Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Self-Sufficiency and Preparedness
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
View Poll Results: What would you rather do in case of SHTF?
Bug out by boat or sailboat to a deserted island 16 44.44%
Bug out by vehicle to the wilderness 17 47.22%
Undecided 3 8.33%
Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll

Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 06-25-2014, 09:54 PM
 
794 posts, read 815,392 times
Reputation: 1142

Advertisements

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mack Knife View Post
Yes, when it comes time to bug out, lets not make it as easy as possible, lets throw in the problems the seas or oceans can bring up and throw that into the mix too.

Deserted island? I can't stop laughing.
Deserted island is mostly a fantasy, but a life aboard and sailing to exotic locales that may weather shtf better than here is real enough. Problem is, to do it successfully you need to really be into the whole sailing thing 100%. Knowing how to use a sextant, be self sufficient.. there is so much to know.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 06-26-2014, 01:08 AM
 
Location: where you sip the tea of the breasts of the spinsters of Utica
8,298 posts, read 14,134,421 times
Reputation: 8104
There ARE some deserted islands, but they're deserted for good reasons.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 06-26-2014, 12:52 PM
 
Location: Monnem Germany/ from San Diego
2,296 posts, read 3,115,919 times
Reputation: 4796
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Maryland View Post

Second - You need to map it out logically. Forget anything over 38 feet. Why? Because it'll need to be motored to be manageable. Under 38 feet (or thereabouts), you can handle the thing under sail only if need be (and in a real shtf scenario, you prolly won't have access to clean diesel for very long, if at all).
All your points are good but I would argue that under 38 would be a bit small just due to storage issues if you really are planning on a really long haul and that 38 -45 foot would be ideal. Not that you could not do it with a old Islander 30 if you had to. I have sailed 50 footers in and out of slips and through narrow places, it takes a little skill but can be done. You can get by without a motor. We sailed an motorless 40 foot cruiser around all over Hawaii. Sometimes we used to use a rowing dinghy to tow it into the slip in no wind. Over 45 foot the things start loading up alot, too much for one or two people, becomes expensive and more prone to breaking in a big way.

But as you sort of said, owning a boat just for running away from an event that probably won´t happen anyways does not make much sense. But I am a sailor and if I was not busy being a parent and such at the moment I would consider getting a small boat and taking off for a bit anyways. I do a yacht delivery every now and then with a friend who is captaining full time and race dinghys pretty seriously. Will do a transatlantic trip next year hopefully and pick up a few Euros extra.

All in all the smallest boat that will work for you is better than the bigest you can buy.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-06-2014, 08:31 PM
 
Location: North Central Florida
6,218 posts, read 7,711,508 times
Reputation: 3939
Quote:
Originally Posted by Woof View Post
There ARE some deserted islands, but they're deserted for good reasons.
And if you aren't prepared to deal with the people you find on the not so deserted islands you run across while looking for the deserted island that you don't know where it is, you may have problems.

The whole notion of "bugging out" in a boat is so far fetched it's laughable. It's a one way trip to nowhere. If you had the couple hundred thousand, or even the $50K or so some believe they can do it with, you could find some vacant acreage, and dig a real nice bunker, and have it stocked with plenty of goodies to last a real long time, without having to risk yourself and family/friends at the mercy of nature at sea, on top of the other predators that will be looking for you.

Go watch "All is lost" if you want a fictionalized account of some of the stuff that can happen out there. Then keep in mind the thing that does you in is the thing you didn't think about. In a survival situation, going to ground, and keeping a low profile is best. Unless youre in a submarine, your a sitting duck out there.

BTW, I have LOTS of experience with boats. Only way I'd "bug out" on a boat is if I was aboard and an angry mob was heading down the dock toward me.......

CN.......
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 07-07-2014, 08:57 AM
 
Location: somewhere in the woods
16,880 posts, read 15,169,069 times
Reputation: 5239
If it works for this guy fine. but I am fine with bugging in and still having a G.O.O.D. place in Northern Montana for just in case.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-23-2014, 08:20 PM
 
Location: Martinez, ca
297 posts, read 357,845 times
Reputation: 218
In a SHTF event getting out to sea initially can be a huge benefit. In most of the places I have been while in the service, most civvies would be shocked at what I have seen people do when panicked. To themselves, children, other people or to animals even. Getting away from large groups of panicked people via boat can be a great idea.

Living at sea or on a deserted island (all couple acres of it) or any real length of time? Might work might not. depends on what type of landmass. Have you stocked it full of reserve fuel/food/water? Can it support the calorie and water demands of you and the people with you?

