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Bugging Out On a Boat
One thing survival teaches us is that what we do before, during and after SHTF greatly depends on who we are and where we are and who we have with us. With so many people living near the ocean or in the proximity of rivers of various sizes, it only makes sense to consider boats, canoes and even inflatable rafts as excellent bug out locations and vehicles.
Boats of at least 30 feet in length are by far the most accommodating but also costly but there’s more to it than buying one and stashing all your preps inside. Let’s take things one at a time, shall we?
Why a Boat?
There are definite advantages to bugging out on a boat. The main ones are isolation and mobility. When things start to go down the drain, you just take your loved ones, get on it and leave mainland.
A boat is as close to disappearing into thin air as it gets but only viable if you’re close enough to the ocean. Otherwise, bugging out into the mountains is a much better idea.
Now, does this mean you have to actually live near the shore line? Of course not. As long as you have a car and a trailer you can just drive there. This would mean abandoning your car when you get there, of course, but that’s going to be a necessary sacrifice.
It may also be possible for you to navigate a river until you get to the ocean… moving fast and unseen during the night and hiding into a small stream during daylight. To truly know whether a boat is right for you, you should study a map of the region and sketch a bug-out plan with as many means of escape as possible.
Who Should Consider Getting a Boat?
Obviously, someone who’s not only experienced driving one but also knows how to fix it and enjoys the ocean. Consider the fact that you and your family may have to bug out there for months, without being able to debark even once. If you attempt that, the coast guard will quickly intercept you before any of you manage to set foot on American soil.
Motorboats vs. Sailboats
Although it requires extra skill to manage, I recommend a sailboat over a motorboat. The fuel needed to power the latter is just too expensive. However, it’s good to have a motor just in case you have to ditch a storm (which you will at some point!). A sailboat gives you the tremendous advantage of travelling with no fuel instead of just floating around for months on end to avoid burning fuel, like you would with a motorboat.
The Perfect Bug-Out Boat
That being said, here’s what the perfect bug out boat should look like:
- it should be a sailboat
- it should be made out of fiberglass (and definitely NOT wood, which is high-maintenance)
- it should have an engine (for emergencies), one that’s easy to repair
- it should be big enough to accommodate everyone (should be at least 30 feet, depending on the number of people)
- it should have a full keel (makes it easier to navigate)
- it should have a dingy to get to shore
- it should have a cored hull
Prepping Your Boat
Getting everything you need on your new boat is not trivial. You need to keep in mind not just the usual survival stuff (food, water, a propane stove etc.) but also the particularities of living on the sea. Good topographic maps and radios are two of the first things you should have on your new boat.
Then there’s water. Stock up as much as you can and have means of distilling salt water as a back-up.
Don’t forget your guns! A boat is vulnerable when it is found because you don’t have means of escape. Even if you do have an engine, you can run for a few hours until you run out of fuel. That’s when your guns will help.
The Downsides
Boats (even second hand ones) can get expensive so please be aware of all the downsides of owning one before making the purchases. You don’t want to make a mistake that could cost you thousands.
See, there are certain types of disasters that make you vulnerable if you choose to go out into the sea. Mainly:
- storms and hurricanes
- tsunamis (caused by earthquakes or an asteroid falling into the ocean)
- submarines (they can easily detect your presence with their sonars)
Besides those, there are other downsides you need to think long and hard about.
First off, consider that you may have to live weeks or even months out on the sea. When was the last time you did that, particularly on a small boat? If you’re going to get your and your family accustomed to this, you have to PRACTICE. Spend an entire weekend on your boat just to see how you feel like after a couple of days.
You, your spouse and your kids will get sea sick. Spending so much time on such a small boat can be a challenge to them so you need to think about this in advance.
There will be storms, no doubt about it. You need to have the right skill to navigate through them, particularly if you don’t have an engine or enough fuel.
If there’s a medical emergency, you’re gonna have to solve it there, with no one to help you.
Don’t forget you will have very limited space; that means a limited amount of food. You need to get your calories right, meaning you have to know exactly how long you can all survive off your stockpile.
Consider that you may need to repair the boat, meaning you’ll not only need the tools but also the expertise to do that.
Last but not least, think about costs. The initial investment, maintenance and even insurance are not cheap and they all add up. Some folks even sold their houses to go live on boats which reduced their costs by a lot but I realize that’s not for everybody.
The Bottom Line
Bugging out on a boat is definitely not for everyone but it can be a great alternative if disappearing into the mountains is not accessible to you.
Lengthy discussions with your loved ones as well as careful planning and preparing are needed before you make the decision. And even so, bugging out into the wilderness should be considered as plan B depending on the type of disaster that hits you.
This article has been written by Dan F. Sullivan from www.SurvivalSullivan.com.
