Boarding Barrier

[Epicurean]

Has anybody made the equivalent of Joshua Slocum's carpet tacks to put on the transom landing (What are those things called?) of a catamaran so it's not so comfortable for swimmers to climb up on? I was thinking of a metal sheet with some sort of peaks. Like carpet tacks attached to a metal sheet. But I don't know what. Something that would be easy to lift off from above but not from the water.

[owly]

Just roll out a coil of razor wire attached to the lifelines ;-)

[Bill Seal]

Don't know about Portugal, but here in the Peoples Republic of California, (Lawyer Central) if they scratched their pinkey, they'd sue your arse off.

[Epicurean]

Originally Posted by Bill Seal

Don't know about Portugal, but here in the Peoples Republic of California, (Lawyer Central) if they scratched their pinkey, they'd sue your arse off.

They have to live, or the heirs have to find the body first.

[GrowleyMonster]

Proximity or motion sensor. REALLY bright lights that switch on automatically and manually. Cameras including IR cameras that you can monitor when you are below. Objects that can be used as improvised weapons along with whatever weapons are legally allowed. Assuming you do not want to have any weapons that are illegal in the ports in question.

Booby traps such as Slocum's tacks on deck might seem like a very good idea, but often you will find yourself in more trouble for boobytrapping than for deliberately harming the poor unfortunate who just came aboard to help or came aboard after falling overboard and nearly drowning, etc etc etc. In other words, facing greater legal jeopardy from tacks or razor wire or electrically charging lifelines or door handles , than clubbing or "slightly" knifing someone or even shooting someone. Remember, booby traps harm indiscriminately. With a weapon, you can choose not to threaten or harm at any time, right up to the point where you actually do the deed or let him leave. It's like a fire and forget nuclear ballistic missile vs a manned nuclear capable bomber. One can be called home at the last minute, the other one can't.

If you really want to know what you can and can]t do to protect your boat and those in her, consult a lawyer who you have reason to believe knows and understands relevant law in the country you are or will visit. I totally feel it is better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6, but if there is a legally supported means of defending your boat, then resorting to a gun might not be necessary anyway.

[owly]

Originally Posted by GrowleyMonster

Proximity or motion sensor. REALLY bright lights that switch on automatically and manually. Cameras including IR cameras that you can monitor when you are below. Objects that can be used as improvised weapons along with whatever weapons are legally allowed. Assuming you do not want to have any weapons that are illegal in the ports in question.

Booby traps such as Slocum's tacks on deck might seem like a very good idea, but often you will find yourself in more trouble for boobytrapping than for deliberately harming the poor unfortunate who just came aboard to help or came aboard after falling overboard and nearly drowning, etc etc etc. In other words, facing greater legal jeopardy from tacks or razor wire or electrically charging lifelines or door handles , than clubbing or "slightly" knifing someone or even shooting someone. Remember, booby traps harm indiscriminately. With a weapon, you can choose not to threaten or harm at any time, right up to the point where you actually do the deed or let him leave. It's like a fire and forget nuclear ballistic missile vs a manned nuclear capable bomber. One can be called home at the last minute, the other one can't.

If you really want to know what you can and can]t do to protect your boat and those in her, consult a lawyer who you have reason to believe knows and understands relevant law in the country you are or will visit. I totally feel it is better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6, but if there is a legally supported means of defending your boat, then resorting to a gun might not be necessary anyway.

The problem is that you may not be aboard to protect your property. As you point out, a passive or automatic system cannot distinguish between a benign boarder, helpful neighbor come aboard to save your boat when it slipped a mooring or dragged an anchor or some other crisis, or as you mention, a half drowned fellow boater dragging his ass aboard, and a malign boarder. Your neighbors are probably the best insurance if you are not aboard. Develop relationships with fellow boaters so people recognize who does and does not belong.
If you are aboard, pepper spray is probably the best weapon for repelling boarders... In most cases boarders will be thieves boarding what they believe is a boat with nobody aboard, not armed men looking for a conflict.
Look at ways to make it appear that there are people aboard when there are not using lighting and sound. A TV casts moving light and sound. If you are going ashore for the evening in a location where you are worried about thieves, use your inflatable kayak, and leave the dinghy with the name of your boat in the davits (chained), and a small TV turned on. Dinghy in davits says "we're home". Dinghy ashore with the name of the boat, says "we're out partying and the boat is unoccupied".

[Perfect Ride]

To reduce risk the best advice is to not be the most attractive boat for ill intended boarding. Our solution includes aft transom lights wired to the anchor light that is optically switched. These light up the rear of the boat and dingy normally making us one of the least attractive boats in the anchorage for theft. Pressure sensors on the sugar scoop landing that light up the boat even more and generate some voices will deter most others. (check out boatalarm.com for ideas)



If the lights and noises don't stop someone, tacks most likely are not going to either.



But most important, keep informed and avoid the most troublesome bays in the first place.



IMHO drugged or armed or both are the greatest threat and tacks might just create more anger and aggression.

[owly]

Originally Posted by Perfect Ride

To reduce risk the best advice is to not be the most attractive boat for ill intended boarding. Our solution includes aft transom lights wired to the anchor light that is optically switched. These light up the rear of the boat and dingy normally making us one of the least attractive boats in the anchorage for theft. Pressure sensors on the sugar scoop landing that light up the boat even more and generate some voices will deter most others. (check out boatalarm.com for ideas)



If the lights and noises don't stop someone, tacks most likely are not going to either.



But most important, keep informed and avoid the most troublesome bays in the first place.



IMHO drugged or armed or both are the greatest threat and tacks might just create more anger and aggression.

I concur 100% with being less attractive.. the elegant polished boat with the best of everything is the obvious mark. Poor folk do not have much to steal. It's nice to have something flashy that trumpets your wealth to all........ If you derive your self worth from being wealthier and more "successful" than others. The big boys are the targets... and again do not ever paint the name of your boat on your rather ratty looking stitch and glue dinghy with an old two cycle outboard that looks like it's on it's last legs... It doesn't have to look good to run good.



I would suggest that an ordinary solar electric fencer would be very effective. A small battery keeps them jolting all night long and through cloudy days. Not dangerous, but painful. Use the water as the ground, the lifelines hot, and make sure that you have to grab metal to climb aboard. The good ones will leave your arm almost useless for awhile when you tangle with them.