Liveaboard Security

[Bejasus]

Just wondering, as we countdown to our liveaboard dream in a couple of years time, as I work away around a month at a time, how safe is it for SWMBO to be left alone in various areas of the Med, at these times. If we spend all the time in Marinas, then it kind of defeats the purpose and anchorages would need to be fairly secure, mooring wise, but I am more concerned for her personal safety when on her own.

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[roly_voya]

Dont know about the med as I have only lived in UK but I know I feel much better for having invested in some decent locks. A boat should be eaisier to secure than a house, no large windows and hatches are stronger than doors. Some police forces have marine crime prevention officers who will advise (free) on security. Wont stop the professional boat thief but will stop the casual burgler.

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[Mollari]

Are you planning to take the Seamaster

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[BrendanS]

That's a very different aspect to what H00 is asking. Is SWMBO safe aboard alone???

<hr width=100% size=1>Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabris, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

 

[Bejasus]

In foreign parts........so to speak./forums/images/icons/crazy.gif

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[Bejasus]

Nah, don't think she would do Biscay. French canals would probably be nice though, but a wee bit small to liveaboard/forums/images/icons/frown.gif

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[Mollari]

I figured the 25footer would be a little tight for living on. best of luck though.

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[beserk]

Fit her with a chastity belt, swmbo that is. That should be safe enough. You will have peace of mind then when you are away.

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[Bejasus]

uh! Cheers, I think./forums/images/icons/crazy.gif

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[Abigail]

Hi - more seriously than some of your respondents, it's useful to open the discussion about anyone alone on their boat, and specifically some of the safety issues for women.

Aren't there three different elements to this - where you are, how to make vessel safe and secure, and personal safety.

Where you are I think is the same set of questions anywhere - I wouldn't necessarily see the coast of the Med as more dangerous than on the North Sea - there are plenty of parts of London I would avoid alone after dark and I bet the same is true of Marseilles. Actually the only time I ever had a bag snatched was in the Barcelona barrio (in 1984!). I think the same rules apply about judging the safety of an area wherever you are - lighting, movement, types of activities and people around ...

Making the vessel secure - we have given a lot of thought to this and aren't finished yet. Occasionally we ponder extremes like electrifying the guard rails! But generally I agree it's a bit like a house in a remote location - so good locks, and good PIR lights are important. (PBO did a v good article a while back on rigging up such a light off 12v)

To me most of all is actually ensuring the boat is such that she can handle it - suppose you're in an anchorage and the wind changes/some idiot moors too close/the anchor chain snaps etc etc - does she feel confident to handle such eventualities alone? All cheers if she does, but that would actually feature top of the list for me.

Incidentally - personally I am strongly against carrying guns and other weapons because I think they can get used against you more easily than you will use them - but that's another debate!

HTH - Sarah

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[Bejasus]

Thanks Abigail(Sarah)

Obviously I agree to swmbo being able to hande situations such as dragging anchors etc. Top Priority IMHO. This why she is doing Comp Crew later this year and hopefully followed with Day Skipper. We also hope to be picking up crewing opportunities along the way.
Personal safety is another matter, and this is what perhaps concerns me more. I don't think this would be such a problem in the winter months, as the plan would be to berth in the winter anyhow, and as I would be there every other month anyway. Arming ones self is a very tricky and potentially dangerous situation, but a Very pistol can be very useful as can parachute flares, and legal too.

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[ongolo]

>Incidentally - personally I am strongly against carrying guns and other weapons because I think they can get used against you more easily than you will use them - but that's another debate.<

You have many different weapons on board and that statement that carrying guns and other weapons is dangerous, is somewhat bizarre. If you get shot through the liver, stabbed through the liver with your own screw driver, you are dead in both cases.

So since it dangerous, to have hammers, axes, ball point pens (a Parker pen can kill you)screw drivers, kitchen knives (can cut your throat), a powder extinguisher can suffocate you very easely when directed at your air inlet (it delivers a strong blast of powder for about 40 seconds) while powder also blinds you, all line (you could be strangled) etc. etc. I recommend remove everything from your boat, except the first aid kit, but make sure there are no scalpels in it.

Somebody being against weapon has forgotten the simple right of defending his life and property. Or has not realized that survival of the fittest, depended largely on the use of weapons. A fire arm gives a 50kg lady a chance against an 90kg assailant with a knife. Simple as a pimple.

Maybe I should start a thread on this one. There was an intersting statistic that included Peter Blakes case as well. Of 10 piracy cases, he had weapons on board but got shot nevertheless, 7 said it was enough to show their weapons and two fired warning shots to scare off pirates. There are many who cannot tell their story, they were unarmed.

ongolo


<hr width=100% size=1>So what......... it floats