Pirates and other high seas encounters

What models?

Not to put too fine a point on it. There are many places in the world where showing up with a 50 cal Barrett will draw more attention from the local customs officials than you'd care to experience. I can name you at least 20 ports where it would be "taken in to custody" and you'd never get it back. Marinized stainless steel shotguns are about as much as you'll get away with.
Just came back from a couple of days in Lagos because one of my contractor's employees got caught with a .25 in his personal effects. If it had been anything heavier, like the Barrett, I don't even want to think how much time he'd be spending as a guest of that government!

you can keep the barrett's in storage, and then pull them out and mount them in a matter of seconds. Also, they'll only ***** to you if they can find them

Aussie Agricultural inspectors can find one poppy seed that fell off a bagel when you had a snack before leaving Panama. If they find an undeclared firearm of any sort you can lose the vessel! Now, consider that the Australians are just doing their job. Inspectors in some other countries have different but even stronger motivations to find things

I have the Model 82A1 and Model 99...

ballistic armament of a pleasure vessel to me completely defeats the purpose of a yacht.

there are plenty of non lethal deterrents available that can be incorporated on a yacht (especially one which boasts heli capabilities) without ever having to consider balistic weapons or making statements that revolve around "gun control is ...." etc etc.

lets address the question, what are pirates after? they want cash and valuables. they dont want to take a yacht that doesnt resemble other commercial craft that the pirates will want to operate amongst in the future. i believe a correct plan of action that will limit human damage is far more important then a deffensive armament strategy. this is discounting the fact that arms laws differ at each port you arrive at which if you have arms may create more problems then they solve.

how much is a yacht worth? how much is a human life worth? give them the yacht let them loot it for the safe contents, the equipment, and the fittings which are mostly proprietary. you'd be insured for such an occurance and its better to lose a vessel then for someone to lose a life.

Sorry to sink your boat, but (being a pilot myself) I must say I see two major problems with your plan.

.1 it can take HOURS and I mean HOURS to launch a helicopter, it's not like a boat in which you can just fire it up and go off on your way. It requires inspection, preflight, fueling, topping of the liquids, and most of all, if it's folded you have to unfold, ballence ect... If you don't believe me go to your local field and watch from the time a crew walks out till the time they take off, A well prepared LAND BASED helicopter can go from short term storage to flight in about 45min, but with the sea based helio's take double, triple or even 4x the time of a land based heli., Not to mention the lauh it'self which can take some time depending on the winds.

.2 Say you do get off, where are you going to go? you can't just hover out there in the ocean for 12 24 48 ect.. hours?

Just invest about 4k into some firearms, such as AR-15's .50's for long distance ect..., that is cheaper than filling up your heli. Not to mention you get to keep your yacht.

An additional point or so.

".....which are mostly proprietary. you'd be insured for such an occurance and its better to lose a vessel then for someone to lose a life..."

There are areas and times when Insurance is not available or only with a provisional rider at huge surcharge.
If your insurance company says "nyet", then it's probably a safe bet that there are valid reasons that they won't cover the vessel at that time or in that area.

And if your insurance company does not think it's a reasonable bet for the boat to be there, then why would any sane person risk it.

As a security consultant I'd have to agree with the LRAD system and any other non-lethal options. I've been to places where "nice" boats stand out and the locals were always curious and wanted to have a look close up. If you've travelled you know what I'm talking about. Not everyone is a pirate and you better d@mn well know who you're pointing a gun at or shooting. It's not like the good old days when pirates were kind enough to fly the Jolly Roger.
I had a rib with half a dozen shabby looking characters come up to my boat speaking their native language with boarding intentions...pretty scary situation. Turns out he was the harbor master with a few relatives to collect the mooring fees. A gun could very well save your life but in some countries just having one could forfeit your life just as quick. A lot of good advise in just avoiding some places and knowing where you are. There are plenty of security measures for the maritime industry. You're not going to find them here in an open forum. Todays pirates have internet and can read too.

Wait a minute. Insurance companies are commercial enterprises with commercial goals. They have shareholders to please, and Boards of Directors to placate. They are notoriously pusillanimous; indeed, if they had their way about it (and they often get it), they'd legislate us right out of every civil liberty we have. Fast cars? Fast boats? Aircraft pilots w/o thousands of hours of stick time? Guns? Motorcycles? OMG (gasp) !!! Pls don't get me
started on insurance companies. I'm not saying they don't do research; if they say a place is "unsafe," then there's surely "some" danger there, but a person would be entirely justified in looking with a jaundiced eye at what insurance companies would have you believe is "too much danger."

