Any sailor preppers out there?

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

Hello again
Following geo politics and carefully observing the international political arena there's this naggy feeling that someone might go "postal" and crack a tactical sm nuke or a big one... All bets will be off at that moment, financial panic, ect ect ect... Don't bug with "it would be the end"... Long story...
Where are now anchored, as an expat or where are you planning to sail...no politics, just asking. If this bothers you just ignore it... That easy. Thx
Thx

 

[JamesG161]

Welcome to the Non Political Sailboat Forums.
Happy New Years!

Jim...

 

[JBP-PA]

In many ways, a lot of sailors (and backwoods campers) are preppers, not politically but in the sense that they enjoy being self sufficient, learning how to survive in accord with nature, and seek to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. I'm sure almost every sailor thinks about "how long can I stay at sea?". Rather than waiting for some apocalypse, we get out there and enjoy it now.

 

[Tally Ho]

I would not call myself a prepper…but I did store up food and TP during the onset of the pandemic. Nothing too crazy though.

I have thought about what I would do if the markets totally melted down, utilities went off line, and essentially civilization as we know it just fell apart…

I have fantasized about securing all of the guns & ammo, food, survivor gear, etc I can “find”, then “ liberating“ the larges sailboat I could get to in any of the marinas around my area, and heading out on the Great Lakes, far from people.

The only “flies in the ointment” are it HAS to be summer time or all of the boats are put away, and I imagine all of the locks will also be out of commission if the end of the world is at hand, so I would be stuck on the Great Lakes (and not all of them). Maybe make my way as Far East on Lake Erie that I can get, then make my way to the coast overland, and “liberate“ another boat there and head to the Caribbean!

So, prep? No. But I have thought about it.

Greg

 

[stickinthemud57]

Since I see my boat as a place of escape from the everyday, I can see why it might be tempting to think of it as an escape from societal collapse, whatever its cause. It seems to me that unless one could be completely self-sufficient on one's boat and be able to evade or defend against desperate marauders, it would be unlikely that one could find refuge on a boat, especially alone.

The logistics alone would be next to impossible. Fish do not provide all the nutrients needed for basic health (looking at you, scurvy), and going ashore in the midst of societal collapse could result in injury, death, the appropriation of one's boat or all three. Living on a boat is always a temporary endeavor, and without a functioning economy, getting necessary supplies doesn't really seem possible. Perhaps I lack imagination.

Even assuming one could sustain oneself, trying to exist without human companionship would like drive one not only to drink, but into the drink eventually, on purpose or on accident.

There are vanishingly few people who know how to live off the land. Living off the sea would be another leap entirely.

 

[jssailem]

The proposed scenario of limited catastrophe is problematic.
Since the 1950's there have been discussions, books, even movies about an apocalyptic event involving the collapse of society.

The idea, "we'll jump in a boat and head out onto the open sea". Romantic. But is it practical. Unlikely.

Unless you are in a remote location at the outset, the likely hood of escape, especially from an inland location is fraught with trouble.

Better to try and shelter in place than bugout. So much depends on your current lifestyle and the mindset you live day to day. Anarchy is not a common lifestyle.

 

[JamesG161]

But is it practical. Unlikely.

Well soon our boat will be prepared, just like Gilligan


Not a joke from me.

I would list how we can be self sufficient, but the list is very long.

Number one is making a fresh water still using this.

Mylar Blanket

Fishing is easy.

Survival
Gilligan Jim...

PS: Wreck of the S.S. Minnow

 

[The_Sailing_Pelican]

I would not call myself a prepper…but I did store up food and TP during the onset of the pandemic. Nothing too crazy though.

I have thought about what I would do if the markets totally melted down, utilities went off line, and essentially civilization as we know it just fell apart…

I have fantasized about securing all of the guns & ammo, food, survivor gear, etc I can “find”, then “ liberating“ the larges sailboat I could get to in any of the marinas around my area, and heading out on the Great Lakes, far from people.

The only “flies in the ointment” are it HAS to be summer time or all of the boats are put away, and I imagine all of the locks will also be out of commission if the end of the world is at hand, so I would be stuck on the Great Lakes (and not all of them). Maybe make my way as Far East on Lake Erie that I can get, then make my way to the coast overland, and “liberate“ another boat there and head to the Caribbean!

So, prep? No. But I have thought about it.

Greg

I would not call myself a prepper…but I did store up food and TP during the onset of the pandemic. Nothing too crazy though.

I have thought about what I would do if the markets totally melted down, utilities went off line, and essentially civilization as we know it just fell apart…

I have fantasized about securing all of the guns & ammo, food, survivor gear, etc I can “find”, then “ liberating“ the larges sailboat I could get to in any of the marinas around my area, and heading out on the Great Lakes, far from people.

