You know, it's funny. This question comes up all the time on the net,
but rarely, if ever, out here where people are actually doing it (we are
about to leave La Paz for points south). I can't remember the last time
the guns topic came up while talking with other cruisers. The sense I
get is that very few are actually carrying guns.
- Dan

Spam Fighter wrote:

Hi,

We are working on a Power Squadron study of the "cruising lifestyle". We
need estimates of the absolute number and percentages of cruising boats
carrying weapons. That is firearms, not flare pistols, starter pistols,
sling shots or spear guns.

We are not interested in the debate of whether or not to carry weapons,
or why cruisers carry.

We wish to estimate the numbers that have chosen to and actually possess
and carry while cruising, what they carry and where they go.

We would like to break it down by:

A - TYPE
1. hand gun
2. shot gun
3. rifle
4. line-throwing gun (safety equipment)
5. assault
6. cruiser grip, short barrel, large bore, home security weapons
7. other

B - MARINIZED (special finish, stainless steel)
1. yes
2. no

B - QUANTITY + CALIBER OF EACH WEAPON

C - TYPE AND AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION CARRIED (mushroom, hollow point, slug,
buck shot)

D - HOW STORED

E - CRUISING GROUNDS
1. America
2. Bahamas
3. Mexico
4. Canada
5. Central America
6. South America
7. Pacific Countries
8. Australia
9. Indian Ocean
10. Africa
11. Northern Europe
12. Mediterranean

Is anyone aware of any similar studies?

Any thoughts on how to collect this data?

We suspect the numbers are very low but have been asked to find some data
to support this conclusion.

Thanks.

Bob

"Dan Best" wrote in message
...
You know, it's funny. This question comes up all the time on the net, but
rarely, if ever, out here where people are actually doing it (we are about
to leave La Paz for points south). I can't remember the last time the
guns topic came up while talking with other cruisers. The sense I get is
that very few are actually carrying guns.
- Dan

Very few admit it. While cruising a couple of years ago, I was amazed
how many carried guns aboard. Probably better than 50% of the folks
I talked to about such things.

Doug
s/v Callista


Spam Fighter wrote:

Hi,

We are working on a Power Squadron study of the "cruising lifestyle". We
need estimates of the absolute number and percentages of cruising boats
carrying weapons. That is firearms, not flare pistols, starter pistols,
sling shots or spear guns.

We are not interested in the debate of whether or not to carry weapons,
or why cruisers carry.
We wish to estimate the numbers that have chosen to and actually possess
and carry while cruising, what they carry and where they go.

We would like to break it down by:

A - TYPE
1. hand gun
2. shot gun
3. rifle
4. line-throwing gun (safety equipment)
5. assault 6. cruiser grip, short barrel, large bore, home security
weapons
7. other

B - MARINIZED (special finish, stainless steel)
1. yes
2. no

B - QUANTITY + CALIBER OF EACH WEAPON

C - TYPE AND AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION CARRIED (mushroom, hollow point, slug,
buck shot)

D - HOW STORED

E - CRUISING GROUNDS
1. America
2. Bahamas
3. Mexico
4. Canada
5. Central America
6. South America
7. Pacific Countries
8. Australia
9. Indian Ocean
10. Africa
11. Northern Europe
12. Mediterranean

Is anyone aware of any similar studies? Any thoughts on how to collect
this data?

We suspect the numbers are very low but have been asked to find some data
to support this conclusion.

Thanks.

Bob

"Doug Dotson" wrote ...
"Dan Best" wrote ...
You know, it's funny. This question comes up all the time on the net,
but
rarely, if ever, out here where people are actually doing it (we are
about
to leave La Paz for points south). I can't remember the last time the
guns topic came up while talking with other cruisers. The sense I get
is
that very few are actually carrying guns.
- Dan

Very few admit it. While cruising a couple of years ago, I was amazed
how many carried guns aboard. Probably better than 50% of the folks
I talked to about such things.

And those who don't admit it (to foreign govts) can get in trouble. See the
recent case in Indonesia
(http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...2/s1306001.htm):

"A Bali court has sentenced Western Australian millionaire yachtsman
Christopher Packer to three months jail for firearms offences.

"However, the 52-year-old expects to be released in the next few days as he
has already served the sentence while awaiting trial on charges of not
declaring the presence of weapons on his boat.

"Marine police stopped Packer last November as he attempted to leave
Indonesian waters on a round-the-world cruise.

"They arrested him after finding six firearms on his ship, including a
semi-automatic rifle, two pump-action shotguns and a revolver.

"On his way into court today, Packer said he was not feeling confident. But
there was good news waiting for him inside the courtroom.

"The judges found him guilty of the non-criminal offence of failing to
report the presence of firearms on his ship and sentenced him to three
months in prison, including time already served."

Cheers

Bil

"Bil Hansen" wrote in message
...
"Doug Dotson" wrote ...
"Dan Best" wrote ...
You know, it's funny. This question comes up all the time on the net,
but
rarely, if ever, out here where people are actually doing it (we are
about
to leave La Paz for points south). I can't remember the last time the
guns topic came up while talking with other cruisers. The sense I get
is
that very few are actually carrying guns.
- Dan

Very few admit it. While cruising a couple of years ago, I was amazed
how many carried guns aboard. Probably better than 50% of the folks
I talked to about such things.

And those who don't admit it (to foreign govts) can get in trouble. See
the
recent case in Indonesia
(http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...2/s1306001.htm):

"A Bali court has sentenced Western Australian millionaire yachtsman
Christopher Packer to three months jail for firearms offences.

