la noche de los banditos...

Honeyman · Apr 22, 2011

Wasp/hornet spray works pretty well, too...better than pepper spray, more range.

Roger Long · Apr 22, 2011

Honeyman said:
Wasp/hornet spray works pretty well, too..

There was a long thread about that either here or at Wooden Boat with links that pretty much debunked it. One interesting thing that came up is that you'd better not do it in the U.S. as the penalties might be higher than using a gun. Guns are constitutionally protected whereas pesticides are subject to all sorts of laws and regulations about appropriate use and application.

Ctskip · Apr 22, 2011

If one were to use wasp spray on an intruder and the EPA was watching and filming the attack. I would think the judge would not only forgive the one holding/firing the wasp spray, but asking the EPA person why he was not helping the one being attacked. Like who really cares about the environment when one feels their life is in danger? Burn the attacker and get fined for starting a fire during a drought while you are on your boat. Unhuh.
Hello there, we're from the federal govt and we're here to help you.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

Ron20324 · Apr 23, 2011

Jmac said:
And where is that flame shooter? I lol every time you talked about and it got more menacing, bigger and in the arsenal more regularly!

There is a new Farmer's Bank commercial in which the they use a flame thrower to burn a LARGE ball of sting. Perhaps if they are done using it you could get it for a pititance and....

MitchM · Apr 23, 2011

interesting that the crooks waited for you to pretend to fall asleep...i like the bear spray, paint cans and camera ideas. i have also heard of hardwiring up a loud burglar - type alarm to your 12v system. the alarm will not set off as long as there is an unbroken wire that coils around your stainless steel anti - theft cable securing your outboard, dinghy, bike or whatever to your stanchion. the alarm is wired so that cutting of this tripwire closes a 12v circuit and sets off the burglar alarm noise. so if someone cuts the wire, the burglar alarm sets off. better yet, get it to set off both the audio alarm and the flood lights....
and put tacks on the back transom, like joshua slocum.

Roger Long · Apr 23, 2011

Ctskip said:
Like who really cares about the environment when one feels their life is in danger?

You do, in the real world (which may not necessarily be Mexico). To be successful, an attack with disabling force usually has to be undertaken early. This may well be before there is clear and preserved evidence that an attack was taking place.

There you are with a wounded person and no evidence of their intent. "Hey man, I was just coming over to tell the dude his anchor light was out and he sprayed me with that stuff." You need to think ahead to that part of the story, especially in a place like Mexico where you might have just sprayed the police chief's nephew. Scaring attackers off so they leave under their own power and uninjured makes the post incident paperwork and explanations much, much simpler. A gun can do that but bug spray probably won't. Loud alarms and bright lights are very likely to make thieves move on to easier prey. The fact that you are that prepared will also make them wonder what other preparations you have made.

It's easy to be self justifying and righteous in the abstract but, when there is an injured person and it isn't you and you are trying to explain it to a very skeptical law enforcement officer, I can guarantee that it will all look very different.

Ctskip · Apr 23, 2011

I believe in being prepared. From the hair spray and bic, to a speargun to my 410 that fits in the palm of my hand. It looks just like a good Cuban cigar.
Someone comes aboard my boat while I am there sleeping, unannounced or uninvited had better announce them selves well ahead of setting foot on my vessel . Lest they get a welcome they weren't intending to get. More so when in foriegn waters. They will get burned and possibly shot. They will never see my gun as I don't announce it, nor do I show it off. If I must pull out my weapon out, it will be used, otherwise it stays put. I never threaten with a gun.
Being the Mexican police chief's nephew is all the more reason to be wary. Thank you. Been there and seen it. Trespassing is the same world wide. Being in fear is also
Worrying about the harm I could possibly do to the environment would be the last thing I would be concerned about. I'll gladly pay the fine to save my life. Thats all I was getting at. When ones life is in danger they don't think about harming the environment. Use whats available. Soak'em with a cup of gasoline if you have to. They won't come any closer trust me. just flick your bic once or twice, they'll leave.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

caguy · Apr 27, 2011

I came across these of Ensenada Harbor 1957, a more innocent time.

Ctskip · Apr 28, 2011

That is a really great picture. Thanks!!
Have you ever thought about sending it to the city council. Maybe the dept in charge of tourism?

Keep it up,
Ctskip

PrincessoftheLake · Apr 28, 2011

Zee, please be safe and well. I think you did great. Not sure that I could have been as cool as you under those circumstances.

caguy · Apr 28, 2011

Zee, what happened to you're GPS tracking at your website? Are you still in Ensenada?

RON20406 · Apr 29, 2011

Ctskip said:
I believe in being prepared. From the hair spray and bic, to a speargun to my 410 that fits in the palm of my hand. It looks just like a good Cuban cigar.
Someone comes aboard my boat while I am there sleeping, unannounced or uninvited had better announce them selves well ahead of setting foot on my vessel . Lest they get a welcome they weren't intending to get. More so when in foriegn waters. They will get burned and possibly shot. They will never see my gun as I don't announce it, nor do I show it off. If I must pull out my weapon out, it will be used, otherwise it stays put. I never threaten with a gun.
Being the Mexican police chief's nephew is all the more reason to be wary. Thank you. Been there and seen it. Trespassing is the same world wide. Being in fear is also
Worrying about the harm I could possibly do to the environment would be the last thing I would be concerned about. I'll gladly pay the fine to save my life. Thats all I was getting at. When ones life is in danger they don't think about harming the environment. Use whats available. Soak'em with a cup of gasoline if you have to. They won't come any closer trust me. just flick your bic once or twice, they'll leave.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

With all due respect accorded to the above author for his personal opinion and in accordance with the intent and nature of this forum , I feel obliged to respond to his irresponsible and naive advice from the perspective of a seasoned cruiser who has traveled safely and extensively throughout Mexico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Once you leave the safety of American waters, you leave Western Civilization and American jurisprudence behind. Mexico operates under Napoleonic Law which means you are guilty until proven innocent. And, being a "rich" American doing harm to a Mexican National, irrespective of his guilt, you will be judged harshly and potentially unfairly unless you are able to provide unlimited financial resources for your defense ie

bribes. In a worse case scenario, your foolish bravado will be rewarded with your own death as murders go unpunished daily today throughout Mexico as they did in years past. You have nowhere to run and hide and "street justice" will get its revenge. The best and safest advice for anyone traveling in "questionable" areas is when confronted by violence unless you are defending your life from deadly imminent attack (when all means of defence are justifiable) is to avoid confrontation at all costs and remove yourself immediately from the scene of violence. Whether a single woman or a confident "macho" man, you are playing a one-sided game where you will be the ultimate loser. Best, Ron

Ctskip · Apr 29, 2011

The only time I would use force is when my life is in danger. I wouldn't hurt someone just because I could. Boarding your vessel unannounced in the middle of the night, what would you do? Say hello there? Personally, I would take up a defensive posture. certainly not a passive one.

"The best and safest advice for anyone traveling in "questionable" areas is when confronted by violence unless you are defending your life from deadly imminent attack (when all means of defence are justifiable) is to avoid confrontation at all costs and remove yourself immediately from the scene of violence"

Kinda hard to do when they are standing in your companionway and you are sound asleep, eh?
Otherwise, I agree with the avoidance method at all costs.

Keep it up,
Ctskip

KMm · Apr 29, 2011

Zee
If you want to get real serious with those clowns, take a couple of empty wine bottles, 3/4 full of gas and a cork and wick. Even if they have guns hit them with one of those and they won't have time to worry about you. Thats the Chicago way.

la noche de los banditos...

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