Wow Terry,

That was quite a stream of consciousness! I do agree with you on
the alternate energy sources though, and the oil prices are quite
high enough, thank you. OT/ [with China and India industrializing at
an amazing rate I think the world is finding that we should have paid more
attention to the "energy crises" back in 1973 when it first reared
its ugly head] \OT

As far as guns on boats is concerned, this thread has been hashed,
re-hashed, hashed-over, re-hashed-over, etc. Its in the archives.

Quick summary for latecomers: Having a gun aboard will be quite a hassle
at check-in in many countries you visit. Not declaring it can get you
arrested and your boat confiscated, along with lengthy stays in a
third-world prison. If you declare, many places will sieze your weapon and
hold it for you until you are ready to check out, and it may disappear
during the holding process. In any case it will mean that you have to
come back to the check-in city before departing, and that may be quite
an inconvenience depending on your plans.

As far as the Yemen incident in recent threads, I don't think that your "beer
can" flamethrower would have been much help. Also, the cruiser involved
was fairly lucky in his engagement of multiple AK-47s vs his shotgun.

The question of defensive weapons for yachts is very complicated and
the answer is likely to be highly personal and depend on a lot of
things (such as where you are going to cruise).

YMMV,

Don W.

Terry Spragg wrote:

Isn't it strange, the distance to which paranoia can press one?

I choose the pen.

If I was a societal engineer, terror would have to be a major tool.

If they are not 'after you', you relax, right? To be competitive, you
need to be scared. A nervous trigger shoots in many directions.

How would you inspire a nation?

At least the RCMP has the guts to admit that they can't defend against
every madman.

Is there a really smart crackpot out there with a plan to kill everyone
in revenge for being teased as a nurd, because he was too smart, and not
smart enough to hide it? Lordy, it get tiresome pretending to be deaf
and stupid.

Unlocked cockpit doors are one thing, where are there other weaknesses
still left ajar?

Oops! don't say it here! The paranoid over reaction could get you
branded as a danger to security. Where is the sweet spot for terror /
stress / productivity / cost benefit?

Who's managing this situation? Is the oil price high enough for all you
Texans, yet?

I want an electric car. 150 km, 100 km/h, 5 hour recharge is fine. Bring
on the nuclear power. Bury the waste where it came from, silicated into
glass. Let's get to work on solar shingles.

If civilisation dissolves or nukes itself into Einstein's fourth world
war, fought with sticks, and future cave men find purple glowing glass
attractive jewellery, we deserved it. Only Education gives us any chance
at all. Radioactive H2 and H3 can be recycled, seperated out of watery
wastes and that's where it comes from, anyway. Let's get over this
nuclear bull****. There's far greater danger in gold mines, with cyanide
lagoons just waiting for a typhoon, government controlled schools, and
dirty DEW line sites to clean up. C'mon!

The Japanese electric car Eliica looks like a Citröen, and France
depends on nukes. Where do they tip it?

Overall, BEST weapon for a sailboat: satellite linked security cameras,
or counterfeit warning placards complete with phoney satellite dome, and
a flamethrower disguised as a beer can or vent cowl, Zippo in hand.
Doubt not, a spray of gasoline in the face and chest from a beer can
full of it, accompanied by a deft c'ling, shcict, poof, and buddy is all
lit up!

First, you offer him a real beer, show that he is on live tv, and his
mother might be watching, "Say Hi!", then, you shoot him with his own
gun, after you help him into the water to put out the flames.

All you need is a laptop with a camera, to jab his brains out with a pen
and a line, hook and sinker.

Just keep him unparanoid enough to not worry about guns on boats, again.
You are far more likely to get swindled by a bank or government.

Unless you go looking for trouble.

Terry K