Dealing with pirates

Uninvited Intruders of the Evening

This was a posting on a passagemaking forum that I thought was a rather interesting non-violent deterrent to intruders. Sorry if it's a repeated subject matter as I've not followed this subject thread

Pirates I guess are "criminals at sea". Crime is an issue no matter where you are on land or sea. Just as you don't go to places on land that you know are questionable, do the same at sea.

Most areas have local VHF and/or SSB nets that we alert you to the status of an area. Most of the printed cruising guides are a bit out of date so they are of little real-time value, IMHO.

No matter where you go you must realize that you represent a rich person to those on the sea or those looking from shore. So just your "being" represents temptation to anyone thinking about crossing the line. We try to make as small a footprint as possible to not advertise our presence as a target.

Over the years we have found that cruisers with dogs aboard don't seem to have any problems. It seems that the dogs are a deterrent with their barking and what that implies to any intruder. However, we have decided that cruising with a dog or dogs aboard wouldn't work with us. So how to get the deterrent without the dog?

There are several alarm systems that have either a recorded or synthesized barking dog. Some are simple and others are very complex. We chose to go with the self contained type and have one in the stern and one on the foredeck in "doghouses". Both are proximity types, I think, and work quite well. As does a real dog they bark. Having them bark when you see someone approaching during happy hour and at other times, as would a real dog, lets folks know that they will have to pass the dog(s) in order to get aboard. This seems to be enough deterrent as we've watched many boats approach and when the "dogs" bark they veer away.

We keep the sensitivity a bit higher at night as we want a few random bouts of barking on deck when we are in an isolated anchorage. This may sound like it would annoy ones neighbors but anyone we have talked to comments that they slept better as they knew our "dogs" were on duty!

Get a small safe and hide it well and make sure it is permanently secured to the boat. As you say keep some cash and a few costume jewelry trinkets lying around so that IF the perps get aboard there is some "reward" for them and you may get them to leave. Being a lamb or a lion is always a tough thing to call and usually depends on a quick and accurate assessment of the situation but that is a separate discussion.

We have several hundred watts of exterior lighting that can be turned on from the master stateroom, saloon or pilothouse. It lights up the perimeter around Swan Song and makes daylight out of it. This is a very effective way to discourage crime. We have kept them on all night in a couple of places. A boat approaching cannot see past the perimeter lighting so does not know what or who might be there but certainly knows that there are dogs! We also have a couple of those 10 million candle power hand held spotlights that will burn the retina's right out of a night dilated eyeball :!:

We don't have any firearms as they are way too much of a hassle with customs in most countries. Further having a local dead body aboard will guarantee that your cruising has stopped for a year or two wherever you shot them. If you do plan on shooting make sure their all dead, dump the bodies and get heck out of the country post haste!! Sounds bad but you will be at fault no matter what they did!!

So dogs, light, & hitting the DSC button on the VHF are our current methods. Plus, forget sirens or yelp sounds unless there are other cruisers very nearby. These sounds are ignored by almost everyone. They are mere sounds and represent no deterrent. A barking dog represent a physical barrier to boarding in ones mind
Dave

 

(yes make sure their all dead),,,,FINNALLY someone who understands,,,,,,,longliner

 

For those of you that like the water cannon idea, take a look at this video of crew on a whaling ship using water to try to discourage Greenpeace. At one point there are 6 of these cannons at once firing at a RIB. Looks to me like the RIB is doing quite well considering.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7034133468415009977&q=ship

The canon idea might have more impact if you hooked it up to your diesel tank and lit it with a match.

 

Brian Eiland's use of recorded dogs is a great idea. Surely you could also set up a sound system with the sound of guided missiles and mortar shells, perhaps a Phantom Jet.

Mike Johns impersonation of Dirty Harry with his bow and arrow is a great idea. "C'mon pirates, make my day." The ******** will die laughing.

 

Paranoia or Preparedness

Bob commented: "Three things seem to terrify our listees beyond normal paranoia"


I don't believe my concern for Piracy "terrifies me beyond normal paranoia". Time and preparedness are the tools for dealing with weather. Preparation and practice are the skills for dealing with a sinking, regardless of cause.

Knowledge and planning are the only things I can do to deal with a force that is so foreign to me that it, as Peter so helpfully observed, "rattles me deep to the pit of my stomach". I don't know what it's like to look into the eyes of another human being who has no regard for life. To realize, because of this little quest of mine, my wife is here beside me and it may cost her and I our lives, makes me fell ill.

I can't think of another adventure I'll undertake in my life that causes me to ask myself if I'm prepared to kill another human being. But, because piracy is a risk, albeit it small, I have to ask and answer this question. I have to ask and answer it to make a decision about arming myself.