"However, the 52-year-old expects to be released in the next few days as
he
has already served the sentence while awaiting trial on charges of not
declaring the presence of weapons on his boat.

"Marine police stopped Packer last November as he attempted to leave
Indonesian waters on a round-the-world cruise.

"They arrested him after finding six firearms on his ship, including a
semi-automatic rifle, two pump-action shotguns and a revolver.

"On his way into court today, Packer said he was not feeling confident.
But
there was good news waiting for him inside the courtroom.

"The judges found him guilty of the non-criminal offence of failing to
report the presence of firearms on his ship and sentenced him to three
months in prison, including time already served."

Choosing to carry firearms in coutries where they are illagal is another
matter. Anyone that gets caught deserves what they get.

Cheers

Bil

"Doug Dotson" wrote...
"Bil Hansen" wrote ...
"Doug Dotson" wrote ...
"Dan Best" wrote ...
You know, it's funny. This question comes up all the time on the
net,
but
rarely, if ever, out here where people are actually doing it (we are
about
to leave La Paz for points south). I can't remember the last time
the
guns topic came up while talking with other cruisers. The sense I
get
is
that very few are actually carrying guns.
- Dan

Very few admit it. While cruising a couple of years ago, I was amazed
how many carried guns aboard. Probably better than 50% of the folks
I talked to about such things.

And those who don't admit it (to foreign govts) can get in trouble. See
the
recent case in Indonesia
(http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...2/s1306001.htm):

"A Bali court has sentenced Western Australian millionaire yachtsman
Christopher Packer to three months jail for firearms offences.

snip

"The judges found him guilty of the non-criminal offence of failing to
report the presence of firearms on his ship and sentenced him to three
months in prison, including time already served."

Choosing to carry firearms in coutries where they are illagal is another
matter. Anyone that gets caught deserves what they get.


The point of the Packer case is that Packer failed to report the presence of
firearms (ie the case was not about the legality of firearms in Indonesia).
And two of his crew, disgruntled during the voyage, dobbed him into the
Indonesian authorities. So ... no disgruntled crew and the authorities
would likely not have known that Packer had his several weapons aboard.

Cheers

Bil

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 00:49:26 +0000, Dan Best wrote:

You know, it's funny. This question comes up all the time on the net,
but rarely, if ever, out here where people are actually doing it (we are
about to leave La Paz for points south). I can't remember the last time
the guns topic came up while talking with other cruisers. The sense I
get is that very few are actually carrying guns. - Dan

That is exactly what we wanted to write. Our review committee rejected it.
They said "FIND" some supporting data.

The questions posed in the news group post we
1. Is anyone aware of any similar studies?
2. Any thoughts on how to collect this data?

We were not conducting a survey nor were we asking anyone to participate
in a survey. Who would consider a news group survey valid?

A private email suggested we contact the customs authorities in Bermuda.
Bermuda holds weapons for you while in their country. It was suggested
they may have some data such as number of boats cleared in, number of
boats with weapons.

Bob

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 00:49:26 GMT, Dan Best
wrote:

You know, it's funny. This question comes up all the time on the net,
but rarely, if ever, out here where people are actually doing it (we are
about to leave La Paz for points south). I can't remember the last time
the guns topic came up while talking with other cruisers. The sense I
get is that very few are actually carrying guns.
- Dan



YOu know, Dan, if they are smart enough to be prepared to defend
themselves they are probably smart enough to not be broadcasting the
fact. And since you are noncommittal on your stance I can only
conclude that you would not be lending a sympathetic ear. People are
not as dumb as the nanny-state thinks they are.

Joe

Joe Bleau wrote:
On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 00:49:26 GMT, Dan Best
wrote:


You know, it's funny. This question comes up all the time on the net,
but rarely, if ever, out here where people are actually doing it (we are
about to leave La Paz for points south). I can't remember the last time
the guns topic came up while talking with other cruisers. The sense I
get is that very few are actually carrying guns.
- Dan




YOu know, Dan, if they are smart enough to be prepared to defend
themselves they are probably smart enough to not be broadcasting the
fact. And since you are noncommittal on your stance I can only
conclude that you would not be lending a sympathetic ear. People are
not as dumb as the nanny-state thinks they are.

Joe

As a matter of fact Joe, as a former Army Ranger (B-2/75) , I have
absolutely no moral objection to the possession of firearms or the use
of deadly force in defending onesself or ones family. The obvious
caveat here is that mistakes and accidents happen. And if you make a
mistake with deadly force, the consequences are well, deadly. In the
service, they call this by the wonderful name, "friendly fire" (a good
friend of mine killed some people in a friendly fire incident - it
wasn't pretty). As long as the gun owner recognizes it, accepts it and
is capable of dealing with it responsibly, I have no problem with guns
in the home, on the boat or concealed carry.

I have chosen not to have firearms on my boat, but this is a personal
decision I made after considering all of the factors.

I was intentionally noncommittal earlier and there may indeed be guns
aboard a fair percentage of the boats out here as some have suggested,
but my comment stands. While this is a hot topic of conversation here
and elsewhere on the net, the subject just never seems to come up out
here among cruisers.

Fair winds - Dan Best

p.s.
It's probably a good thing I don't have a gun on board. We finally got
out of La Paz 2 days ago heading for the mainland and points south, but
returned this afternoon with a leaking fresh water pump on my
semi-trusty Perkins. There is an old Bill Maudlin cartoon from WW2 that
kept running through my mind today as I refilled my fresh water
reservoir every 10 minutes on our run back here, It has one of the guys
putting a broken down jeep out of it's misery with his .45 (my personal
all time favorite close in weapon) grin.