, my uncle was killed off the coast of Venezuela on his sailboat by people boarding saying they needed help. The other man on the boat was thrown a 12 gauge from his wife, and proceeded to fire. The ones that were not hit retreated and were captured. It seemed as they were going to kill the man and take the women and the boat. All this being said, I believe they were off the beaten path. They had started their trip in Texas where they retired early. Thanks again sorry this was long-winded.
If you don’t sail in dangerous places then a gun is probably not necessary, but IMO if you have armed assailants then you have to think they are going to use them. Thinking they are going to take what they want and leave witnesses is a fairly big risk.
@@jonathanrabbitt my school thought is if you don’t do anything then you’re dead. I refuse to be one of those that die thinking everything will be alright if you do what they say,
@@jonathanrabbitt as many as needs be. Most small raiders use long skiffs, with anywhere between four and eight pirates on board. Most of the time they are looking for easy targets, not a firefight. But if lead does start to fly, better you have some means of throwing some back…
I'd rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I live in Arkansas and I carry almost everywhere I go now as bad as its gotten. BUT.. it would be nice to b able to go somewhere that I wouldn't be worried about carrying.
@@BillyBlaze7 @user-ux4re4bt4h Guys, come to Australia. It exists. It's not a fantasy. 🙂 You will not see or hear firearms unless you take your bolt action hunting rifle to the range to sight it in, or take it out hunting. As for firearms on boats, just as I wouldn't walk down a dark alley after midnight on my own, I wouldn't sail to places that are known problems. In the highly unlikely event that some poor local dudes came to our boat I'd make them a sandwich and a cup of tea and ask them about their families. I'd give them some tins of food and some beer to take away. But highly unlikely.
Sailing the "beaten path" you´re probably better off having no gun. But already by going, let´s say, from Grenada to Isla Margarita passing or even stopping at Los Testigos (wonderful place!) you wish to have a little more firepower than just a flare gun. I sailed that entire coast of Venezuela 12 years ago and already then had various encounters where i felt a little unsafe and outgunned with my 28mm flaregun. On the other hand, every single encounter went well, you tend to be very defensive and deescalating when feeling outgunned - luckily that always worked well for us. That, and teamimg up in groups with US yachts who were armed..... 🙂
I carry a firearm every day, and I still do my best to avoid bad situations and choose careful deescalation. Carrying a firearm doesn’t make it your first and only option for protecting yourself, but gives you that last resort emergency option, should all others fail.
Ha, after reading your comments section I am glad your presentation cleared the air.🙄 Nothing more polarizing than a gun discussion or maybe what anchor to use. ANYWAY GREAT TRIBUTE TO A SAILING HERO. I have been sailing the Caribbean since the late 70's. I don't carry a gun for the very simple reason is at the place you would need a weapon is on anchor and if you admit to having a weapon you will have to turn it in and if you don't and they find it there goes your boat. When at sea forget it, you WILL be outgunned. Biggest problem in the Caribbean is petty crime and I don't want to be faced with the lifelong horror of killing someone who was trying to steal my outboard. Plus the assailant will probably be related to someone of importance on the very island you are visiting......the horror of nightly rats crewing on my toes in some god forsaken jail gives me the creeps. On the other hand piracy is obviously not to be taken lightly. There is a boat by the name of Quest where 2 couples were machined down by 16 "kids" with AK's off Somalia. Well documented in the book "Voyage into Hell" by Steven Siguaw. I became much aware of this boat after pulling into Puerto Rico for repairs 2 years ago when the current owner invited me aboard and asked me to count the bullet holes. It was an amazing display of firepower to say the least. He has been slowly filling the holes. FWIW I am not a gun hater. Ex military trained as a light weapons "expert" ex Green Beret Vietnam vet 68-69.
Congratulations for your new job at Practical Sailor. I have to say that some articles at practical sailors are outdated.I will give you one example: I was searching for dripless stuffing boxes and I fell on an article that was dated of October 2000."Lasdrop and PYI Outscore Four Other Dripless Shaft Seal Makers" . Sometimes opening my mouth pays off and lastly it did. Talking to marina personal I discovered the Volvo dripless seal and this one is factory installed on all Jeanneau's and Beneteau's. This Volvo booth is the simplest thing and it is not prone to catastrophic failures like the PYI Dripless or the Lasdrop , also I found these 2 last kind of flimsy and I you not put those on my sailboat. Once you have a Volvo booth all you have to do is grease it every 200 hours. Some of these have reported over 5000 hours of motoring without issues. For a Catalina 42 MKII it cost me 228$ plus taxes: the cheapest of them all and probably the best on the market. So I think Practical Sailor willl benefit to update some very old content. Cheers
Hi, I always watch your channel, I'm Brazilian and I've been living on board a 30-footer for 2 years with my wife and two dogs, here in Brazil there is a huge amount of weapons in the hands of criminals and although most of the coast is very quiet and peaceful, there are very violent places, statistics around here say that an armed person has an average of 60% more chance of being killed in a robbery, many sailors have weapons around here and I understand why, but I personally prefer to take risks losing only material goods than risking being shot.
The problem with those statistics, is they conflate armed robberies while the home owners are armed and at home, with robberies while the owners aren’t even home.. This, along with many other misleading data and incomplete information leads to that 60% ‘statistic” being very heavily skewed and misleading.
If you're a non-gunner, there are still other things that make great weapons and can be called "tools" if you're dealing with police, customs, etc. One thing I always have nearby is a short version of a spiked fireman's axe (which is not far off from the old "boarding axe" of yesteryear). If you live near a Harbor Freight store, they're about $19. You have it aboard, of course, so that you can cut away rigging, lines, etc. -- or even through the fiberglass to get at a fire during an emergency. But, it'll work just as well as they did in the days of "wooden ships and iron men." $20. Mount it on the wall just inside the companionway.
As a Texan who lives in the country with a house full of guns, my own, and passed down through the family... I can't wait to travel to places where there is no real need for guns. Anyone who comes aboard can have any stuff they want. Stuff is not worth dying for.
@jamesrussell9511 Chances are, nobody will be hurt... When you come out guns blazing against multiple attackers WHO HAVE GUNS, it's not going to end well for you. I have a house full of guns, but I'm also able to process information, and having these guns statistically raises my chances of dying by gun violence.
Hello fellow Texan! Having traveled the Caribbean and Eastern pacific doing counter narcotics I share your opinion on the matter with one caveat, if I am traveling to somewhere with active piracy threats I plan on bringing a shotgun, typically considered a defensive weapon by most countries it gets less trouble at customs.
@ryanhall9877 Hello fellow Texan! Yep. A shotgun is my home defense weapon of choice. I keep a shell in the chamber, but I've always imagined that if I have time, I might rack it anyway. EVERYONE knows the sound a racking shotgun makes, and NOONE wants to be standing in a hallway with a shotgun on the other side of a door. 🤷🏻♂️. On the water, my plan is to stay away from the active piracy and problem areas. There are plenty of places to go that have no worries other than petty crime.
No gun as we are speaking of, but a nice flare gun and a spear gun will be my choice! Pay the guy at the dock for the fish and always have candy for the kids. Cheers
Sir Peter was hugely liked in NZ, with his exploits in the Whitbread around the world races and later in The America's Cup campaigns, so it was very sad for many when news of his death surfaced. I remember laying a wreath for him at the jetty in Omokoroa, a small coastal town close to Tauranga NZ, My son, who was about 5yrs old at the time, was quite cut up about it all. RIP Sir Peter.
Well, in Germany you need a small arms license for the flare gun on a boat already. But the license for a "real" gun is even more strict. So: No - would most probably not carry a gun as it would be illegal in Germany, few Germans have the license to do so legally. I think your view on the topic is quite reasonable.
An English vessel can have two shotguns (with appropriate certification) for "Boat deffence" - fortunately. There is some fantastic ammunition available for the 12guage shotgun these days!
What about Alan Culverwell who was shot and killed at Guna Yala Panama May 2 2019. Also Sailing Sea Tramp were boarded by pirates near the San Blas islands. Thanks for talking about Peter Blake, a great man. One of a kind
I had on old 12 gauge on board, hadn't looked at it in years.. hmmm, don't know why the hammer is back.. BAMMMM!!!!!! (OK, laugh.. but accidental discharges are VERY common.. ) I was stunned, it was very loud inside the small cabin, and it was filled with gunsmoke. I fell backwards and hurt my wrist. Pumping out the shell.. Oh, even better, it was a load of buckshot, fired into the back corner of the galley. Started throwing pot and pans around to find the holes. The load had gone through a jar of pickled garlic and obviously obliterated it, then through another pot, and finally through the side of a thick steel stew pot, hitting the bottom of the pot obliquely, bulging it down about an inch.. Wow, no damage to the hull, though I continued searching madly for several minutes. Awhile later the harbor patrol boat cruised by.. "Hey, everything ok?" "Oh yeah fine sir" Stared at me a long minute then said "OK, have a good night"
@@SenorTucanoI would agree. I’ve never experienced an accidental discharge, nor witnessed one in all my years of shooting with competent people. I’ve known someone who was doing what they shouldn’t and accidentally discharged his weapon, but it was due to incompetence. Take care of your weapon and store it properly and guns behave predictably. That is the absolute truth.
@@paulmitchell2916ad only happen with lack of respect n lack of knowledge guns don’t just go off other than a few big known manufacturers defects but that’s besides the point I carry a loaded handgun everyday it has never gone off unless I have pulled that trigger
To say retrospectively that anyone who unintentionally fires a gun is incompetent (at that moment) is a tautology, and completely misses my point. People get sleepy, distracted, angry, to say nothing of sliding into substance abuse or mental illness. No set of good practices can eliminate the human factors. If anyone thinks they can guarantee that they will never in the future fire a gun accidentally, they're kidding themselves.
It would be great to gather all the stories we can of Guns in the sea, to compare how many times they've saved someone, vs how many times they've cause their owners problems (customs hassle, incident escalation, self-injury etc). I suspect they're more trouble than their worth.... especially in a world with the Ikaros Line Thrower, aka the companionway clearer.
You realize Australia will transport your firearms to the port you plan on leaving from you have to have a safe n be professional n compitent with a firearm n maintain your firearms it sounds like this kiwi left the gun on the boat loaded when needed n it built of rust costing his life
@@Malibus_Most_WantedI'd reckon what cost him his life was using a long gun in a small space against a group of guys. They all had a clear advantage over him, whether he hit his first target or not.