The only “flies in the ointment” are it HAS to be summer time or all of the boats are put away, and I imagine all of the locks will also be out of commission if the end of the world is at hand, so I would be stuck on the Great Lakes (and not all of them). Maybe make my way as Far East on Lake Erie that I can get, then make my way to the coast overland, and “liberate“ another boat there and head to the Caribbean!

So, prep? No. But I have thought about it.

Greg

Well I'm in the process of doing the bottom of my boat, and rebuilding the engine and I'm gone south to the keys to wait for spring and cross to Bermuda... and stay there

 

[Tally Ho]

Well I'm in the process of doing the bottom of my boat, and rebuilding the engine and I'm gone south to the keys to wait for spring and cross to Bermuda... and stay there

Sounds like a good plan.

 

[FastOlson]

Might want to read the book by N. Norway, "On the Beach". Reasonably good movie was made from it, too.
It's fiction, but perhaps not so far fetched.

Edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevil_Shute (pen name reference)

 

[garymalmgren]

On the Beach was written by Neville Shute.
He also wrote a great sailing adventure book, Trustee from the Toolroom. Highly recommended.

The book that covers "escaping " is the Long Voyage Back by Luke Rhinehart.
Not a happy read I'm afraid.
Rhinehart (George Powers Cockcroft ) was an author/ sailor who lived in and sailed a large cat in Mallorca in the 60's and early 70's.

The question is what are you going to run out of first:
cooking fuel
engine fuel
water
food.

 

[higgs]

Some would survive and it would be achieved through multiple avenues. Life finds a way to go on against all odds. Life of some type would survive a total nuclear war. It happened 600 million years ago when most life was wiped out by an asteroid strike. As long as the planet has water and oxygen life will persist.

 

[Tally Ho]

The book “One second after” is about survival in a post-apocalyptic world, where an EMP took out all forms of electricity and electronic devices. An interesting read and one that demonstrates our dependence on technology.

Most vehicles (anything with electronics - think ignition, fuel delivery, etc) don’t run.

My old Yanmar diesel should run if I can find a battery…but I don’t think I can hand-crank it ;-(

Greg

 

[FastOlson]

The book “One second after” is about survival in a post-apocalyptic world, where an EMP took out all forms of electricity and electronic devices. An interesting read and one that demonstrates our dependence on technology.

Most vehicles (anything with electronics - think ignition, fuel delivery, etc) don’t run.

My old Yanmar diesel should run if I can find a battery…but I don’t think I can hand-crank it ;-(

Greg

So true. Maybe I need to find a 'stock' 1949 Chevy pickup like the one I learned to drive.... and a supply of gasoline... and..... a lot more....

 

[LloydB]

'Level 7' by Mordecai Roshwald
no zombies here Ma and I don't recall him mentioning they were playing waltzing Matilda in Australia. Generally closed out the option in my mind

 

[jssailem]

But Lloyd, you have nearby caves you could hide in.

Of course there is the likelihood that when they drop the big one on the Seattle area to eradicate the Navy ships in the Sound, it will trigger the Cascadia fault and the northern half of the west coast will slide into the pacific. Then Montana might become ocean front property.

 

[capta]

Hello again
Following geo politics and carefully observing the international political arena there's this naggy feeling that someone might go "postal" and crack a tactical sm nuke or a big one... All bets will be off at that moment, financial panic, ect ect ect... Don't bug with "it would be the end"... Long story...
Where are now anchored, as an expat or where are you planning to sail...no politics, just asking. If this bothers you just ignore it... That easy. Thx
Thx

What's the point of worrying? You couldn't escape it anywhere, anyway. As we used to say during the MAD years, dream as if you'll live forever, and live as if you'll die tomorrow.

 

[markwbird]

It’s kind of a fun topic. The thing to do would be to band together in a group of sailors and head to a place out of the way of shit storm. I hear good things about Suriname.

 

[Tally Ho]

It’s kind of a fun topic. The thing to do would be to band together in a group of sailors and head to a place out of the way of shit storm. I hear good things about Suriname.

English not the official language (based on their website…which I can’t read).

But other than that, it sounds like as good a place as any… warm, and on the ocean.

Now, I just need to figure out how to get Tally Ho off the Great Lakes (without working locks) a d hope the end of the world doesn’t happen In winter!

Greg

 

[quadrille38]

The book “One second after” is about survival in a post-apocalyptic world, where an EMP took out all forms of electricity and electronic devices. An interesting read and one that demonstrates our dependence on technology.

Most vehicles (anything with electronics - think ignition, fuel delivery, etc) don’t run.

My old Yanmar diesel should run if I can find a battery…but I don’t think I can hand-crank it ;-(

Greg

Awesome book. A fascinating read