[Huntersun2]

While this subject has probably been discussed I thought I'd bring it back up.

My wife and I have been living/cruising aboard our vessel for the last 3 years, mainly the east coast of the US and the Bahamas, over 9,000 miles on this boat to date. Not surprisingly cruisers share similar beliefs with survivalists, self sufficiency/reliance being goal #1. Freedom from excessive govt intrusion also at the top of the list. This past year we have seen a surge of cruisers who will admit there boat is their BOV as well as their home and as a boat broker I have sold several vessels specifically for this porpoise.

Here is a brief description of our set up.
50'x23' custom power cat, twin Volvo penta common rail diesels, 160 hp per side. Max range (+/- conditions, speed etc) 1800 miles with a 20% reserve.

(4) charging alternators 120+160 amp
(6) Siemens solar panels feeding (5) 200amp house batteries with a trace 2500 watt inverter. All lights are LED.

12volt cold plate ref/freezer (spent 6 mo's in the Bahamas and came home with meat in the freezer).

5.5 kw diesel gen-set (1/4 gal per hour). Spare 2kw Honda gas. Air compressor for the Hookah dive rig.

18 gph 12 volt water maker, water collection available via a guttered hard top.

(2) hot water heaters, electric and engine manifold.

Propane grill, stove and oven with 40lbs propane, 1+ years worth of fuel using the grill daily.

327 gal diesel+(2) 100 Gal bladders, 150 gal water storage with a SeaGull filtration system for drinking and cooking. 75 gal waste holding.

(2) queen berths with separate heads. A third berth was converted to additional storage.

Small shop with washer/dryer combo, parts/spares storage and tools.

(3) GPS plotters, (1) Radar, (3) VHF's (1) SSB with pactor modem, (2) depth/temp units.

10' AB inflatable w/ 15hp out board (gas)
(2) bikes and a kyack.
Lodes of fishing, hunting and diving gear.

Stores for 6+months for 2 adults.

(3) sets of ground tackle and enough rope/rode to spider tie if needed during a hurricane (been through 2).

Lot's more stuff but you get the idea. When she was built the owners intended porpoise was long term/range live aboard with speed, comfort, safety and efficiency being the goal.

What we have found during our travels are a large number of like minded folks traveling the oceans and water ways.

Is a boat a good BOV, I'd say yes and before someone jumps me, all our eggs are not in one basket....

Any questions/ideas please post them up.

[Bilbo Bagins]

If you got the money and skills I think its a great option. I rather have a sailboat with a motor backup, instead of a powerboat just in case if fuel is unavailable, becomes extremely expensive or you need to travel long distance, like across the Atlantic or Pacific.

Especially for those how already live full time on their boat, nothing better then taking your house and leaving when the SHTF.

[JK-linux]

.....

[itstime]

WOW. Pics please. I'm sitting here imagining this.

[kirgi08]

I'd like ta see.

[DoctaGlockta]

How about COMS? (Edit: my bad just saw them)

And judging from your title you must have a good store of alcohol as well

[kirgi08]

[Huntersun2]

A few pic's.....

[Huntersun2]

A few more......

[Huntersun2]

Originally Posted by Bilbo Bagins

If you got the money and skills I think its a great option. I rather have a sailboat with a motor backup, instead of a powerboat just in case if fuel is unavailable, becomes extremely expensive or you need to travel long distance, like across the Atlantic or Pacific.

Especially for those how already live full time on their boat, nothing better then taking your house and leaving when the SHTF.

While most long term cruisers are on some form of sailing vessel you'd be surprised to find they sail less the 10% of the time. With speed restrictions, mast hight and draft issues we felt a power vessel would serve us better, also my fuel numbers are very near a sail boat that spends most of it's time "motor sailing.

We are looking into the possibility of adding a kite rig for down wind running.

[Huntersun2]

Originally Posted by JK-linux

Sounds great and not cheap. I'm imagining the setup you describe would be at least a 6 figure investment. Congrats!

Cheap and boats are never used in the same sentence
BUT you can find great deals in a wide verity of serviceable vessels, just depends on your intended purpose and abilities.

Thanks for the congrats.

[Huntersun2]

Originally Posted by DoctaGlockta

How about COMS? (Edit: my bad just saw them)

And judging from your title you must have a good store of alcohol as well

Add to the radio coms we can tether our smart phones for internet access where ever we are (with service). SAT phones are available and have gotten better but we have not felt the need at this time. The Pactor modem allows email access through the SSB. While in the Bahamas we buy a cheap BA-TEL phone and prepaid minutes.

Not sure how you were able to determine my alcohol stores from my title but yes we are well stocked....

[RWBlue]

Originally Posted by Huntersun2

Cheap and boats are never used in the same sentence
BUT you can find great deals in a wide verity of serviceable vessels, just depends on your intended purpose and abilities.

Thanks for the congrats.

Well there is one sentence that uses Cheap and Boat.


"You are too cheap to buy a nice boat."

This fits most people.

[pugman]

First thing which came to mind...

How do you plan on dealing with real world pirates? If this is being used as a BOV it wont' take long for others to figure this out.

And lets face it...those don't look cheap

[Huntersun2]

Originally Posted by RWBlue

Well there is one sentence that uses Cheap and Boat.


"You are too cheap to buy a nice boat."