@@Malibus_Most_Wanted you do realize "You MUST comply with all the legislative requirements in respect to firearms in the Australian State/s or Territories you are visiting" what that means. Queensland for example a nanny state has a moving goal post with no common sense., An example would the sig sauer model 223 in 10mm is legal but the sig sauer model in 9mm is illegal. This being simply because the Queensland government is unaware that the firearm(s) in general are made in several different calibers. Firearms could be illegal in one state in Australia but legal in others. This is much like California in the US that considers many firearms assault weapons on a similar moving goal post with no basis common sense. If you show up in Queensland with your illegal firearm(s) that's the end of the line, the only semi safe state is Western Australia. Really difficult to sail from New Caledonia all the way to Western Australia.
@@geezescopildo895 did you read what I said you have to declare on of course there illegal that’s why the Australian port will hold on arrival into Australia i Any firearm would be illegal due to not having a Aussie license to have them but during your visit you will get them when you back leave port you will not have access your whole stay in Australia which is fine
Thank you very much for the work you do. This is a great topic and you present the issue in an excellent manner. My vote? No gun. If they want to take ______ - they can have it.
My wife and I have sailed over 10,000 nm through the Malacca Strait, west-to-east across Indonesia into the Forgotten Islands. More than once, we have had the local fisherman in wooden working boats motoring by in the distance and suddenly change course, motoring straight towards our Beneteau 47.7. As they got closer, we could see they they were all wearing brimmed hats and had balaclavas covering their faces. We could see them waving their arms at us as they approached, closer and closer. What would you do in a situation like this? If you are like us - a guest in their country and their home fishing ground ... we waved back. These men rarely saw a fiberglass boat, let alone a 47 foot Beneteau sailing yacht and were curious about what we were doing there. When they were within shouting distance, we heard, "Selfie, Mister! Selfie!" and saw them with smartphones in hand, wanting to take a picture of these uncommon travellers and the (beautiful and foreign-to-them) yacht. Had we emerged on deck with a rifle (in their country, in their fishing spot just offshore of thier town or village), they may not have thought so kindly of us. Someone has to be first to NOT pick up a weapon.
Famous last words of many at the bottom of the ocean or in a pine box. However, I agree with your story, the circumstances and hypotheticals, others though, may not have such peaceful intentions.
It's a warm and fuzzy thought... I wish the whole world was this way... that this was true everywhere... that kindness and generosity were ubiquitous... unfortunately, that is not the world we live in... don't believe me?.. tonight, right around 5pm, turn on the news.......
For me, the question is less about cruising and self defense as it is about staying in Canada and hunting on the coast, plus some target shooting wherever I can find somewhere that'll let me. Soon I'll be living aboard with virtually no ties to land... if I can help it... but silly 'safe storage' laws can be interpreted to require that i have a 'permanent residence'. No matter how I phrase the question and no matter to how many 'experts', I always get a different answer.
I grew up in Baltimore City and somehow never felt I needed a gun on land. I have the same theory now that live aboard a sailboat. I bought my boat in July of 2020 and by August while digging through all the stuff the previous owners left me, I found a magazine loaded with 9mm ammo deep down in a forward closet. I turned it over to the local police and told them that if I found anything else they would be hearing from me. I’ve since done a full refit of the boat and I feel pretty confident that there is nothing else onboard. But it’s something to think about when you buy a used boat. Although you may not have a gun…. Your used boat might and you should really do a thorough search of every nook and cranny when you take possession of your boat.
On the topic of pirates an interesting fact during the golden age of priacy around 1630 - 1730, around 50% of priate ships in the carribean were single masted sloops from under 45ft - 70ft. With crews in the dozens. They were shallow draft, fast, very popular merchant ships and lots of islands so don't need that much storage. A very popular type was the Bermuda sloop. Now the layout is very different to our modern sail boats but it is weird to think that a boat a couple retires on nowadays, could have been crewed by 80+men 200 years ago. A very different image than media portrays of hige galleons with 40 cannon and having burthon weights in the 100s of tons. Whereas they are more likely have 4 cannon and weigh 20 tons burten.
Interesting observation and I suspect the basic idea - that the number of crew required to sail a given length of boat was much more a couple of hundred years ago. But it may not be as big a difference as it sounds. Better to compare boats of similar displacement, not just LOA. A 52' Bermuda Sloop of the erra was likely 70+ tons compared to an Amel 52 at 16 tons.
@@jrr1lp just to preface, we don't know the displacement, the measure they used was tons Burthen that doesn't really match up to displacement. So what they actually displaced is unknown. The fact thye had a full height orlop deck and then a deck below that for stores and ballest with little less than full height, shows they definitely displaced more, but it would have still been very tight. Pirate ships had much larger crews than merchant men so many were there to overwhelm the vessel. But the merchant man still had larger crews, which makes sense everything has to be done by hand, repairs, looking after the crew, cook, even down to not having a clock.
Being a US Navy Vet I would only consider having a shotgun for self defense on a boat. Having said that I'm not sure I would bring one, just not wanting to deal with customs and all the different laws in every country that apply. Your right that piracy is rare, and I think the best course of action is not to sail off the beaten path and avoid known trouble spots!
As a long time sailor, and a retired police officer, IF you're going to take a gun with you while sailing, you'd better be very good with it (lots of practice), maintain it (amazing how most firearms attract rust while on board) and be prepared to take proactive action with it (shoot first). Most sailors are not in that category. The firearm will be more of a hazard to the crew then to the "bad guys". A firefight on board a boat is in a very small space and is likely to be an event that is not anticipated. I don't carry a firearm aboard. Of course, I don't go sailing in places known to be frequented by unsavory characters. But is your life really worth hanging on to "stuff" that can be replaced?
The introduction of a firearm to any tense situation comes with great, great probability of a regrettable outcome. However, I also believe that wielding a firearm comes with an exceptional duty to be expertly proficient with it and I don't just mean being able to aim it. If you choose to carry aboard, be responsible and acquire appropriate marine-specific training.
This is well put. As an Alaskan I know firearms and have a CC license. I strongly believe in the 2nd Amendment. A gun is a serious tool and should only be considered by an individual with extensive training, responsibility, and intelligence. I am considering getting a sail boat and doubt that I will carry for personal protection. It just doesn’t seem responsible or smart.
Definitely gun. But only one I am familiar with. And I for sure do not think killing somebody over property is justified. But certain guns at certain ranges and sober, I like my chances against any criminal. Who usually are actually terrible with guns. I think defense planning is something that needs to happen to prevent any need of any force to the highest degree possible. Locks, lights, noise, awareness, safety in numbers etc.
It is easy to say ‘I would never kill to protect property.” Until ‘property” means ‘everything I need to survive at Sea.” A pirate leaving you adrift in your dinghy with only a bottle of water and can of peas is no less leaving you for dead than if he simply shoots you…
I took 2 guns sailing to the Bahamas and was none the worse for having done so. I carry a gun every day back home like millions of other Americans so it’s not out of place in my daily life. If I could take a gun cruising to other locations as easily as I did in the Bahamas I would. Unfortunately my next multi year cruise will probably include too many countries that are not gun friendly. So I plan on leaving them behind.
You're out of your wheelhouse on this one son ! For those of us who have carried weapons professionally and retired we know better... It is sad that Peter's weapon of choice was not a handgun...
No guns for me. I'd agree..let them have it and be gone. But what i would like to say...As a proud New Zealander. Thank you for the kind words of Sir Peter Blake, a great sailor and a great person. It was truly a sad day when Sir Peter Blake was so cruelly taken from us. RIP Sir Peter Blake. And condolences to family and friends through all these years 🙏 ❤️
"... let them have it and be gone." Even if it's your wife? Daughter? You can't possibly know their intentions until AFTER it's over.... when it's too late to do anything. Not say'n, just say'n.
Clearly, by your comment context, you have never been in an adverse situation of the type in the topic. I understand your thoughts and feelings as most people think things only happen to others. I pray your life remains as blessed as it has been thus far. And if anything ever happens I hope that the bad men have the intentions you want them to have. With luck their intentions won't include loss of life or any less than pleasant actions towards any of your female crew. Best of luck and may peace be your journey!
@sterlingarcher1962 may you live life without facing violent crime. Me?.... I carry every day in every place I legally can. I have a spare tire & jack in my truck (along with cold weather gear in the winter), a couple fire extinguishers in my home, my various insurance policies are always paid up..... and a gun in my holster. Hope I never need any of them.
Orher forms of protection while sailing.. Boat dogs, two small ones ( yappie alarms) ,two larger dogs ( anti boarding deterrent/prevention). Last line of defence, spear guns ( loaded and ready to go ), Crossbow/ longbow. Flare guns ( loaded ready to go ). And failing that Ninja swords and Rambo combat knives. But all the above is useless unless you practice drilling a boat invasion ,and work on you drill routine.
There are a number of ways to protect yourself and others. Risk/Reward analysis should be conducted by experienced professionals. Having different levels of reaction and having a crew well rehearsed in implementation is critical to success. Plans should be appropriate, depending on area (s) travelled. Be alert ~ BE PREPARED
Seems like having a gun is not the way to go. I'd be interested in stories where pirates or bandits boarded, and it all ended without injury. What steps should you take? What should you say or not say? Should you have a plan for people to hide?
Would you retreat into a cave that has only one opening when your attackers are upon you? Would simply hope and plead that they spare your life? Do you not value your life ?
@@flightbug2902 I don't know what I would do. I am informed by what is successful. That's why I'd be interested in hearing more stories about successful approaches. If I knew someone was coming for just some cash, I wouldn't risk my life to save it. If they were coming to kidnap or harm my family members, that's a different story. No matter what you choose to do, it's good to be informed and prepared. Just having a gun without a plan doesn't seem to be a good way to go.
@charles.neuman18 The point is EXACTLY that you have no idea of their intentions. Are they just there to steal an outboard? Probably. But what if that is not the case and you are about to be dumped cold in the sea and they make off with your wife and daughters?
I've heard multiple stories of boats being intercepted by fisherman/opportunistic pirates where they were discouraged from advancing after firearm brandished or fired. If you awake to them on board I would think the chances of things going wrong are extremely high. Multiple armed people in close proximity would put the fear factor pretty high for both parties and the chance of it ending peacefully seem be fairly low. At that point I might want to keep a pistol on me but concealed or completely hidden and offer them my "real" Rolex. I don't want my privilege to cruise to cause anyone's death.