It must be understood that with their deep pockets and vast armies of lobbyists, they exercise political power far beyond their numbers, which is undemocratic on its face. They specifically do not care about you. They care about their bottom line. One must filter every decision they inflict on us through that prism.

Pirates... suppose that is a broad term on the water...

All defense systems in the real world to be effective need to be layered... not just you and a gun. If it comes down to that you are already lost.

Its like a knife fight you WILL be CUT... that is rule one... don't want to be cut don't get into a knife fight... simple as that!

1. Hire a marine security expert... a real one... expensive.

2. Planning and training...

3. Follow the plan and training... rigorously.

4. BE EVER VIGILANT.

Sadly all that sound like nothing to some and a passing fancy to others.

Importantly, it is almost the dipolar opposite of what most people consider vacation time... so there you go... you better be prepared to suffer the consequences either way.

A friend of mine from the the Southern USA is a little bit of what they call in the USA a survivalist. He has a self sufficient farm for the long term survival. Solar panels, diesel generator, well, water tower, large garden, all kinds of animals to eat... lots of storage. It is well armed. He knows what to do... has more combat decorations than you can count... and more bullet holes than you would want. He has served in all the merde holes the USA got into in the last 40 years. Being ex-special ops its the real nasty merde holes. He is sure the world will go to hell at some point sooner than latter.

Well we chat all the time... I given him a bad time... he says I am self sufficient... I say... I am self sufficient too. I can just go on my boat and the crew takes care of me and its more self sufficient than his mini farm. He thinks my life style is a joke... I think his is a joke. But friends are good natured about that... I notice the last year or two... naps seem popular with him. Every once in awhile I invite him and his wife for a holiday. Being an ex-naval officer he always is happy for a pampered boat trip... and the escape from mini-farm hell... reminds me a little of Brigette Bardot's menagerie... though I guess he did sell his donkeys recently she still has them.

Anyway, when the conversation comes down to when it goes to hell. I remind him that he, an old man with a wife, will be facing the ubiquitous opponent. Same I faced in Chad same he faced in Lebanon, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and a bunch of others... the 11-18 year old gang of armed cutthroats. They have no fear or compassion and are cleaver and mean and never seem to rest. I say if it comes to that you will last maybe a day if you are lucky... period.

He thinks on it an knows the truth...

Well thinking on this problem a submarine yacht would solve the problem...

Pirates try to board... just submerge... !

But then again that does go against the point of having a yacht in the first place...

Safety in numbers.

Good to have more than one.


Why?

Up periscope, away torpedoes, call insurance company, blame pirates.


All's well that ends well.


Good guys finally win one.


P.S- Call for other boat and continue boat time - fun, fun, fun.

Doesn't someone trying to board approach the boat and try to board without firing shots? Isn't that the time to stand there as if you are compliant and as they come along side dump the 5-gallon bucket of gasoline into their vessel and toss them a flare?? You might get a scorched gunwale but they get bbq pirate. Maybe you need a super soaker to send the love. But the parts are all innocuous on the yacht and belong there.

This would assume you are underway. Sitting at anchor, well another story.

That said, what are the areas of the Caribbean/Bahamas that you feel secure/insecure anchoring out? Do you set a watch? I ask about a watch on smaller vessels as larger yachts certainly must.

all politics aside and Not to offend anybody....(anti-gunners, please do not watch).... but Noveske has some nice options....suppressed firepower goes a long ways.......note the quiet accuracy.....the swan at the end is available at any Cabela's etc for about $4/lb. 5 lbs will do a VW easy....

SilencerCo: Find Your Range with Noveske in Oregon - YouTube

I'd have to agree with you there.......A saiga 12 would be a good addition on a boat.......and possibly a Street Sweeper in case they get closer or to bring in the dinghy.....hehehe..

A friend of mine who is ex special forces, and was a defense contractor for several years, his idea for defense on a boat is high pressure water jets in key areas. Grad a rail when the security system is active, lose body parts, and end up with so much water in your bloodstream that you won't survive. And of course, various additives can be added to make the water more lethal...