This fits most people.

True, I stand corrected.

[Huntersun2]

Originally Posted by pugman

First thing which came to mind...

How do you plan on dealing with real world pirates? If this is being used as a BOV it wont' take long for others to figure this out.

And lets face it...those don't look cheap

You are correct but let's think about it for a minute....
Land based pirates vs true boat pirates, when the shtf and I'm off shore dealing with a few if any properly equipped bad guys vs all the land dwellers that "could" be potential problems. The numbers are far fewer on the water.

But to your question, we most likely will be traveling in pack's, and the bad guys as usual will pick on the weak/stragglers and Canadian flagged sailing vessels because they know all US flagged power vessels are heavily armed.

[308endurdebate]

maybe a Solar Oven, Solar Still..



Normal survival gear on a larger ocean going vessel?

Normal USCG required stuff, plus survival rafts (with supply pack)

epirbs (at least one per vessel - 3, your main boat, your dingy, and the raft).

extra medical insurance (includes remote evacuation costs back to US if your in the carribean or elsewhere)

Training - USCG/Boating courses/license, Medical Training?

[Huntersun2]

Originally Posted by 308endurdebate

maybe a Solar Oven, Solar Still..



Normal survival gear on a larger ocean going vessel?

Normal USCG required stuff, plus survival rafts (with supply pack)

epirbs (at least one per vessel - 3, your main boat, your dingy, and the raft).

extra medical insurance (includes remote evacuation costs back to US if your in the carribean or elsewhere)

Training - USCG/Boating courses/license, Medical Training?

Good questions.

We started out with a near coastal raft since I had it from a previous vessel, gave it away while in the Bahamas, our vessel is 125% boyant and will work as a raft if disabled.

(2) EPIRBS, one fixed mounted and one in the ditch bag, since we have no plans on leaving the boat 2 EPIRBS are again redundant.

Diver Dan's provides great evacuate ins for cruisers/boaters that have issues while on board at a very cheap price ($70/yr).

USCG offers a safety inspection but there is no license needed and the wife has been in the Med Field for 30+ years.

[308endurdebate]

Originally Posted by Huntersun2

Good questions.

We started out with a near coastal raft since I had it from a previous vessel, gave it away while in the Bahamas, our vessel is 125% boyant and will work as a raft if disabled.

(2) EPIRBS, one fixed mounted and one in the ditch bag, since we have no plans on leaving the boat 2 EPIRBS are again redundant.

Diver Dan's provides great evacuate ins for cruisers/boaters that have issues while on board at a very cheap price ($70/yr).

USCG offers a safety inspection but there is no license needed and the wife has been in the Med Field for 30+ years.

Nice. Sounds like you're set.

I don't own a cruiser, but have been rec fishing/boating for years.

I recommend a book I've got - Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual. I've got the 3rd edition (2005)... there may be a newer version, but it is great. Covers how things work on a bigger boat (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc). Has troubleshooting, Well worth the $50 retail list. Helps if you're handy, but still well worth the read. Keep double ziplocked onboard.

Fair Winds and Following Seas.

[Huntersun2]

Originally Posted by 308endurdebate

Nice. Sounds like you're set.

I don't own a cruiser, but have been rec fishing/boating for years.

I recommend a book I've got - Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual. I've got the 3rd edition (2005)... there may be a newer version, but it is great. Covers how things work on a bigger boat (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc). Has troubleshooting, Well worth the $50 retail list. Helps if you're handy, but still well worth the read. Keep double ziplocked onboard.

Fair Winds and Following Seas.

I agree, Nigel Calder's books are top rate and yes I have them on board.
No need for the zip lock thing, if I need to worry about them getting wet I'm in big touble..

[ChuteTheMall]

Originally Posted by Huntersun2

because they know all US flagged power vessels are heavily armed.

Any legal problems carrying guns to Bahamas, or elsewhere?

[Huntersun2]

Originally Posted by ChuteTheMall

Any legal problems carrying guns to Bahamas, or elsewhere?

Bahamas are not a big deal, declare with ammo count and your good to go. The BVI's are another story.

[Bolster]

Told post OT so deleted.

[TangoFoxtrot]

Originally Posted by Huntersun2

A few more......

If you can live this life you choose then go for it.

[series1811]

We have a sailboat and we got back last year from a six month cruise to the Bahamas. My wife and I often joked that the boat is our SHTF bug out vehicle.

We are set up to fairly self-sufficient as well. The only item I won't go back to the Bahamas without is a water maker.

The only flaw I see in your plan is that I can remember pulling into lots of islands in the Bahamas that had been waiting on diesel for weeks. I can't imagine that situation getting better in any kind of crisis.

A sailboat will outrun the fasted powerboat ever made when the fuel is all gone.

But, cruisers are a self-sufficient lot and I was amazed at how minimalist some of the ones we ran into were. You can get by on a lot less than you are used to.

Originally Posted by Bolster

- There is no cold beer. There's no cold food at all.

No cold beer? He's just not set up right. I have a 12 volt cooler on my boat that runs off the battery bank, and is fully recharged almost every day by the solar panels.

And, as far as anything affecting the people who live on these small islands. Unless you told them the world had ended, they would probably just be wondering why the supply boats were later than usual. They don't care, or they wouldn't live there.