As a "gun guy" and also someone who dreams of liveaboard sailing I would feel naked without firearms aboard but the customs hassles alone would make me choose to leave them behind. Someone who just has to sail around Somalia or other known hubs of violence or piracy should probably think seriously about having them on board. Peter Blake's story has a tragic end but there are other stories about sailors who were able to thwart attempted piracy with a weapon. If anything, having someone on watch at all times and the means to wake the rest of the crew might have prevented sir Peter's death entirely.
I think the beaten path no longer includes the red sea. An american and canadian couple made headlines a couple of years ago when they were boarded by pirates. All were killed, their boat sold. In mexico on the west coast there are a couple of cities you don't want to anchor in or you may loose your dingy. I was anchored in the "old harbor" along with several others and saw four of them loose their dingy and motor within four weeks time. They never bothered me since i row my dingy. Acapulco is another that is bad. I sailed across the Sea of Cortez one time and as i approached the baja side i saw the lights of a fast fishing boat. He went into the bay i was headed for, but didn't stay long. He met a vehicle on this abandoned stretch of coast, then left. I never carried a gun in 35,000 NM.
As a Kiwi the whole nation was devastated in the death of Sir Peter Blake. He was and still is a national hero. He was a lion of a man, many New Zealand sailors owe their love of sailing to Peter. All New Zealanders loved Peter and his courage and determination was unstoppable. He will be forever missed. RIP Peter.
Well said graham.Napier,NZ
Well, you know how us Aussies like to adopt successful Kiwis. There were plenty here that shed a tear, too.
Not just Kiwi’s. I still have my red socks from the America’s cup in San Diego.
Sad that a rat of a man took him down. Can't help but wonder what else could've been done.
One night I woke up to footsteps on deck above my aft berth. This was in my marina slip in New Jersey. The three individuals that were walking on my deck were arrested that night. Two of them had guns. They left my boat when they triggered the motion detecting light in the cockpit. While I’m glad for the motion lights and cameras I had installed, I was even more glad that they weren’t my last line of defense.
Prevention before cure sort of thinking.
There are a few unknown things. First are the people robbing you only after the dingy or do they wish to harm your kids, wife and you in that order. Then leave you adrift in a possibly non functioning boat in the ocean? The second unknown is if you are armed and have trains to deal with multiple threats. If robbers knew people were armed it’s reasonable to believe they wouldn’t rob you. Prevention is always good. So is a well trained marksman.
👍🏻👍🏻
@@Engineer-Machinist The problem is this: Most robbers and thieves, especially professional ones (not just opportunist thieves), don't care about lights and alarms. They just know: Who will identify them? How? The victims may have seen their face, but just think of any case where a serial killer's face was shown to the public: it's not like anyone called in like "hey, I know that guy. That's joe from the office". Most people aren't even aware anything happened, see the drawing let alone positively identify someone.
Camera footage is useless if the victim can't name the assailant themselves. Descriptions only to lead to immediate arrests if the thief gets spotted right at the crime scene and right after.
So yeah, in short: They don't give a damn.
But this is not pro-gun. I am kinda on the fence myself, it is a good way to defend yourself, especially in poor and/or remote locations, but then again: Guns might make things worse. Peter B. might not have been harmed if he hadn't shot at the robbers, better to lose a watch and an outboard and just get away with your skin intact than die over a few watches and an outboard.
On the other hand: It's only speculation and you don't know.
Every situation is different. And there are other stories as well, like the americans who were attacked by pirates and shot dead 3 or so and successfully deterred the criminals.
There are stories on both sides, and both have their legit pros but also cons. Guns can make the outcome a lot worse for you or your family, not to mention the fact, that not only good guys are allowed to have guns on their boat then. You also have guys like John McAfee who are totally coked up, paranoid and shizophrenic lol.
My personal take is: I don't know what is the best policy.
@@obiwanfisher537 speak softly, and carry a BIG stick.
Having been owners for decades we would prefer to have one available.
is it difficult?
I just bought my first sailboat and plan to go cruising in the spring. I will definitely have my guns on board.
Wasn't aware of the full story of Peter Blake. Top achiever! Tristan Jones, met the man once, said he packed a bow and arrows and would demonstrate proficiency on shore for the locals, and as a deterrent when in tricky areas. Sailing acquaintance of mine went through the Panama canal, west to east and a day out the other side had a power boat closing in. Having a bad feeling he changed course and so did the other. At that point he dropped sail, turned on the stereo full blast echoing bagpipe music across the ocean while blasting at beer cans being lofted over the stern with his marine 12 ga. The boat that was following left the area. This was not the beaten path. Piracy is right up there with the most heinous crimes humans can commit! Agree stay on the beaten path. Keep a low profile while staying alert....situational awareness. When it's time to move your ass...MOVE IT.
Oh... Old Tristan! I think I have every one of his books. He did "embellish" a little, but he ALWAYS had great adventure stories. I'm too old to do the 'sail around the world thing (I had to work to make my retirement cache). So now, for me "The World" will be mostly the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays and an ICW trip around Florida into the Gulf and Gulf States. And, I'll have some of my shootin' irons with me for sure. It'll be my choice between the 12-gauge or the flintlock blunderbuss as to which one any bad actor who boards my boat will see.
Currently living in Texas, having guns is to a great extent expected. But when I decided to become a live-aboard international cruiser I had to to think seriously whether it was worth it to travel armed or not. As you mentioned the issues clearing customs with firearms can be challenging. You may think you have a good hiding place for a gun to get away with not declaring it. Keep in mind, though, the penalties for having an undeclared firearm can be rather harsh. But the real deciding factor was that true pirates were going to be significantly better armed than I could be. So rather than having a gun which could increase my willingness to take a risk, my preference is to keep a sacrificial wallet with some cash in it available. Things can be replaced.
As a side note, I remember watching the video of the Whitbread race with Steinlager duking it out with Fisher & Paykel in the Southern Ocean. Seeing 80 foot maxies hitting 30 knots surfing down waves was incredible!!
Don't try sneaking a gun into Canada, those guys are real good.
@@petetomiello4103 yeah they probably use dogs are something . I can't even get a T- Shirt from CA without it getting stopped at customs
so right... get caught with an illegal gun in the UK or UK territory you would need a serious legal team to avoid prison.
I surfed 25 knotts down the backs of 30 foot waves in a 65 foot aluminum mini-maxi delivery to Fla. in the mid '80's, preGPS. It was incredible. Because of the flat bottom hull in front of the fin keel, coming off the top of a huge wave, that surface area would "oil can".(flex in & out). These are not the conditions the boat was designed for. Therefore, we had to do our best to steer (5 foot diameter wheel) to windward quickly when coming off the top of a wave so the side of the hull took the impact down the back side of a wave. However, the rudder was not so easy to steer until the stern started to lift.It had to be "timed" perfectly. It was a tremendous physical work out to try to keep the hull from oil canning, for that part of the trip where we encountered those unexpected huge seas..
Aye Aye
If you have a weapon, be competent with it. Maintain it. Rehearse with it.
Sadly he wasn’t and he didn’t
I dance with mine and sometimes I make love to it but I always wear protection! Remember safety first.
and lock it up properly
@@davidherr7085What's her name?
@@sparkeyjones6261 I bet it was "Charlene"
Sir Peter was a great sailor one of the best. It's WHIT Bread as in the beer! The sponsor.
Thank you for the great respect for Sir Peter Blake
I used to be more scared of the authorities having a problem with guns on board than of pirates. Then I actually went cruising and I am way more scared of pirates than the authorities. I was chased for hours 100 miles off of the Yucatán in the GOMEX. When they caught up with me I made a show of going below and returning wearing a hooded sweatshirt in the sweltering heat with my hand in the pouch holding my flare gun. I also had two peanut butter jars full of gasoline at my feet. It was a 50’ steel fishing boat made up mostly of rust with a foot of growth on the hull. There were 7 extremely dirty mean looking and drugged out “fisherman” lined up on the rail. I yelled out “que paso?” And the didn’t reply, just stared at me. I asked again and after another long pause they just asked for some water. Basically, the leader was supposed to give the sign to jump but seeing me with my hand in the sweatshirt pouch made him think twice. If you think it is a good policy to comply with pirates you are an idiot. Maybe if it is only men aboard but if you have an attractive wife or daughter aboard then the chances of them not having something horrible happen to them are next to none. Using the Blake incident as an example of why not to fight back is lame. He was drunk out of his mind and had a single shot rifle.
As a Brazilian born grandson of a Kiwi, my family was extremely saddened by this tragic case. Things have improved in Brazil, but we have a lot to do. This is a very helpful discussion and whereas I was always taught to never react and always hand over material posessions, there is something about carrying a weapon which is appealing, even though the circumstances in which they might be put to effective use are probably very rare. However.... effective action number one is to not go close to where there is a high homicide rate!! Macapá, where Sir Peter was killed, has 64 homicides per 100thd inhabitants. Santos, on the coast of São Paulo, where I live, has 2.5 per 100thd. Bahamas is about 29 but then you have to look at where in the Bahamas. As a matter of interest, Macapá is closer to BVI than it is to Santos. Stay away from bad areas is number one action.
Thank you for sharing this amazing story with me. For those of us who are new to the world of sailing, it’s important that we learn about these iconic individuals
Where were you in 2000 when I was seriously thinking about single handling around the world, much less cruising the Caribbean for the rest of my life? Now I am 70, and I don't think I have the health and the stamina to even do the latter. Your channel is an inspiration. Keep up the good work!
Hey, I'm 68. For us old-timers who worked and dreamed for that Cruising World future that eluded us, just remember -- we're NOT done. Think about a smaller boat that is easy to maintain and single-hand (in case the wife doesn't share the dream) and plot out an area that will be your version of "The World." For me, it's the Chesapeake Bay and other nearby waterways like the Delaware Bay, ICW, etc. Just plot things out so you can explore and anchor wherever you want. Live on the hook as much as possible and try to spend nothing on marinas. Use a dingy when you go ashore for food and booze, or couple the trip with a fuel stop, shower, lunch/dinner ashore, etc.
