Cannons

[yggdrasill]

I am planing a circumnavigation. I know I should caravan with other boats. (any one interested meet in june 2011 Charleston harbor{allready two boats})

BUT I will still feel unsafe in certain areas. So I am going to carry a small arsenal (all hiden well); and I plan on making a balista.

Anyway I am asking the experineced cursiers if the local governments are dicks or not...

Mexico, Panama, and Egypt

[Cruisingdad]

YG,

THere have been many threads written on this topic. THat is a decision everyone has to make. I would think you would be better off carrying a 25mm flare gun or 12 ga flare gun (which you have to anyways) than carrying real weapons. If they catch you, especially in Mexico, you will not find any lenience. You will most likely lose your boat and spend years in a Mexican Peniteniary. Mexico Entry Requirements Immigration Customs Lone Parent

Here is the way I see it:

1) You use it an kill someone and end up in a Mexican Pen.
2) You use it and DO NOT kill someone and you end up in a Mexican Pen.
3) You do not use it all... then why even take it??

So, what is the point?? US, ok, I guess. Outside, insanity.

THat is just my opinion. I believe it is one of the dangers of cruising - esp to foreign countries.

- CD

[sailhog]

A friend of mine wound up in a Mexcan prison for carrying a weapon on his boat. The food was awful, but the sex was, in his words, "awesome." Lots of group stuff. Very "sweaty." They made him leave after three months, but he's going back later this summer. He's going to just start shooting at other boats the moment he enters Mexican waters -- just to get a longer sentence. Not my cup of tea, but he really enjoyed his time there. Just an FYI.
Sailhog

[Giulietta]

Come to my little corner in the Atlantic with a gun on board...guaranteed you will leave without it!!!! And even might get to sleep with some guys at local jail....and let me tell you..our prisions...20 guys in one room, rains inside, work and don't get paid...no school and degrees while inside...not a nice picture..not like US Summercamps, sorry, jails...

Unless you have papers, (in Portuguese), issued by your Embassy here, stating why and how many guns you have brought in the Country...you will be considered as smugler of weapons....huuuuuhhuuu big fine big trouble...

Also same in Spain, Italy, france etc...

[Freesail99]

I received my German 12 ga flare gun today. I may get to play with it this weekend.

[Pamlicotraveler]

Originally Posted by sailhog

A friend of mine wound up in a Mexcan prison for carrying a weapon on his boat. The food was awful, but the sex was, in his words, "awesome." Lots of group stuff. Very "sweaty." They made him leave after three months, but he's going back later this summer. He's going to just start shooting at other boats the moment he enters Mexican waters -- just to get a longer sentence. Not my cup of tea, but he really enjoyed his time there. Just an FYI.
Sailhog

Sailhog - This probably just increased the touring travel to Mexico from Sailnet readers 500% for the summer...and we are all carrying guns now!

[sailingdog]

Firearms are generally a bad idea IMHO. Unless you are trained in their use and willing to use them, and suffer the consequences of that usage... I would highly recommend leaving them and the ballista at home.

Unless you can guarantee that you don't accidentally open fire on a friendly fishing boat, don't bring weapons along. Most countries frown on armed people/vessels in their waters... and a ballista or canon would qualify your boat as armed to most countries IMHO.

The other problem with guns on a sailboat is that they will be in an environment that is essentially very hostile towards guns and bullets. Rust, corrosion, water saturation are going to be problems on most cruising sailboats. On Mirabella, it might not be... but on a 28-60' sailboat, it probably will be.

Finally, you will generally be outgunned. Pirates often have multiple boats, with multiple guns on each boat, and in some cases larger weapons, like RPGs. Do you really think that you can win against those odds. Most pirates are not murderers... and are willing to let most boats go on their way after getting a few things to sell from them. However, if you fire upon them, or they find the weapons on your boat, your chances of getting killed have gone way up.

Finally, if you do get killed, your weapons will now be in the hands of pirates. Is that what you really want... to arm them with possibly better weapons than they'd have if you had left the guns at home???

I just don't see the sense in it or any real advantage to it. If you really want to deter the bad guys...there are non-gun required ways of doing it.

For instance, to discourage pursuit, pour 10 gallons of gasoline on the water and drop a flare on it... I can pretty much guarantee that they won't come through the flames.

There is some safety in numbers.... and there is much more safety in avoiding the areas that are prone to piracy.

[sailhog]

Gives the term "arsenal" a whole new twist, doesn't it?

[tdw]

Originally Posted by yggdrasill

I am planing a circumnavigation. I know I should caravan with other boats. (any one interested meet in june 2011 Charleston harbor{allready two boats})

BUT I will still feel unsafe in certain areas. So I am going to carry a small arsenal (all hiden well); and I plan on making a balista.

Anyway I am asking the experineced cursiers if the local governments are dicks or not...

Mexico, Panama, and Egypt

Of interest, why SHOULD you caravan with other boats ? Personally I can think of nothing worse but then I am something of an anti social SOB. It's being out there alone that is my dream. I don't have any real desire to circumnavigate, if I do I do, if I don't big deal, but I certainly do not want to be part of some latter day armada.

[TrueBlue]

Check out the OP's profile for your answer . . .

Biography:I excaped the gorilla
Age: 20
Location:The Ashley River
Cruising Area:South Carolina Coast
Occupation:Bum