But it really depends on what kind of SHTF event.
Zombies invasion for example, would be ideal for a boat getaway.
WW3 on American soil? Could be a great idea to leave via water, unless we are invaded by a massive naval force (About as unlikely as zombies considering our naval capabilities)
multiple massive nuclear strikes? Potentially a bad idea to go the water route if you are caught in a fallout pattern. But a great way to avoid "hot" areas as well.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-23-2014, 08:26 PM
 
Location: Martinez, ca
297 posts, read 357,845 times
Reputation: 218
Default Absolutes fail absolutely.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Compression View Post
And if you aren't prepared to deal with the people you find on the not so deserted islands you run across while looking for the deserted island that you don't know where it is, you may have problems.
Completely agree with this statement

Quote:
Originally Posted by Compression View Post
The whole notion of "bugging out" in a boat is so far fetched it's laughable.
Completely Disagree.
It is always situational. Imagine your in the Florida keys, Catalina island, Hawaii, eastern Texas trying to get to Mexico avoiding some land based occupying force. Boat seems pretty nice if you have to drive or hike out (or if your in Hawaii or Catalina swim out! XD).

Lots of scenarios can be contrived to where a boat could be exceptionally useful. It is all situational.

Absolutes fail absolutely.

Last edited by Westcoastnavy; 12-23-2014 at 08:27 PM.. Reason: spelling
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-23-2014, 08:56 PM
 
48,505 posts, read 96,675,147 times
Reputation: 18304
Quote:
Originally Posted by Westcoastnavy View Post
In a SHTF event getting out to sea initially can be a huge benefit. In most of the places I have been while in the service, most civvies would be shocked at what I have seen people do when panicked. To themselves, children, other people or to animals even. Getting away from large groups of panicked people via boat can be a great idea.

Living at sea or on a deserted island (all couple acres of it) or any real length of time? Might work might not. depends on what type of landmass. Have you stocked it full of reserve fuel/food/water? Can it support the calorie and water demands of you and the people with you?

But it really depends on what kind of SHTF event.
Zombies invasion for example, would be ideal for a boat getaway.
WW3 on American soil? Could be a great idea to leave via water, unless we are invaded by a massive naval force (About as unlikely as zombies considering our naval capabilities)
multiple massive nuclear strikes? Potentially a bad idea to go the water route if you are caught in a fallout pattern. But a great way to avoid "hot" areas as well.
But your in plan view. Seems senseless to hide there. Pirates have always been a problem at sea. Even now pirates in small boats take tankers.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-23-2014, 09:11 PM
 
Location: Southeast, where else?
3,913 posts, read 5,216,152 times
Reputation: 5823
Quote:
Originally Posted by GER308 View Post
A well prepared sailboat should be able to go for at least a couple of years with out needing much and could go pretty much anywhere in the word. Who needs motors or fuel.
He is a total nutter but a guy just spent 1000 days at sea on a beat up homemade schooner without any outside assistance- it can certianly be done.

S**t happens but If you are somewhat competent you can avoid crashing in the surf and being in a boat gives would give you the most choices as to where you want to go.
Get a used barge, armor it up, install a mast, expect slow travel forever, stay within eyesight of the shore, add extra flotation tanks to keep going if one or two compartments are breached, coat the whole think in heavy zinc impregnated paint after ridiculous amounts of sandblasting, add an arsenal of weapons to include a rudimentary flame thrower or two, stock the Shiite out of it, have a map and desalination eqquipment, have a plan,


Hey, it ain't the QE II but, it ain't Kon Tiki either. Not the most fly ride but, it would get you where you are going.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 12-24-2014, 10:05 AM
 
Location: Phoenix, AZ
1,070 posts, read 2,939,302 times
Reputation: 1447
Just playing the hypotheticals:

The idea of bugging out by boat is interesting, if it works for the given situation. Live near the water / have experience with boating / scenario best dealt with by fleeing public? Boat might just work.

That said, I would NOT want motor power (for all the provided reasons). Sail is the way to go. But, I would go for a catamaran. Slower to turn, and much wider (making narrow passages tighter), but more stable, with a faster cruising speed, and most importantly: No keel. Meaning you can sail straight up to beaches, or into shallow waters around islands and inlets. In the event of a hull breach, cats are safer -- if one hull fills with water, the other will usually stay floating (granted, there may not be rescue services to help you -- but at least it beats being completely sunk). Only downside, again, is turning and bridge slap. An equivalent length cat has more than twice as much living space as it's monohull'ed brother, and the large bridge area between can support large solar setups.

Something in the 25-40 ft range would be manageable with no engine power, and provide enough living space for you and a few others. Hell, just one or two people and you could devote half the boat to non-perishables and clean water.

As for clean water sources -- desalination exists. Powered by a solar or wind generator, and you can make your own clean water from what you're sailing in.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:

Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Self-Sufficiency and Preparedness
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:54 PM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top