@@yepiratesworkshop7997 WELL SAID!
My mom is 75, for her, it’s kayaking and fly-fishing the Adirondacks and the Florida Keys. She stays fit and stays at it, because all of her friends who never paddled anything but the recliner are getting frail and having trouble climbing stairs.
Stay active, it’s worth EVERYTHING.
To have a firearm onboard is a personal choice depending on your local laws etc. Being ex-British army and having served all over the world in both peace keeping and combat roles I can see both point of views (defence vs escalation). I'm going to assume that anyone that would consider having a firearm onboard has the appropriate skill and training to be able to use and service it correctly. That said I would point out that the effective use of a firearm in a highly stressful and potentially deadly situation is very different from going to the range now to practice but that's a topic for a different thread. All that said I would strongly advise that anyone thinking about having a firearm onboard consider the following as a starting point:
Legal and regulatory considerations: Different countries and regions have varying regulations regarding firearms possession and transportation. When sailing across international waters or visiting foreign ports, you may encounter legal complications and restrictions. It's essential to familiarise yourself with the laws of the countries you plan to visit and comply with their regulations.
Safety risks: A sailboat is a confined space, and discharging a firearm on board can pose significant safety risks. Bullets can penetrate bulkheads, rigging, or other structures, potentially endangering crew members or damaging the vessel itself. The recoil and noise generated by firearms can also be challenging to manage in a small, unstable environment.
Potential for escalation: Carrying firearms on board may increase the risk of dangerous situations escalating. While firearms can provide a means of self-defence, they can also escalate conflicts and increase the likelihood of violence. It's important to consider alternative strategies for personal safety and conflict resolution, such as situational awareness, communication, and de-escalation techniques.
Perception and interactions with authorities: Some countries and regions may view the presence of firearms on board as a potential threat or cause for concern. This could lead to heightened scrutiny from local authorities, potential delays, or other complications during immigration and customs procedures. It's crucial to be mindful of local customs, regulations, and the potential impact of carrying firearms on board.
Maintenance and storage challenges: Firearms require proper maintenance to function reliably. The marine environment, with its exposure to saltwater, humidity, and other corrosive elements, can pose challenges for firearm upkeep. Additionally, securely storing firearms on a sailboat to prevent unauthorised access while ensuring their protection from the elements can be challenging.
Ultimately it your choice.
Marine of 8 years, hunter for most of my life prior, i am very familiar with guns. As someone else commented "be proficient, maybe practice a couple invasions." But if you cant stop them from coming aboard... is anything on board worth your life, or your loved ones? Think long and hard. Only pull that gun if you are 99% certain you will prevail.
Being unarmed when you are boarded is no guarantee of being left alive either…
I’ve had a number of friends and family on both sides (Scottish and American) in the US/UK Navies and US Coast Guard through the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s, some of whom had very grim stories of finding plundered boats at sea, a couple still with their occupants shot to death inside. A lot of times such plundered boats are simply reported as ‘abandoned”, or victims of piracy are simply reported as ‘missing”; assuming anyone even notices they are gone.
The simple truth is that piracy is a very real and very dangerous problem, and simply relying on the ‘good nature” of men willing to take everything from you and leave you for dead at sea; isn’t a viable option.
Better to keep a firearm you may never need, than to need a firearm and be 8,000 miles from the nearest gun shop…
Just got back from a trip to New Zealand and got to go out on Lion for a day and I gotta say it is impressive! Also, got to see the America’s Cup and his red socks.
Reminds me. Need to go practice.
I just watched the news about the retired couple from Virginia whose ransacked boat was found near Grenada... Timely. A very sad story. The idea of not having access to a gun is one if the biggest line-items in the CON category of our PRO/CON list of cruising. Prayers for that couple and their family.
Personally, no gun. Too many complications. I did meet a well known sailor in the US who was hailed by a boat in distress on the Intracoastal. And when they saw the off-watch casually bring up a twin barrel shotgun, all of a sudden they had no trouble motoring away.
The simple SIGHT of the shotgun stopped a hijacking.
When ever a closer look at the stats is taken this is the most common outcome with guns. Far more likely to end a situation without violence than to escalate . Gun owners are not likely going to report the incident in many situations.
@@beorbeorian150 got any data that supports your opinion?
@@herpiegerbstick6808John Lott.
@@beorbeorian150trust I’ve been in two situations where I was almost robbed n didn’t report one was a guy trying to car jack me at a red light n another was in front of my house coming home from work late at night but hey we’re looking for someone n thought I was there friend either way guy in my passenger window def had something in that hoodie n I was cornered in my own car after parallel parking.
@@Malibus_Most_Wanted remember reading an fbi report that it is 4 times more likely a gun will be used to stop a crime than be used in one. It was from an anonymous study where people could report incidents like you stated without fear of being charged by a Democratic attorney general for defending themselves.
A true NZ legend !
What about Jacinda Ahern?
As a Kiwi I can tell you our country mourned Sir Peter Blake for months. Interesting side note the boy holding the basket for Peter is none other than Phillip Jameson (Blood) who I use to sell with in Wellington. Phillip was known also as Peter's Brat, he has become an legendary salior himself.
Our country has very strick gun laws and I can honestly say 99.99% of us sailors in NZ would NoT need a gun.
It's smart to be prepared
I'm struggling with this. I believe in being prepared. And I don't plan to follow the beaten path. Last year, I was in Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Tahiti, Marquesas Islands, Mexico, and Guatemala on sailboats. I plan to continue to explore a bit off the beaten path. For most of those trips, we had a firearm aboard. What are your thoughts for those of us who venture outside the Bahamas, BVI, USVI, and Puerto Rica?
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Did you have any issues traveling in the mentioned countries with a firearm? Particularly customs.
@@c8342 Only 2 places boarded the boat. Galapagos and Mexico. Neither was looking for a firearm. We had issues getting in and out of Costa Rica. But it was just a frustrating and time consuming process. We are don't ask, don't tell as far as questions asked by authorities.
So undeclared in a good hiding spot?.. I'm considering the same approach but also not interested in being thrown in jail. Handgun?.. shotgun?.. rifle?
@@skatersmith81 handgun. Please understand that I am not highly experienced in this. I'm traveling by land this week to Virginia. I've made the decision to leave firearms at home. It's highly unlikely to be a problem. But the consequences are just too high for my comfort. Staying within the law is highly recommended. I definitely do not want to be in a 3rd world country's prison.
One of the first things I learned in martial arts was the concept of "avoidance". If I'm in a place where I feel compelled to carry. I figure I'm in the wrong place. I carried weapons aboard my boat while sailing for months at a time during summer with my wife but we were sailing the coast of Alaska. I wasn't carrying them because I was concerned about people.
Sometimes avoidance isn't an option, or you must pick the lesser of two evils.
Example, do you go around Cape Hope or through the red sea? Both have their risks and dangers. But if you are going that way, you cannot avoid a bad area.
practicing avoidance and being armed is not mutually exclusive
Practicing avoidance, maintaining situational awareness, regular training in Jujitsu and with my firearms are all parts of my it'll be you and not me guarantee for anyone who wants to bring trouble my way. What's that the kids say these days, "fuk around and find out" or something like that....?
While I avoid these crappy areas too, there are scores of stories about people living in "safe" areas being victims of a serious crime. Sadly, evil knows no bounds. Safe areas are simply those areas with a statistically significant smaller probability of a major crime.
Violence seems to be spreading everywhere these days. Avoidance should NOT be your entire plan to stay safe.
Sailing Alaska has its own issues. If you are stopping and hiking inland from time to time then there are many places where weapons are needed to protect you from wildlife.
Greta topic. Former cop and long time sailor. In U S waters a firearm is really not necessary. Some places it might make sense to carry internationally but the Customs issues can be a really big problem so I wouldn’t risk it. Plenty of improvised weapons readily available on your boat. I do carry a safe and simple revolver on road trips and when staying at hotels. Investigated too many cases where the victim could have used a little help. With any weapon get good training, go to the range regularly and hope you never need to use it.
Maritime laws state firearms as survival equipment for a vessel n they should be in a safe or armory aboard when you come in from what I’ve read on the forums they either document them n check to make sure you didn’t magically go missing or they will hold on to them for your stay there
I have been in a cruising situation where I did not have a gun, but wish that I did. That is a scary feeling, and I felt stupid for being unprepared to protect my vessel, crew, and myself. Fortunately, we had a bit of luck that diffused the situation, but it could have gone the other way just as easily. I will not be unprepared again.
This was in the Bahamas in an anchorage at Great Sale Cay. Well traveled cruising ground and normally safe - but not always we discovered.
You never have to use your weapon in a situation, but it only makes sense to have it as an option if you really need it.
Nailed it!!
Do you choose not to travel to places that will put you in prison if you have a gun? Personally, my goal is to circumnavigate, and the logistics of carrying a gun and navigating each countries gun laws makes it not worth it to me.
Glad you came out safe from your experience without needing a gun. Nobody died, so no gun was the right call even though you don't think so.
@@Chris-zo5ze Well, you obviously conceal the firearm.
@VidarrKerr have you seen the consequences of being caught in some of these countries with a firearm? If they bring a dog on board, you're done.
Dogs sniff out guns?? Thats new to me @@Chris-zo5ze
Not a big commenter but given my experience I thought I should say something. I shot competitively for 12 years, 8 years as a top ten US and international competitor in 3gun (pistol, rifle, shotgun). 3gun is a tactical shooting sport. Additionally, I did LRP (Long Range Precision) work as a contractor for the military as well as working for some 3 letter agencies. Also provided marksmanship and advanced weapons training for various SF teams over the years as well. Beyond that I've got 11 years fighting Muy Thai and 10 years training Jujitsu (this becomes pertenant later).
I'm a huge fan of the 2nd amendment if you hadn't guessed and I conceal carry when I'm in the US (just haven't been there in some years). Living here in SE Asia I've never thought of wanting to carry, just don't feel it's needed here (plus it's illegal for me to own a gun here). I say this as I understand different environments have different needs and I'm not here to comment on IF you should have a gun or not, you need to think on that for yourself. I'm just going to to provide a starting point for some items I think are important to consider.
Here's my thoughts....
