On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:35:48 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:00:25 -0600, Vic Smith
wrote:

Is this an issue in Florida like it is in Boston?

Depends on the boat.

Probably a 24' Carolina Skiff. I won't fly a Jolly Roger.
I hear there's plenty of these type boats in Florida, so hopefully the
authorities won't mistake it for a bomb. I intend to have all the
proper paperwork and insurance, and boat in a safe manner.

Our Homeland Security/Customs/USCG boats are all very heavily armed.
They'll know how to deal with you if you're a problem.

That's good to know. I have heard reports of piracy and other crimes
in Florida waters. This may be subject in itself, but are you aware
of a "water security" FAQ? I imagine cruisers are more up on this
than inshore boaters, but since I may venture a bit offshore it will
a normal concern that I should pay heed to.

USCG at Ft Myers Beach has a "stealth" boat with entire hull and super
structure painted in flat black, with 3 or 4 big outboards on the back
painted to match.

Sounds *very* uncomfortable heatwise, and not too stealthy. Would
probably hide it better if painted to look like a swarm of mullet
toward the waterline, blending a pelican or jumping porpoise motif
above that, then a transition to a cloud motif on the superstructure.
Once when discussing a torpedo hit drill with a navy buddy of mine he
came up with what I thought a brilliant idea for camouflage.
We were on a can, in the boilerroom 15 or so feet below the waterline.
The drill for preparing for an incoming torpedo was to firmly grip any
part of the ship structure ensuring the knees were deeply flexed.
The body was to be bent as much as possible with the head dropped
between the legs. After attaining that position, you could kiss your
ass goodbye. Never did it, because nobody ever sent a torpedo at us,
but it sounds practical.
But friend didn't care for this and thought preventing the torpedo
attack was a better approach. Since we were then in the North Atlantic
he came up with an appropriate disguise for that area.
The ship would be painted white, and jagged plywood outcroppings
would be attached to the ship. This would make the ship appear to
be a common ice floe. Anybody abovedecks would have to substitute
penguin costumes for their normal dungarees. All movement would
be done in a waddle. When he demonstrated the waddle, after you
stopped laughing you almost believed it could work.

--Vic