Ship and Equipment for Extended Survival

[sgunes]

Hello:
I am brand new to this forum. Sorry if some of the questions seem too newbie.
I am considering being self-sustained for at least 1-2 years in a worst case scenario.

My thoughts about what is needed for 2 adults in their late 40's:
A 40-50 foot cat with maximum solar panels, wind turbine and water maker.
Assortment of tools and spare parts. Emergency medical supplies.
Food rations (along the LDS recommendations), heirloom seeds and other survival gear. (LDS Emergency/disaster Preparedness, My LDS Links.com -- Emergency Preparedness / Food Storage, Emergency Preparedness Information | Mormon Share, Survival Cache).

The reason I am posting it in the multi-hull sailboat subforum is that I think that a sailing cat should be the best vessel for this (stability, minimal draft, storage space, redundancy of sails and 2 separate engines).

I looked at the various models from Antares to Lagoon, F-P and Leopard.
Any pro and cons for or against one versus the others in this scenario (extended self-sustainability and blue-water capability). Reliability, easy repairs and maximum area for solar panels would be very important. I am also considering these water-sparing toilets (Xerolet International, LLC)

Other thoughts: we may need suggestions for a $300k, $500k and maybe $800k budget.

One more question would go to the military folks here: how about self-defense/weapons? They may not be allowed everywhere but I am sure there are ways to hide them on a 45foot cat. I am thinking about going all the way to these 0.50 caliber rifles (Barrett 50 BMG Rifles at Impact Guns Home). If I get targeted by pirates, I don't want to be slaughtered without putting up a fight (no disrespect to pacifists here).

I don't want this thread to end up as a political/religious shouting match.
I just want to be prepared when the s@#$ hits the fan.

Thanks for any feedback.

[LakeSuperior]

Information is incredibly valuable in any kind of bad scenario. Depending on your objectives, like survival for example, it could be worth more than all the rest of your stuff.

I recommend outfitting with a full complement of the best communications equipement you can purchase from short-wave radio, high gain WIFI, to sat-phones, VHF, etc.

Why do you need water sparing toilets if you are in a cat?

[atoll]

suggest buiding a bunker some where in the woods,far safer,for your self and others within range,bunkers are not prone to sinking......................

[Therapy]

Rig your toilets so they can flush with sea water.

It may smell a little (if you don't take care of it) but that will be the least of your worries if you are loading a .50 cal!

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by sgunes

Hello:
The reason I am posting it in the multi-hull sailboat subforum is that I think that a sailing cat should be the best vessel for this (stability, minimal draft, storage space, redundancy of sails and 2 separate engines).

I looked at the various models from Antares to Lagoon, F-P and Leopard.
Any pro and cons for or against one versus the others in this scenario (extended self-sustainability and blue-water capability). Reliability, easy repairs and maximum area for solar panels would be very important. I am also considering these water-sparing toilets (Xerolet International, LLC)

In you choice of cats you may want to consider the ability of the hulls to stop small arms fire. If you get in a firefight with pirates a heavier hull could save your life. You may even want to consider adding armor to some of the compartments to create a safe zone for your family while you fight it out on deck.

You need to look at the end game of any fight. This is where a short 10 gauge pump with 00 buckshot will come in handy. Especially if you are driven below deck.

I would even consider a suicide trigger where you could take the pirates and their boat with you. 200 or 300 pounds of plastic explosives evenly distributed in the hulls would do the trick in the event there is no hope. Good luck on the venture!

[capngeo]

OK GUYS, go easy on him; he's new!

And let's not get on another gun thread!

To the OP, Welcome to CF! You might wish to search some of your questions instead of bearing your neck to the wolves on the first post!

[sgunes]

Well, I already learned that you can flush the toilets with seawater. That saves money for the fancy Xerolet model.
The bunker idea would not work because I want to be outside and not incarcerate myself.
I will steal the Double Facepalm picture.
Wouldn't the 0.50 caliber have a greater range than the AK-47 the pirates usually use?