1. IF you plan to employ any weapon you MUST practice with it on a regular basis. This cannot be overstated!
2. If you plan to employ any weapon, the first conversation you need to have with yourself is the toughest and you need to be honest with yourself. WILL I USE THIS TO TAKE A LIFE? You must think on this, a lot. Any time you potentially wield lethal force your goal needs to be ending a life. In a defensive situation the worst thing you can do is "shoot to injure" and not to kill.
3. If you plan to choose a gun areas you need to think about:
a. Environment: You will be in a tight space and you are not trying to engage targets at a distance. So we're talking handgun or shot gun. A rifle is a bad idea.
b. Skill Building/Training: YOU WILL NEED TO TRAIN REGULARLY! But, how often will you actually be able to shoot your gun in practice? The less you can practice the more important it is to have something easy to shoot. This brings pistols into question. Pistols are the hardest firearms to shoot as they are the only firearms we hold from a single point at the very rear of the tool. Pistols require a high level of practice on a regular basis to maintain reliable skills. Real life and the movies are very different, it's extremely easy to miss with a pistol. Now you didn't hit your enemy BUT WHAT DID YOU HIT? Shotguns are the easiest firearms to shoot. As long as you are confident on how to operate the tool on a basic level you'll be good. Practice loading, unloading, clearing jams and cycling... other than that you just need to point it in the direction of danger and pull the trigger. Want it even easier, install a small tactical light on the front of it and use the hot point of the beam as your aiming tool.
c. Penetration: You must think about your environment, a boat. Okay what is your boat made of... wood? Plastic? Metal? With the firearm you're considering; how easily will it penetrate your environment. If you miss will it go through a wall and hit your daughter? Will it go through the hull and let fish in? What about into the engine room...fuel tank? Rifles are very powerful and will likely penetrate any boat building materials. Pistols will depend on the material and the caliber. Shotguns will never have over penetration issues on hard surfaces. Penetration issues also apply to potential targets as well, lets say you don't miss and you kit the target... what firearm/ammo are you using? Will the bullet over penetrate and hit your friend standing behind your intended target?
d. Ammo Choice: Not all ammo is the same. Also, notice I call it ammo and not bullets. Bullets are the projectile of only two of the 3 types of firearms and not used at all with shotguns so be accurate with your speech. Ammo is the assembly. This topic matters! Pistols and rifles we need to transfer the projectile energy to the target. This applies the most intended damage and halts or minimizes over penetration. This means you are looking for a hollow point defense round and no it isn't cheap for the good stuff. But, you're going to spend the extra money and get the right gear. You aren't going to use them unless you need them and you have an expensive boat so quit crying about this and purchase the right thing. Target (FMJ or Full Metal Jacket) ammo will over penetrate reliably, don't use it. Shotgun ammo isn't all the same either. Shoot a man with bird shot and you'll piss him off for sure, buck shot and you'll stop him for sure. There's slugs but now you're back to aiming like a rifle.
e. Maintenance: Oh yes my boating buddies these require maintenance too and what happens when we don't maintain our toys? That's right so we're going to make certain we clean/oil the firearm regularly inspecting for any rust. Doesn't need to be dripping wet, a thin shiny coat is perfect. Also, ammo at sea takes a beating the same as everything else so we're going to replace our ammo once per year. I'm guessing if you need the gun, you'll prefer the ammo works.
f. Accessibility: There's a saying in parts of the shooting community, "Your glove box isn't a holster." Basically saying that if you're out pumping gas and get robbed, you aren't going to be able to use your defense tool as you aren't going to be able to get it if it's not on you. I'm not saying to carry the gun around the boat (unless it's needed at the moment) but I am saying it will need to be accessible AND READY. An unloaded gun is just a stick or a paperweight. It needs to be stored with ammo in it, not in the chamber ready to shoot but loaded in the magazine.
g. Safety: NEVER POINT A GUN AT SOMETHING YOU AREN'T WILLING TO DESTROY! Pay attention where the gun is pointed when you're holding and no it doesn't matter if it's loaded or not. WE SIMPLY DON'T POINT GUNS AT PEOPLE unless we're about to gift them with hot lead. Study some basic firearm safety and this means for EVERYONE onboard. Especially the kids. Ever notice kids who accidentally shot themselves or others are always located in the city? That's because city parents hide their gun and don't teach their kids while country kids get raised with firearms and are taught firearm safety when they are little. All the kids around my circle start shooting no later than 6 years old. They all understand guns and how to use them, if they need it they'll know what to do. Otherwise they aren't curious about a taboo item they know nothing about, they understand it's a potentially dangerous tool that demands respect and care.
h. Protection: This is what we're really after isn't? To feel safe? Well, sorry to say that having a gun won't make you safe. It is only a tool that you may choose to have around but if it ever comes time, it's you that will need to make you safe using that tool. This means you will need to be practiced and proficient with the tool AND willing to use it and this means potentially employing lethal force (AKA killing someone). Can you do that? Be honest... can you, with out hesitation take a person life because they present a danger to you? Maybe they just want your outboard, maybe they want to kill you and rape your wife... you going to ask them first? Understand this isn't a joke, if you carry a weapon you aren't capable and willing to use then you are likely just carrying around with you the item that is eventually going to end your life. I suggest looking at other things as well and my favorite of them all is Jujitsu.
Training Jujitsu is fun and builds friendships. The skills you'll learn will provide you the ability to successfully defend yourself even if the opponent is larger. In Jujitsu strength matters little and technique matters a lot. My 4'11" 40kg wife can submit you, yes you. Because she trains and you don't you wouldn't stand a chance and she'll have you twisted up begging for her to let go IF SHE DOESN'T CHOKE YOU OUT ENTIRELY. Gun or no gun, knife or no knife I'm never not armed do to the fighting skills I have and this provides me with a level of confidence navigating the world that untrained people can't have. Also with this you can subdue a person without hurting them. This makes it a great thing for kids as well. So think about training as well and may peace be your journey.
If you can't tell by my writing I'm autistic so sorry if it was thick to get through. I'm here to help in any way that I can... I'll answer questions, give purchasing advice, assist with getting you trained or whatever I can help you all with. A gun is like insurance that you hope you never need to use.... sure would hate to need it and not have it though. This is a big decision indeed, hope you take it serious.
May peace be your journey!
You and your wife are welcome at my TN table anytime Sir.
I especially like the last sentence of this impressive post.
While you your comments on some aspects are very real I think you missed a couple of very very important areas to cover, These are just some of my thoughts as a non-american 1) You constitutional rights dont mean two bob in another country. 2) If you break the law in any way overseas IE carrying a concealed weapon be prepared to spend a reasonable time in gaol. 3) know the laws of the country your going into and respect their laws. IE if I come to America I respect and abide by your laws, you come to Australia I expect you will abide by our laws.
Great food for thought - thanks so much for taking the time to write that. : )
Good comment summing up the many questions you have to ask yourself about this. I'm a gun owner but almost certainly wouldn't have one on board when cruising.
Just because you have a weapon, doesn’t mean you have to use it. You do need the judgment and experience to know when it’s needed. Needing a weapon, and not having one, carries greater consequences than having one, and not needing it.
I am retired Coast Guard and saw many crimes of opportunity usually from fisherman this was usually in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Saw it all the time. We would find boats with no souls onboard or get called up they were getting attacked people whispering into mic. If Sir Peter had a handgun and knew how to use it then it would have been a different outcome. Remember it is not illegal to have firearms onboard unless you enter another country's waters. Almost all fisherman carry guns to protect themselves from other fisherman.
Aye, I’ve heard many such stories over the years from my mates and family in the UK/US Navy and Coast Guard. Finding seemingly abandoned boats at sea, and others shot up, plundered of anything valuable. A couple of those stores were instances of finding boats shot up with their formerly living occupants still inside.
Piracy is a serious problem which gets heavily under reported around the world.
How many instances of ‘abandoned boats” are actually a result of piracy? How many people go ‘missing at sea” were victims of piracy?
Quite a few countries under report such instances for fear of hurting their tourism, or for appearing weak on the international stage..
The fact that major Nations do everything they can to prohibit private boats and merchants from being allowed to keep and bear arms for defence; while they themselves struggle to manage the rise of piracy; is maddening…
This is one Scotsman made American who will never be unarmed, not even at sea.
One against 8 ? It was never going to end well.
About to retire 20 years early and going to sail…I’ve carried a gun for 28 years and im really uncomfortable not having one, this is the only reason i haven’t bought a boat yet
Just get the boat. I’m not saying my boat is heavily armed. Find a good carpenter and some magnet locks and no one will find them. I don’t leave my house with out a pistol
@@glenscannell1215custom’s have means, gun smugling is there too.
Flare gun and 12 bouble barrel and 22 short rifle . And under 500 round’s😊
Your allowed to have firearms according to maritime law it’s considered survival equipment you need a place for them to be locked n secured that’s the only rule when you come into port some countries will confiscate for your visit others document the serial numbers n make sure you leave with them
@@glenscannell1215 ...a trained dog will find your hidden (undeclared) gun in 10 seconds. Enjoy the repercussions of that.
You said "Too many stories of crew having guns and....escalating to homicide..."Can you name them?" I haven't heard of many... But I have heard of many pirate encounters which were violent. (Yes - most not violent.)
What is a "non-violent pirate encounter"? Their whole schtick is robbery using violence or threat of violence.
‘Non violent pirate” is a bit of a misnomer. The entire point of piracy is the threat of violence or death to rob you…
Thank you! you changed and enlightened my mind about guns on boats 😢 what a very sad story on Sir Blake - such a needless waste and such a great man. 😇
Gun or no gun , depends where you sail and what type of boat you have. I live in Ecuador on oceanfront , I would never have a sailboat here or almost anywhere in South America . Since the pandemia , poverty had grown exponentially and fishermen are getting attacked in their small boat by the gangs and got their outboard stolen regularly even at 80 miles out ! I’ve sailed from Montreal to the Bahamas alone in 2001-2002 , anchored in the middle of nowhere along the coast and in the Bahamas near islands alone , never got scared . I had a flare gun and flare gun could shoot pretty good and it’s legal to have onboard in case of emergency right? But sailing around Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico ,I’m sitting on the top of the fence between having a real gun or not because South America is way different than the rest of the planet , after what I’ve seen here in Ecuador in terms of crimes, I would have to think twice for not having a gun on a boat. Happy sailing and be safe !
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Yes, south and central American countries have the highest murder rates in the entire world in recent years. The potential for danger is certainly there. I'm definitely with you. Better to have and not need than need and not have.
