Common Objects to Defend Your Boat at Sea

[K1MGY]

Universal criminal control

Meanwhile I'd like to understand what the various regulations are. Can anyone suggest a good reference?

[houseofcharm]

I read somewhere years ago that pepper sprays are often illegal in many venues. Wasp killer is not.

[LWatson]

We carry a couple of cans of wasp spray. Non lethal, soundless and shoots about 20 feet, plus a can lasts a long time. Legal everywhere I think. One shot to the face and the perp is incapacitated! Did I mention cheap?

[Paul Reading]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Indeed.
In certain places, like some Australian States, it’s illegal to wear a bulletproof vest without a permit.
United States law restricts possession of body armor for convicted (violent) felons, and you cannot take, ship, send, or bring body armor outside the US without Federal permission.
In Ontario (Canada), anyone can legally purchase and use a bulletproof vest; but in Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba it is illegal to possess body armour without a license .

Who would seriously make such rules. Anti stab vests are a good idea in some districts.

[windcastle1]

That’s why you carry a couple of cement blocks and some chain. It also can be used for an emergency mooring!!!

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by 33trippindaisy

... for the life of me I can't understand why some people just have to be ugly. ... Just a dark kinda person I guess, he soon left, never said a word to anyone, just gone. Seemed like the right thing to do to me!

Reminds me of a population sign I saw on a drive through North Dakota many years ago. It was a small hamlet, and proudly told people:

Welcome to XX, the home of 44 kind people,
and one grumpy old fart.

Best to laugh at them, or just ignore them. They eventually go away.

[houseofcharm]

Re my wasp spray post: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/spray-for-pain/

[coxfirm]

Originally Posted by Calif.Ted

Wearing a flak jacket or "bullet proof" vest always made me worry about all the important parts it didn't cover.

Originally Posted by Chotu

Right??

To me, it seems they are best at lowering your chances of dying from a direct hit to an organ that isn’t your brain. Not much help otherwise.

When I was in the Marines I ran an op in Africa with some French Foreign Legionnaires. They had body armor that covered their "vital" organs and hot meals... I was envious! Lol

[TXProud]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Indeed.
In certain places, like some Australian States, it’s illegal to wear a bulletproof vest without a permit.
United States law restricts possession of body armor for convicted (violent) felons, and you cannot take, ship, send, or bring body armor outside the US without Federal permission.
In Ontario (Canada), anyone can legally purchase and use a bulletproof vest; but in Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba it is illegal to possess body armour without a license .

Also note, level III armor is heavy, carriers are heavy. 2 level III steel plates and carrier will get close to 20 lbs. Level III is the minimum for a rifle round, add 10 for level 4. Also note, armor may stop the bullet from putting a hole in you, but it still hurts like hell and could very well break a rib or 2. They make armor that floats and plate carriers that support it but it ain’t cheap. Navy and Coasties have used it for years for boarding parties.

I worked maritime security in the northern Indian Ocean. It’s not just Honduras and Somaliayouhave to worry about. There are organized pirates around the world and yachts are becoming targets because insurance companies pay them if the vessel isn’t armed.

[rapanui 2]

Originally Posted by zamber

Taking firearms from country to country is not a good idea due to the multitude of laws. One mistake and you are in jail. The best thing is to not sail off the coast of Somalia or the Nicaraguan/Honduras border. That said, common object on a boat might be helpful if you are in a situation where you might end up like the humans in the robot revolt in the new West World TV show.

You want to be in a situation where the government inspector says "Do you have weapons on board" and you respond "No Sir!" Then they find none.

Pirates are almost always corrupt fishermen looking for an easy target. Sometimes boats are attacked by pirates without firearms. If they get bombarded by flares and spears there is a good chance they will disappear.

One common item is a fishing tackle hat with a wide brim. Put on on tackle and a lead fishing sinker on the back. At the right moment grab the front brim and bop the pirate on the head.

Others include spear guns, flares, fishing bows, pipes, etc. Kitchen knives and baseball bats are obvious. Heck, the Coast Guard even requires flares! "Yes officer, got my flare right here!"

A repeating flare gun is easily made because it could be plastic and would not need to have precision. There are repeating spear guns on the web. Stock up on spears and flare ammo.

Watch out for local laws. There are some odd legal restriction on some normally legal items, be careful. There is a "Spear Guns Control Act 1971" in Australia for example.

Then there is body armor. I never heard of pirates wearing body armor. It might give you an edge.

The point is, if you have it you can make a decision to use it or not in a dangerous situation.

I am in the same dilemna hide a gun aboard and not declaring it can bring me in big problem in several country in the caribean,and only a bolt action sniper gun can scare off a venezuelan pirogue full of pirates.... so my choice will go for a scuba tank, a 5 m long karcher lance with a correct nozzle,a fill of gazoline and there it is,put it on the deck ready,lighting it with a remote red flare (that may scare them??) if they come close, pull the trigger and 30 feet of nice fire inside the pirogue full of gas tank!! the best of the thing that the weapon look as a karcher in cas of a custom visit....

[Ric Sheridan]

What about a big knife or a machete? Or a fish club? Or a monkey wrench? A cup of coffee with a lid on it filled with gas and a zippo lighter works if you can get close enough to splash the guy with the gas... Plenty of devious ways they don't think about. Oil the deck. Home made flame thrower made out of a propane tank. Gas bomb and a flare to ignite it. War is hell.

[Amapola]

Don't forget the Wast Spray!

[jeepers]

Originally Posted by taxwizz

In Canada, if you injure an intruder in your home, YOU go to jail.
The law is on the side of the criminals.

Not sure where you got this from. Please provide source.
I have arrested people myself, on my property.
I have restrained them physically when they resisted.
As I called 911. I then escorted them off my property to their car while in communication with 911 dispatch the whole time.
The attending Constables said I couldn't do what I did.
The Sargeant upon arrival educated them THAT I indeed can.
From their licence plate info the Sargeant went to their house.
They were not facing a ticket but a Summons for Criminal Tresspass & Resisting Arrest as my arrest was indeed legal.
Upon conviction was Criminal acts. They then could not cross borders etc etc.

NB. In Canada.. Whatever you do. If at anytime you end up outside your house or buildings etc with them . DO NOT drag them back inside !!!!
You can use the next level of force necessary to effect the arrest.
If they resist. You can subdue !!!!
That is the Law..

[SailMaravilla]

Originally Posted by bobnlesley

So how did he/you know it was pirates? Did their boat fly the jolly roger or perhaps display a sign saying 'pirate boat' in 2' high letters?

Careful throwing things at this Jolly Roger

[rapanui 2]

Originally Posted by Chotu

So all of these big boats are in danger of arrest?

I find it hard to believe professional captains with decades of experience running large ships and mega yachts to a perfection most of us can only dream of on our little boats are taking that level of a risk.

Maybe, just maybe... these particular rules aren’t enforced in the way most of the people here think they are.

Because the MAJORITY of megayachts i worked on had an Arsenal aboard.

We went from Caribbean nation to Caribbean nation without any incident just like the rest of everyone did.

And for sure the big tanker types are armed as well.

These is a huge incongruity between what we say on this forum and what real boats (but larger ones) are doing in real life.

the actual danger for hight sea armed pirates in the caribean is mainly the channel beetween grenada and trinidad,the venezueluan attack yacht close to the 2 oilrigs that are approx middle way the channel is 70 miles wide and they attack in sight during the day calling help on 16 is a joke the grenadian coast guard are none and the trinis will come maybe the day after if their boat start!! so sail by night with no nav light and check the radar for another yacht doing the same...