This forum is about sharing information. The people who have shared their experience will never know how much help they have been to people like me. To get Dave's email discussing the value of an alarm in the form of a dog barking, or to hear from Bob about techniques he has used in the past gives me a very good feeling that I'm hearing from people who have been there and done that. Without access to these people, all I would have is books.

Books written to be sold. Don't get me wrong, they can be a great resource, but it's the people on this list that make it so valuable.

In summary, while some may feel the topic is over-hyped, I greatly value the feedback of those willing to share their thoughts and ideas.

Scott (on a passagemaker forum)

 

Easy defence needs to be considered.

A junk in the south china sea or a Colombian fishing boat encounterd en-route to The Galapagas isles with people aboard waving machettes ramming your boat trying to make you stop.

Those sorts of attacks are simple fishing boats usually unarmed (firearm wise) and trying a bit of piracy.

A dummy firearm would probably be enough to deter those sorts of attacks. Even firing rocket flares at them has worked.

But the determined Yemenese or Indonesian jihadist who hates all westerners and is armed is a different proposition. If he wants to kill you and he doesn't mind you killing him in the process then it would be nice to be able to either lock yourself in a very secure hull or send him to his virgins.

No one sensible would ever advocate firing on a vessel untill it's intent was known even then you would fire warning shots and call for help. Killing would have to be a last chance card.

I have had military training and am very familiar with both firearms and tactics so I guess that flavours my outlook relative to folks who have never met violence.

 

yes poida ,,also in college ,so they can become polititions,,,longliner

 

“No one sensible would ever advocate firing on a vessel until it's intent was known even then you would fire warning shots and call for help. Killing would have to be a last chance card.”

This statement by Mike I think represents most people I know. I live in the United States; just outside a small town in the country. I can’t think of one neighbor that doesn’t own one ore more guns. Some of my neighbors own 10 or more, all different kinds. During hunting season my family including myself allow some of the neighbors to come across our land to drive dear. There are whole families from kids 10 years old or so up to grandma and grandpa in their 80’s who all hunt together. One 13 year old girl among them is deadly with a rifle. Cool collected, dead on shot. Even so, with all of these homes with guns, I don’t know of anyone who has been shot, or been shot at. There is a real bad drug problem in our county; mostly meth. A lot of homes have been broken into, I have been robed twice. These meth addicts don’t care about getting caught, they are brazen, and will come into your home in broad daylight. Even with this problem, no one has shot anybody. (Yet) The point is, sensible human beings don’t (normally) start blasting at other people, even if there are criminals posing a threat, unless that threat escalates out of control.

The real questions are: if you are in a remote location and some one boards your vessel against your wishes; what are appropriate actions to take? At what point do you consider the situation out of control? What plan is in place to deal with criminal activity that has gotten out of control? If you are choosing to embrace a plan that has little effect on a violent human being, are you o-k with living with the consequences of whatever outcome they choose for you?

The discussions on this thread, although often times quite hilarious, all to often points the figure at the cruiser who chooses to carry a weapon; with accusations that the sailors might act irresponsibly, or out of fear, possibly killing someone needlessly. Am I to believe that a crew who often times has to battle the weather, remaining calm and in control for long periods of time, their lives sometimes at risk, is also the type of person who acts irrationally when confronted by some other threat? Who am I to fear more, Longliner with his 12gauge shot gun and ak47, or an individual who comes on board against my wishes, and forces his way down the companion way into my vessel?

 

Has anyone come up with 12 guage light load rock salt shells for their flare gun yet? Just an idea ;-)

MN

 

yes tom I agree with you 100%,,you know we all come from all aspects of life.. some people think all people on yachts are wealthy aristocrates,,and it is good about your surmise of sailors ,,being calm in stormes and keeping thier cool ,,not gunslingers that shoot at the first thing that moves,,and I dont mind one bit about you using me as a example,,,Im not trying to toot my horn ,,,but just as the burgler or pirate ,takes a risk at attaking ,sometimes they dont know what they might get,,like I said ,,not tooting my horn ,,,,,,,dont like to bragg,,,,but I will today ,,,,,3 years army special forces ,,light weapons and heavy weapons ,,,also radio operator,,,,,,,,,13 mos nato 1/509 airborne infantry,,,,I also done a stint as a sheriff deputy in ohio,I have been shot ,,stabbed ,,and burned ,,I refuse to be a victom,,perhaps this is why my view seems twisted to most,,,,,,,longliner

 

Cool! Pirates!

The idea scared the crap out of me to begin with.

I had a lot of guns before I went cruising and of course I considered carrying on the boat.

I chose against it for many reasons.

Pirates initiate a contact and the safety is off when they approach. Their plan is already formulated ahead of time. I have to divine the intention of any approaching vessel in real time and respond to actions they initiate. My element of suprise can only be employed once the train of events are in motion.
Unless I brandish my weapons at all vessels, like a warship.