You mean the north part of South America. Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and south Brazil is safe.
Central America, if you talk about Panama and Costa Rica are quite safe.
Much better to have a firearm and not need it than to need a firearm and not have it
Very good point and well said. I'm so sad to see how Ecuador's crime rate is rising. As an American, I find Ecuador very impressive.
I really like these history lessons for people like me that are new to the community and don’t know a whole lot.
I support your view on the topic of having a firearm on board. I personally own several firearms and have given the subject of carring one on board a good bit of thought. There are a lot of moving parts when making this decision but the real big question is, are you capable of knowing when to bring a firearm out and if you do you obviously better be prepared to use it without reservation. Beyond that you are then open to the consequences of your actions under what ever jurisdiction you might find yourself, which in itself is another part of the equation when making this decision.
true , after watching crime shows I'm inclined to believe the best place to carry is in your own house unless your in big city or have stupid boy running around
I’d rather be in prison than see one hair on my wife or my kids’ head put out of place.
Thank you for informing sailors of the real world of cruising and paying respect to Sir Peter Blake too whom I sailed with and against.
I have many years and miles under under my hull and I agree fully with your comments.
I am also of the view most cruiser would not shoot to kill but the robbers are willing to do so and having a weapon escalates the situation. The robbers / pirates will more than likely be more skilled with there weapons than a cruise as Sir Peter Blake unfortunately found out.
Yes, life is worth more than an outboard and as you eluded to managing of weapons through customs normally means the removal of the weapon off the vessel and collection of the weapon prior to departure means back tracking to the port of arrival to check out.
More than 1 gun I guess. And well prepared táctic
Excellent tutorial and very useful! Thanks much for your insight...
👍😎👍
The hard truth is not many understand how much training is needed to use this tool. That is what we are talking about here. No one gets to regreat not using this tool when needed twice. Knowing that a gun free zone is a place where the killer with a gun can do anything they want should answer the question. I always assume every else has a gun, because I do. We just do not have the neec to talk about it. Great Video
If it was common practice for cruisers to carry the intruders would think twice before they boarded. We have counties in the US that it is mandatory homeowners to own firearms because the crime was so bad. They passed a ordinance and crime dropped 80% in the first year.
"We have counties" I'd really like to hear which counties those are. The Militia Act of 1792 has been superceded.
There´s just five counties in US that has mandatory gun ownership. The only one of those five close to a sailable water is Gun Barrel City in Texas, and that is a inland reservoir.
The context regarding guns on boats is not addressed at US specificly. The question is raised in a general context going abroad with one in your possession. No you don't travel abroad with a kinetic weapon of any kind whatsoever.
It is like a life jacket, if you need it, you need it. Learn all about it.
As a former Marine and retired police Lieutenant from Boston; been solo sailing north and south of Boston for several years now; I never sail without at least a sidearm; with the current state of the world; I’m considering a long rifle. I’m not paranoid as some will say; I’ve simply seen too many people become victims.
It's a personal decision and nobody else's business. Aside from the prohibitions in some countries or the pita legalities in others (where you might need to surrender it while in port), the pros & cons are entirely to be weighed by each boat. Honestly, don''t really care what anybody else might think about it in terms of being a factor in my decision. Yes, I am an American who is a fervent supporter of the 2nd amendment. Could you tell? Yes, I understand that if & when I visit another country I have to obey all the laws of that country.
Not sure, but sailing and boating in many waters for well over 50 years, I have opted to Not carry, but again in certain areas I would seriously consider it especially in parts of south east Asia.
Having carried a weapon for over three decades, I'll always feel better with rather than without.
The most common allegory would be fire extinguishers or a life raft. While it can be a pain to cart them around and ensure they're aways ready, let alone the costs for something you hope you'll never use, it's better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.
Customs is the only reason I don't always have one on hand anymore. US , US territories, and Bahamas are reasonable, the rest are not.
Great story, thank you!
My nephew and I are both in our late 50's and are fairly big guys. We've been around. We both own guns but never carry them. We also both agreed that we have been in tricky situations where it was bad enough that we may have pulled a gun had we had one. Fortunately, we managed to get out of any previous situations with nobody getting arrested or hurt. If we had had a gun, the outcome could have been different. Maybe we were just lucky.
May the universe continue to bless with you with such luck and may it never end!
Simply having a gun doesn’t mean you’re more likely to pull it. You still gotta use your noggin, read the room, and try deescalation. Simply having a gun means you have a backup option in case those other options fail..
As a very likely buyer in '24 or 25. And an avid 2A guy, here's my take. Depends on where I end up. Caribbean, agreed. Not worth the hassle. But if I was sailing through Panama right now, or the sea of Cortez, I'd have to seriously think about something for the boat. Concealed if necessary. But being defenseless seems insane. I applaud the man's life and impact. I'd need to know much more to pass any judgment. A jammed rifle is just tragic.
A rifle is TOTALLY inappropriate for close quarters - it's for punching holes in the fast skiff and its occupants. A good reliable sidearm (auto Beretta, Glock etc.) that you know how to conceal and draw/fire is the way to go.
Agreed as to all points. Hard to pass judgment without all the facts.
@@dancarter482 A rifle is situational, just as a pistol is.
If you are boarded, a handgun or low velocity shotgun is best.
If a skiff is powering up towards you with a half dozen blokes with AKs, you want something that can reach out and create some standoff distance. The last thing you want to do is have to defend your boat point blank with a handgun against men with automatics.
Target practice at sea can be done safely and cheaply. (Other than maybe ammo, unless you got a .22 for practice) buy some bio degradable balloons, fill em with air and a little water. Set them adrift (far from any coast or boat traffic) and start practicing your moving target skills on a boat.
@@Beuwen_The_Dragon We used to shoot glass bottles . .. ..
I'm 73 years old with many international miles under my keel. The U.S. Marine Corps provided my weapons training. I've never felt that escalating a situation, with any weapon, improved its outcome ... the John Wayne solution is best left on the big screen of fantasy.
I was living in New Zealand when Sir Peter Blake was killed. The whole nation was in deep mourning for his loss
Thanks for taking on such a controversial and important subject.
I don’t think that there’s an easy answer but I come down on the side of, if there are two guns it’s more likely that someone is going to be shot than if there’s only one.
Great subject and thank you for the video. My first time coming across the channel and so glad I did. I do agree with just about everything you said. That being said, my uncle was killed off the coast of Venezuela on his sailboat by people boarding saying they needed help. The other man on the boat was thrown a 12 gauge from his wife, and proceeded to fire. The ones that were not hit retreated and were captured. It seemed as they were going to kill the man and take the women and the boat. All this being said, I believe they were off the beaten path. They had started their trip in Texas where they retired early. Thanks again sorry this was long-winded.
I think your point is very true, we see it on land as well.
If you don’t sail in dangerous places then a gun is probably not necessary, but IMO if you have armed assailants then you have to think they are going to use them. Thinking they are going to take what they want and leave witnesses is a fairly big risk.
You're going to go up against armed assailants (plural)? How many is your limit?
@@jonathanrabbitt my school thought is if you don’t do anything then you’re dead. I refuse to be one of those that die thinking everything will be alright if you do what they say,
@@blimpcommander1337 So you'll either be dead; or you'll be dead.
@@jonathanrabbitt as many as needs be.
Most small raiders use long skiffs, with anywhere between four and eight pirates on board. Most of the time they are looking for easy targets, not a firefight. But if lead does start to fly, better you have some means of throwing some back…
I'd rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I live in Arkansas and I carry almost everywhere I go now as bad as its gotten. BUT.. it would be nice to b able to go somewhere that I wouldn't be worried about carrying.
@@BillyBlaze7 @user-ux4re4bt4h Guys, come to Australia. It exists. It's not a fantasy. 🙂 You will not see or hear firearms unless you take your bolt action hunting rifle to the range to sight it in, or take it out hunting.
As for firearms on boats, just as I wouldn't walk down a dark alley after midnight on my own, I wouldn't sail to places that are known problems. In the highly unlikely event that some poor local dudes came to our boat I'd make them a sandwich and a cup of tea and ask them about their families. I'd give them some tins of food and some beer to take away. But highly unlikely.
Sailing the "beaten path" you´re probably better off having no gun. But already by going, let´s say, from Grenada to Isla Margarita passing or even stopping at Los Testigos (wonderful place!) you wish to have a little more firepower than just a flare gun. I sailed that entire coast of Venezuela 12 years ago and already then had various encounters where i felt a little unsafe and outgunned with my 28mm flaregun. On the other hand, every single encounter went well, you tend to be very defensive and deescalating when feeling outgunned - luckily that always worked well for us. That, and teamimg up in groups with US yachts who were armed..... 🙂
I carry a firearm every day, and I still do my best to avoid bad situations and choose careful deescalation. Carrying a firearm doesn’t make it your first and only option for protecting yourself, but gives you that last resort emergency option, should all others fail.
Ha, after reading your comments section I am glad your presentation cleared the air.🙄
Nothing more polarizing than a gun discussion or maybe what anchor to use.
ANYWAY GREAT TRIBUTE TO A SAILING HERO.
I have been sailing the Caribbean since the late 70's. I don't carry a gun for the very simple reason is at the place you would need a weapon is on anchor and if you admit to having a weapon you will have to turn it in and if you don't and they find it there goes your boat. When at sea forget it, you WILL be outgunned. Biggest problem in the Caribbean is petty crime and I don't want to be faced with the lifelong horror of killing someone who was trying to steal my outboard. Plus the assailant will probably be related to someone of importance on the very island you are visiting......the horror of nightly rats crewing on my toes in some god forsaken jail gives me the creeps.
On the other hand piracy is obviously not to be taken lightly. There is a boat by the name of Quest where 2 couples were machined down by 16 "kids" with AK's off Somalia. Well documented in the book "Voyage into Hell" by Steven Siguaw. I became much aware of this boat after pulling into Puerto Rico for repairs 2 years ago when the current owner invited me aboard and asked me to count the bullet holes. It was an amazing display of firepower to say the least. He has been slowly filling the holes.
FWIW I am not a gun hater. Ex military trained as a light weapons "expert" ex Green Beret Vietnam vet 68-69.