One thing I had not thought about: cooking is done with propane cylinders. While I can generate my own electricity with the solar panels and the wind turbine I cannot make any propane (no bean burrito jokes, please). Are there stoves available that will run off the battery bank?

Thanks, and I appreciate every suggestion including the Armageddon self-destruct option.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by atoll

suggest building a bunker some where in the woods,far safer,for your self and others within range,bunkers are not prone to sinking ...

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, sgunes.

Indeed. Boats make terrible fortress'.
One need not stay imprisoned within a fortress, merely retreat there when under attack.

[sgunes]

I think most here look just at the Doomsday Scenario.

I am thinking about cruising and having fun while still being prepared for the worst-case scenario. Being stuck in a bunker may be a temporary solution to the Doomsday problem but it runs counter the "having fun" part.

I am not LDS or Mayan Long Calendar 2012 believer, but if we have riots/total breakdown then I want to be out on sea (maybe in the South Pacific) and wait it out.
I fully agree that the cat should be fully equipped with the best available electronics and navigation gear (probably also fish finder).

I have not seen anybody here argue for or against cats in general. Is there at least some agreement that a sailing cat (38-50 feet) would be the way to go?

Thanks.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, sgunes.

Indeed. Boats make terrible fortress'.
One need not stay imprisoned within a fortress, merely retreat there when under attack.

Quite, if the budget is $800k you could do worse than have a chat with the Columbians. They seem quite good at making submarines which should give pirates a bit of a headache

Pete

[capngeo]

I want one of these..... Worked well for Costner!

[biminijimini]

The fun of cruising is figuring ways to protect yourself from being murdered?? No thanks! If I need 50 cal aboard for safety I'm not going there!!

[sgunes]

Originally Posted by capngeo

I want one of these..... Worked well for Costner!

Nice picture.
Any pros and cons of trimaran versus catamaran?
In terms of price and availability a catamaran would be preferable while the trimaran maybe faster?

[barnakiel]

I would take on:

- seeds (veggies, herbs, fast growin fruit, etc..),
- fishing tackle of all sorts,
- rain catchment systems,
- huge water tanks,
- good load of soap and toothpaste,
- plenty of toilet paper,
- books (if you like to read),
- plenty of sunblock,
- spare sunglasses,
- a sewing machine,
- wood, steel and alloy, resin, glass, dacron, rubber, etc..,
- huge amt of tea / coffee,
- huge amt of LPG (or whatever you need for the galley),
- a barrel of antifouling paint,
- plenty of rum / gin - for trading,
- 2 guns and ammo.
...

And so on and so forth.

b.

[sgunes]

Originally Posted by capngeo

I want one of these..... Worked well for Costner!

Originally Posted by barnakiel

I would take on:

- seeds (veggies, herbs, fast growin fruit, etc..),
- fishing tackle of all sorts,
- rain catchment systems,
- huge water tanks,
- good load of soap and toothpaste,
- plenty of toilet paper,
- books (if you like to read),
- plenty of sunblock,
- spare sunglasses,
- a sewing machine,
- wood, steel and alloy, resin, glass, dacron, rubber, etc..,
- huge amt of tea / coffee,
- huge amt of LPG (or whatever you need for the galley),
- a barrel of antifouling paint,
- plenty of rum / gin - for trading,
- 2 guns and ammo.
...

And so on and so forth.

b.

Thanks.
Now we are getting somewhere .
I had not thought about the sewing machine for repairs (I guess it will serve for sail repairs, too).
Regarding the LPG. Taking on a lot of LPG tanks would serve the purpose of blowing everyone up as alluded in a previous reply .
The way to generate your own electricity are the solar panels and the windturbine. Would I need an electric cooktop/oven and water heater that is hooked up to the batteries? Anything else on a sailing cat that runs on LPG? Is anyone selling electric marine water heaters and cooktops?

Regarding marine batteries: how long do they usually last or how many charge-discharge cycles can they tolerate?

What is the longest anyone here has made it "off the grid"?

It would be nice if we could get a wiki going regarding "sustainability".

sg