To be better armed than my attackers isnt difficult. But explaining why I need such a selection of weapons to various customs officials is embarrassing. 'No no your country is fine, I am carrying this arsenal to defend myself from the other scummy countries I visit!'

I want to be better armed because I like to win/live. That means killing everyone else. No prisoners. I want to kill any one who attacks my family in our floating ship in the middle of an ocean or the bay. I dont want prisoners. No hands up, no Geneva convention. If the gun comes out I will go all the way, no chances given, only victory for me and death for them.
If they are really pirates, then I am not going to report it. If I made a mistake I am not going to report it either. I dont want to get tangled up in the red tape and justice system of a third world nation. It would intefere with my idyllic lifestyle.

Practically all countries wish to lock your guns up in the local cop shop when you first enter the country. Concealing weapons puts you on the back foot straight away when it hits the fan. The cops dont have much sympathy for you, if you lied to them the day you arrived. Unsympathetic police driving you to the station in a scummy country is scary.

Basically when I pull the gun out I want to kill everyone connected to the threat, before they get too close or raise their weapons. And then get the hell out.

The only chance the baddy gives you is to submit. You cannot threaten them if they have considered the possibility of your being armed. They dont want a mexican stand off to develop. When they watch the movies they are yelling at the screen 'Shoot him for crissake! Ooohh man what a dumb ***! If that was me I woulda nailed him!'

You cant give up halfway through the drama and ask for mercy. Turning the tables on him/them, is the highest stakes there is. And if you lose, its your families life you gamble with. Guns is winners and winning, and following through right down the line. Full stop.





In the end I got rid of the guns and concentrated on the perilous ocean journey I intended to subject my family to. And travelled to beautiful sunny places inhabited by friendly natives....(sunset......)

 

Surely there must be devices other than firearms that could help deter pirates.
The barking-dog machines sound like a good idea to me. Burglars think twice when they hear a dog- perhaps at least some of the pirates would be the same.
In the event that they do try to board you- should we start by discouraging them from getting close enough to board? A water cannon is a perfectly legitimate tool, great for fire-fighting as well as cooling off the sunbathers. Stop down the nozzle a bit and point a good jet at the pirate boat. Warning on the loudhailer first, of course. How about a few nozzles mounted around the gunwales connected to a tank of bear mace? Non-lethal, but a big impedance to someone trying to board. I've heard of some 'combustion inhibitor' chemicals being developed in the US that have little impact on humans but will stop an engine cold.
I would not carry guns on the boat- it's illegal in most places and against my principles. But with a bit of creativity we can come up with less lethal, and probably more effective, means of deterring pirates.
If I had to pass through pirate-prone areas, I would not be letting them board, and I would not be letting them take my gear in compensation for not hurting me. I would also not be firing shotgun shells into their boat. If a boat refuses to answer on VHF, and keeps approaching after calls on the loudhailer, I would be sending everyone belowdecks and deploying the fully legal, non-lethal weaponry. And I'd be going in a boat solid enough that you can't shoot or kick your way into it that easily.
On another note, I like what the Dashews have done with the FPB-83 design as far as piracy goes- too solid to bash or shoot your way into it, and it looks industrial and not yacht-like. The theory being that if it looks like a workboat, it's not worth pirating.

 

Ahh! The Pirate thread, I got to tell you, this is good reading. Some of the stuff here has made me laugh so hard it makes my stomach hurt.

Matt, I admire your convictions, and even agree. But for me personally, if I am totally honest, I mean if you were to strip away the “I am a good person” doctrine that seems so easy to live by when things are going good, and place me in a situation where myself or a family member were being hurt by a criminal that forced his way in; well I know that I would shoot to severely injure, and if that didn’t stop them, I would shoot to kill. I think it is a great attribute to strive to be obedient to the law. We are real fortunate here in the United States to have such good neighbors to the north of us there in Canada. You folks are real good people, I know because I’ve been there, and your attitude is what I’ve come to expect from Canadians. There are a great many of us “southern Americans” who want to keep the good relationship we have to are brothers and sisters in the “northern part of America” so I am inclined to lean toward your way of thinking. The problem with criminals is that they start off with an advantage over you, because they have chosen not to follow the law. They are willing to violate both the law of the land, and moral laws. In addition they are often times motivated by internal forces that are incomprehensible to the average person; greed, lust, hunger, anger, hatred. Many have contributed that show there are deterrents that work against the non motivated, non violent thief. The mace idea is a great idea for those who just wont take ‘no’ as an answer to boarding your boat, and I like the shock cord idea. But if I end up in a situation where someone has forced there way down below, I am not going to take the chance that this criminal has ‘good intentions’ I am going to grab the legally converted flair gun.

 

Good greif!
Bringing a water pistol to a gunfight!

A good pirate attack is two boats on one yacht.
How can a cruising couple fight that?

 

Amen brother.