Congratulations for your new job at Practical Sailor. I have to say that some articles at practical sailors are outdated.I will give you one example: I was searching for dripless stuffing boxes and I fell on an article that was dated of October 2000."Lasdrop and PYI Outscore Four Other Dripless Shaft Seal Makers" . Sometimes opening my mouth pays off and lastly it did. Talking to marina personal I discovered the Volvo dripless seal and this one is factory installed on all Jeanneau's and Beneteau's. This Volvo booth is the simplest thing and it is not prone to catastrophic failures like the PYI Dripless or the Lasdrop , also I found these 2 last kind of flimsy and I you not put those on my sailboat. Once you have a Volvo booth all you have to do is grease it every 200 hours. Some of these have reported over 5000 hours of motoring without issues. For a Catalina 42 MKII it cost me 228$ plus taxes: the cheapest of them all and probably the best on the market. So I think Practical Sailor willl benefit to update some very old content. Cheers
Hi, I always watch your channel, I'm Brazilian and I've been living on board a 30-footer for 2 years with my wife and two dogs, here in Brazil there is a huge amount of weapons in the hands of criminals and although most of the coast is very quiet and peaceful, there are very violent places, statistics around here say that an armed person has an average of 60% more chance of being killed in a robbery, many sailors have weapons around here and I understand why, but I personally prefer to take risks losing only material goods than risking being shot.
The problem with those statistics, is they conflate armed robberies while the home owners are armed and at home, with robberies while the owners aren’t even home.. This, along with many other misleading data and incomplete information leads to that 60% ‘statistic” being very heavily skewed and misleading.
If you're a non-gunner, there are still other things that make great weapons and can be called "tools" if you're dealing with police, customs, etc. One thing I always have nearby is a short version of a spiked fireman's axe (which is not far off from the old "boarding axe" of yesteryear). If you live near a Harbor Freight store, they're about $19. You have it aboard, of course, so that you can cut away rigging, lines, etc. -- or even through the fiberglass to get at a fire during an emergency. But, it'll work just as well as they did in the days of "wooden ships and iron men." $20. Mount it on the wall just inside the companionway.
I will keep my guns but it’s obviously a personal choice and anyone who is not sure, or asking for advice, probably should not have one onboard.
As a Texan who lives in the country with a house full of guns, my own, and passed down through the family... I can't wait to travel to places where there is no real need for guns. Anyone who comes aboard can have any stuff they want. Stuff is not worth dying for.
What about your life? Isn’t that worth something?
@@jamesrussell9511How did that work out for Peter Blake?
“Guns escalate from robbery to homicide”
@jamesrussell9511 Chances are, nobody will be hurt... When you come out guns blazing against multiple attackers WHO HAVE GUNS, it's not going to end well for you. I have a house full of guns, but I'm also able to process information, and having these guns statistically raises my chances of dying by gun violence.
Hello fellow Texan! Having traveled the Caribbean and Eastern pacific doing counter narcotics I share your opinion on the matter with one caveat, if I am traveling to somewhere with active piracy threats I plan on bringing a shotgun, typically considered a defensive weapon by most countries it gets less trouble at customs.
@ryanhall9877 Hello fellow Texan! Yep. A shotgun is my home defense weapon of choice. I keep a shell in the chamber, but I've always imagined that if I have time, I might rack it anyway. EVERYONE knows the sound a racking shotgun makes, and NOONE wants to be standing in a hallway with a shotgun on the other side of a door. 🤷🏻♂️.
On the water, my plan is to stay away from the active piracy and problem areas. There are plenty of places to go that have no worries other than petty crime.
No gun as we are speaking of, but a nice flare gun and a spear gun will be my choice! Pay the guy at the dock for the fish and always have candy for the kids.
Cheers
I love amateur radio, mauythai, firearms, boats including sailboats I ain't giving up neither
I like the thought of a firearm on board. The world is getting less safe by the day. Of course it's a last resort in self preservation
Sir Peter was hugely liked in NZ, with his exploits in the Whitbread around the world races and later in The America's Cup campaigns, so it was very sad for many when news of his death surfaced. I remember laying a wreath for him at the jetty in Omokoroa, a small coastal town close to Tauranga NZ, My son, who was about 5yrs old at the time, was quite cut up about it all. RIP Sir Peter.
Well, in Germany you need a small arms license for the flare gun on a boat already. But the license for a "real" gun is even more strict. So: No - would most probably not carry a gun as it would be illegal in Germany, few Germans have the license to do so legally. I think your view on the topic is quite reasonable.
An English vessel can have two shotguns (with appropriate certification) for "Boat deffence" - fortunately. There is some fantastic ammunition available for the 12guage shotgun these days!
What about Alan Culverwell who was shot and killed at Guna Yala Panama May 2 2019.
Also Sailing Sea Tramp were boarded by pirates near the San Blas islands.
Thanks for talking about Peter Blake, a great man. One of a kind
This single case is enough for me to want a firearm on board!! Especially as we plan to travel to the San Blas islands... 😬
I had on old 12 gauge on board, hadn't looked at it in years.. hmmm, don't know why the hammer is back.. BAMMMM!!!!!! (OK, laugh.. but accidental discharges are VERY common.. ) I was stunned, it was very loud inside the small cabin, and it was filled with gunsmoke. I fell backwards and hurt my wrist. Pumping out the shell.. Oh, even better, it was a load of buckshot, fired into the back corner of the galley. Started throwing pot and pans around to find the holes. The load had gone through a jar of pickled garlic and obviously obliterated it, then through another pot, and finally through the side of a thick steel stew pot, hitting the bottom of the pot obliquely, bulging it down about an inch.. Wow, no damage to the hull, though I continued searching madly for several minutes. Awhile later the harbor patrol boat cruised by.. "Hey, everything ok?" "Oh yeah fine sir" Stared at me a long minute then said "OK, have a good night"
Accidental discharges are only common to the incompetent
Nope. Competent people make mistakes. No human is 100% careful 100% of the time. That's reality. @@SenorTucano
@@SenorTucanoI would agree. I’ve never experienced an accidental discharge, nor witnessed one in all my years of shooting with competent people. I’ve known someone who was doing what they shouldn’t and accidentally discharged his weapon, but it was due to incompetence. Take care of your weapon and store it properly and guns behave predictably. That is the absolute truth.
@@paulmitchell2916ad only happen with lack of respect n lack of knowledge guns don’t just go off other than a few big known manufacturers defects but that’s besides the point I carry a loaded handgun everyday it has never gone off unless I have pulled that trigger
To say retrospectively that anyone who unintentionally fires a gun is incompetent (at that moment) is a tautology, and completely misses my point. People get sleepy, distracted, angry, to say nothing of sliding into substance abuse or mental illness. No set of good practices can eliminate the human factors. If anyone thinks they can guarantee that they will never in the future fire a gun accidentally, they're kidding themselves.
Words of wisdom. 👍
It would be great to gather all the stories we can of Guns in the sea, to compare how many times they've saved someone, vs how many times they've cause their owners problems (customs hassle, incident escalation, self-injury etc). I suspect they're more trouble than their worth.... especially in a world with the Ikaros Line Thrower, aka the companionway clearer.
Ok and technically more illegal to use for self defense than a gun.
You realize Australia will transport your firearms to the port you plan on leaving from you have to have a safe n be professional n compitent with a firearm n maintain your firearms it sounds like this kiwi left the gun on the boat loaded when needed n it built of rust costing his life
@@Malibus_Most_WantedI'd reckon what cost him his life was using a long gun in a small space against a group of guys. They all had a clear advantage over him, whether he hit his first target or not.
@@Malibus_Most_Wanted you do realize "You MUST comply with all the legislative requirements in respect to firearms in the Australian State/s
or Territories you are visiting" what that means. Queensland for example a nanny state has a moving goal post with no common sense., An example would the sig sauer model 223 in 10mm is legal but the sig sauer model in 9mm is illegal. This being simply because the Queensland government is unaware that the firearm(s) in general are made in several different calibers. Firearms could be illegal in one state in Australia but legal in others. This is much like California in the US that considers many firearms assault weapons on a similar moving goal post with no basis common sense. If you show up in Queensland with your illegal firearm(s) that's the end of the line, the only semi safe state is Western Australia. Really difficult to sail from New Caledonia all the way to Western Australia.
@@geezescopildo895 did you read what I said you have to declare on of course there illegal that’s why the Australian port will hold on arrival into Australia i
Any firearm would be illegal due to not having a Aussie license to have them but during your visit you will get them when you back leave port you will not have access your whole stay in Australia which is fine
Thank you very much for the work you do. This is a great topic and you present the issue in an excellent manner. My vote? No gun. If they want to take ______ - they can have it.
My wife and I have sailed over 10,000 nm through the Malacca Strait, west-to-east across Indonesia into the Forgotten Islands. More than once, we have had the local fisherman in wooden working boats motoring by in the distance and suddenly change course, motoring straight towards our Beneteau 47.7. As they got closer, we could see they they were all wearing brimmed hats and had balaclavas covering their faces. We could see them waving their arms at us as they approached, closer and closer. What would you do in a situation like this?
If you are like us - a guest in their country and their home fishing ground ... we waved back. These men rarely saw a fiberglass boat, let alone a 47 foot Beneteau sailing yacht and were curious about what we were doing there. When they were within shouting distance, we heard, "Selfie, Mister! Selfie!" and saw them with smartphones in hand, wanting to take a picture of these uncommon travellers and the (beautiful and foreign-to-them) yacht. Had we emerged on deck with a rifle (in their country, in their fishing spot just offshore of thier town or village), they may not have thought so kindly of us.
Someone has to be first to NOT pick up a weapon.
Sailed Caribbean and now southern pacific for past 12 yrs never had a gun nor did I ever require one also sailed solo
You also trust people in Subway …
so well said... thank you for that
Famous last words of many at the bottom of the ocean or in a pine box. However, I agree with your story, the circumstances and hypotheticals, others though, may not have such peaceful intentions.
It's a warm and fuzzy thought... I wish the whole world was this way... that this was true everywhere... that kindness and generosity were ubiquitous... unfortunately, that is not the world we live in... don't believe me?.. tonight, right around 5pm, turn on the news.......
Thank You for supporting our “World Peace” Brand
For me, the question is less about cruising and self defense as it is about staying in Canada and hunting on the coast, plus some target shooting wherever I can find somewhere that'll let me. Soon I'll be living aboard with virtually no ties to land... if I can help it... but silly 'safe storage' laws can be interpreted to require that i have a 'permanent residence'. No matter how I phrase the question and no matter to how many 'experts', I always get a different answer.
