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Bug Out Boats Revisited, by P.J.C.
As more and more prepper books and articles are written to address the issue of what one should do in order to have a viable bug out plan, most primarily focus on having a physical location, such as a cabin or small house in a remote area within reasonable driving distance of your present home. Somewhat surprisingly, far less attention has been given to the alternative idea of having a bug out boat to use for the same purpose. Once carefully examined, a “proper” boat will have certain advantages over a remote physical location, not the least of which is less cost and the ability to move on quickly to safer location if necessary.
A quick scan of related postings and articles suggest that others do give some credibility to the idea of a bug out boat but tend to offer examples that are relatively impractical. For example, one writer recommends a trailerable motorboat in a range of 20’ to 25’ in length. While this may provide a quick means of escape, it affords no suitable longer-term accommodation, at least for any more than a few days. That is, unless it provides the means of safer transit to a remote cabin by avoiding clogged or dangerous public roads. In another You Tube video, the serious owner of a 45’ luxury motor yacht extolls its virtues as the ideal bug out boat. It truly is a large, comfortable, well-equipped floating condo with every possible creature comfort. However, it is propelled by huge twin Caterpiller diesel engines, which literally guzzle fuel. It has substantial fuel tanks that would probably keep a family quite happy and comfortable for at least a few weeks, but then what do they do when diesel fuel in any quantity is no longer available. At that point, you have a huge, immobile floating barge that cannot readily move anywhere, plus you’ve also lost all systems dependent upon a diesel-fueled generator, such as lighting, air-conditioning (cooling and heating), refrigeration, running water, electric flush toilets, et cetera. That’s not a great choice if you have to escape a chaotic urban scene for more than a few weeks. I also suspect that a large, luxury yacht would make a highly visible and attractive target for any water-borne looters.
While these writers do make a fair case for bug out boats, none I have found actually describe what the “proper” bug out boat might actually look like. So, from personal experience as an owner of both, I will suggest two very viable options for consideration. In my opinion, the most ideal bug out boat will be a sailing catamaran, such as the popular Gemini 105MC– a 34-foot cruising cat with a 14-foot beam, capable of floating in 18” of water with a small, diesel auxiliary engine. It can go almost anywhere, including remote shallows where most other boats cannot. The Gemini has the advantage of both efficient sail power and economical diesel propulsion. However, when considering the prospect of longer-term occupancy, I believe its biggest advantage is the exceptional amount of living and storage space.
Source: https://survivalblog.com/bug-out-boats-revisited-by-p-j-c/