I grew up in Baltimore City and somehow never felt I needed a gun on land. I have the same theory now that live aboard a sailboat. I bought my boat in July of 2020 and by August while digging through all the stuff the previous owners left me, I found a magazine loaded with 9mm ammo deep down in a forward closet. I turned it over to the local police and told them that if I found anything else they would be hearing from me. I’ve since done a full refit of the boat and I feel pretty confident that there is nothing else onboard. But it’s something to think about when you buy a used boat. Although you may not have a gun…. Your used boat might and you should really do a thorough search of every nook and cranny when you take possession of your boat.
On the topic of pirates an interesting fact during the golden age of priacy around 1630 - 1730, around 50% of priate ships in the carribean were single masted sloops from under 45ft - 70ft. With crews in the dozens. They were shallow draft, fast, very popular merchant ships and lots of islands so don't need that much storage. A very popular type was the Bermuda sloop. Now the layout is very different to our modern sail boats but it is weird to think that a boat a couple retires on nowadays, could have been crewed by 80+men 200 years ago. A very different image than media portrays of hige galleons with 40 cannon and having burthon weights in the 100s of tons. Whereas they are more likely have 4 cannon and weigh 20 tons burten.
Interesting observation and I suspect the basic idea - that the number of crew required to sail a given length of boat was much more a couple of hundred years ago. But it may not be as big a difference as it sounds. Better to compare boats of similar displacement, not just LOA. A 52' Bermuda Sloop of the erra was likely 70+ tons compared to an Amel 52 at 16 tons.
@@jrr1lp just to preface, we don't know the displacement, the measure they used was tons Burthen that doesn't really match up to displacement. So what they actually displaced is unknown. The fact thye had a full height orlop deck and then a deck below that for stores and ballest with little less than full height, shows they definitely displaced more, but it would have still been very tight.
Pirate ships had much larger crews than merchant men so many were there to overwhelm the vessel. But the merchant man still had larger crews, which makes sense everything has to be done by hand, repairs, looking after the crew, cook, even down to not having a clock.
A timely essay given the recent even in Grenada.
I’m a Danish guy and sail in the Baltic Sea. To me this is a totally crazy discussion. Of cause no guns on board!!!
what if a criminal wants your wife or daughter not just your watch?
🇩🇰🏳️🌈reality😊
@@454FatJack Numbers of people died in gun-related deaths in 2023:
🇺🇸 = 42888 deaths
🇩🇰 = 13 deaths
This is reality.
@@454FatJack Numbers of gun-related deaths in 2023:
🇺🇸 =42888 Deaths
🇩🇰 = 13 Deaths
THIS IS REALITY
@@454FatJack Numbers of people killed by guns in 2013:
🇺🇸 = 42888
🇩🇰 = 13
THIS IS REALITY
Being a US Navy Vet I would only consider having a shotgun for self defense on a boat. Having said that I'm not sure I would bring one, just not wanting to deal with customs and all the different laws in every country that apply. Your right that piracy is rare, and I think the best course of action is not to sail off the beaten path and avoid known trouble spots!
As a long time sailor, and a retired police officer, IF you're going to take a gun with you while sailing, you'd better be very good with it (lots of practice), maintain it (amazing how most firearms attract rust while on board) and be prepared to take proactive action with it (shoot first). Most sailors are not in that category. The firearm will be more of a hazard to the crew then to the "bad guys". A firefight on board a boat is in a very small space and is likely to be an event that is not anticipated. I don't carry a firearm aboard. Of course, I don't go sailing in places known to be frequented by unsavory characters. But is your life really worth hanging on to "stuff" that can be replaced?
The introduction of a firearm to any tense situation comes with great, great probability of a regrettable outcome. However, I also believe that wielding a firearm comes with an exceptional duty to be expertly proficient with it and I don't just mean being able to aim it. If you choose to carry aboard, be responsible and acquire appropriate marine-specific training.
Guns on board, you bet ya!
💯
This is well put. As an Alaskan I know firearms and have a CC license. I strongly believe in the 2nd Amendment. A gun is a serious tool and should only be considered by an individual with extensive training, responsibility, and intelligence. I am considering getting a sail boat and doubt that I will carry for personal protection. It just doesn’t seem responsible or smart.
Definitely gun. But only one I am familiar with. And I for sure do not think killing somebody over property is justified. But certain guns at certain ranges and sober, I like my chances against any criminal. Who usually are actually terrible with guns. I think defense planning is something that needs to happen to prevent any need of any force to the highest degree possible. Locks, lights, noise, awareness, safety in numbers etc.
It is easy to say ‘I would never kill to protect property.” Until ‘property” means ‘everything I need to survive at Sea.”
A pirate leaving you adrift in your dinghy with only a bottle of water and can of peas is no less leaving you for dead than if he simply shoots you…
If they had guns and a lot of ammo would they still be here? th-cam.com/video/1kD9Pcu-Ek8/w-d-xo.htmlsi=3RwKwuNx28YCaMvd
I took 2 guns sailing to the Bahamas and was none the worse for having done so. I carry a gun every day back home like millions of other Americans so it’s not out of place in my daily life. If I could take a gun cruising to other locations as easily as I did in the Bahamas I would.
Unfortunately my next multi year cruise will probably include too many countries that are not gun friendly. So I plan on leaving them behind.
You're out of your wheelhouse on this one son ! For those of us who have carried weapons professionally and retired we know better... It is sad that Peter's weapon of choice was not a handgun...
No guns for me. I'd agree..let them have it and be gone. But what i would like to say...As a proud New Zealander. Thank you for the kind words of Sir Peter Blake, a great sailor and a great person. It was truly a sad day when Sir Peter Blake was so cruelly taken from us. RIP Sir Peter Blake. And condolences to family and friends through all these years 🙏 ❤️
"... let them have it and be gone."
Even if it's your wife? Daughter? You can't possibly know their intentions until AFTER it's over.... when it's too late to do anything. Not say'n, just say'n.
Clearly, by your comment context, you have never been in an adverse situation of the type in the topic. I understand your thoughts and feelings as most people think things only happen to others. I pray your life remains as blessed as it has been thus far. And if anything ever happens I hope that the bad men have the intentions you want them to have. With luck their intentions won't include loss of life or any less than pleasant actions towards any of your female crew.
Best of luck and may peace be your journey!
@sterlingarcher1962 may you live life without facing violent crime. Me?.... I carry every day in every place I legally can. I have a spare tire & jack in my truck (along with cold weather gear in the winter), a couple fire extinguishers in my home, my various insurance policies are always paid up..... and a gun in my holster. Hope I never need any of them.
@@mikeb8342 thrilled to hear all of that buddy. But, I wasn't talking to you, I was responding to the original comment, not your reply. ;-)
@@sterlingarcher1962 clearly in my haste.... I missed that. 🤦♂️
Orher forms of protection while sailing.. Boat dogs, two small ones ( yappie alarms) ,two larger dogs ( anti boarding deterrent/prevention). Last line of defence, spear guns ( loaded and ready to go ), Crossbow/ longbow. Flare guns ( loaded ready to go ).
And failing that Ninja swords and Rambo combat knives.
But all the above is useless unless you practice drilling a boat invasion ,and work on you drill routine.
Good job
Ps it's whit bread
There are a number of ways to protect yourself and others. Risk/Reward analysis should be conducted by experienced professionals. Having different levels of reaction and having a crew well rehearsed in implementation is critical to success. Plans should be appropriate, depending on area (s) travelled. Be alert ~ BE PREPARED
Seems like having a gun is not the way to go. I'd be interested in stories where pirates or bandits boarded, and it all ended without injury. What steps should you take? What should you say or not say? Should you have a plan for people to hide?
Would you retreat into a cave that has only one opening when your attackers are upon you? Would simply hope and plead that they spare your life? Do you not value your life ?
@@flightbug2902 I don't know what I would do. I am informed by what is successful. That's why I'd be interested in hearing more stories about successful approaches.
If I knew someone was coming for just some cash, I wouldn't risk my life to save it. If they were coming to kidnap or harm my family members, that's a different story.
No matter what you choose to do, it's good to be informed and prepared. Just having a gun without a plan doesn't seem to be a good way to go.
@charles.neuman18 The point is EXACTLY that you have no idea of their intentions. Are they just there to steal an outboard? Probably. But what if that is not the case and you are about to be dumped cold in the sea and they make off with your wife and daughters?
I've heard multiple stories of boats being intercepted by fisherman/opportunistic pirates where they were discouraged from advancing after firearm brandished or fired. If you awake to them on board I would think the chances of things going wrong are extremely high. Multiple armed people in close proximity would put the fear factor pretty high for both parties and the chance of it ending peacefully seem be fairly low. At that point I might want to keep a pistol on me but concealed or completely hidden and offer them my "real" Rolex. I don't want my privilege to cruise to cause anyone's death.
Conceptually, it's a God-given right.
Politically, legally and logistically, however, it's a NO-GO.
Pirate sword is the only answer.
As a "gun guy" and also someone who dreams of liveaboard sailing I would feel naked without firearms aboard but the customs hassles alone would make me choose to leave them behind. Someone who just has to sail around Somalia or other known hubs of violence or piracy should probably think seriously about having them on board. Peter Blake's story has a tragic end but there are other stories about sailors who were able to thwart attempted piracy with a weapon. If anything, having someone on watch at all times and the means to wake the rest of the crew might have prevented sir Peter's death entirely.
A personal choice, but for me, no guns.
well narrated ... top job
Thank you for watching!
I would keep a half dozen flare guns on board.
I think the beaten path no longer includes the red sea. An american and canadian couple made headlines a couple of years ago when they were boarded by pirates. All were killed, their boat sold. In mexico on the west coast there are a couple of cities you don't want to anchor in or you may loose your dingy. I was anchored in the "old harbor" along with several others and saw four of them loose their dingy and motor within four weeks time. They never bothered me since i row my dingy. Acapulco is another that is bad. I sailed across the Sea of Cortez one time and as i approached the baja side i saw the lights of a fast fishing boat. He went into the bay i was headed for, but didn't stay long. He met a vehicle on this abandoned stretch of coast, then left. I never carried a gun in 35,000 NM.