Personal Security Paranoia

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

I guess I live in a very different world from some of you. It would never occur to me to carry a firearm as protection against violence, especially while out on the water.

I would just simply choose to avoid situations where I might feel at risk (not always possible, I know). Around here it's not normally an issue, certainly not on the water and I feel fortunate about that.

I've read the majority of victims of violence know their attackers.

I'm not sure but I don't think it's possible to get a license to carry a concealed weapon here in Canada.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

We always bring our dogs, My dog Dixie will hear a cricket fart from a half mile away. I always know if something is out there well before they know that we know!! No need to be paranoid at all. If you have a dog bring it(them) with you. They are trained to "watch em". Best security around and I trust her(Dixie). Our dogs go everywhere with us when we go camping and boating.

 

[rlb2252]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

We always bring our dogs, My dog Dixie will hear a cricket fart from a half mile away. I always know if something is out there well before they know that we know!! No need to be paranoid at all. If you have a dog bring it(them) with you. They are trained to "watch em". Best security around and I trust her(Dixie). Our dogs go everywhere with us when we go camping and boating.

Actually, a great idea. On the hook though, over-night. Have no idea how that would work for the potty part of it.

 

[tboltmike]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

Here in south Texas, there is a greater chance of a rattler slithering into the boat. They are excellent swimmers, not phased by saltwater and they are sneaky. Creeps!! Marsh kayaker's seem to attract these guys.

 

[DANZIG]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

I carry, but just because. Same as I have a fire extinguisher.

Can't say as I have ever had any real trouble on the bank or in the boat.

Closest would be the boat load of drunks at 2 in the morning.
They had pegged a log and were taking water. Just looking for some help, but they had me way out numbered so I was a bit concerned. No trouble except for lost sleep.

Just use due diligence when you pick your spot and chances are very good that skeeters will be your biggest problem.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

Consequently, I suspect I?d have some trouble getting a good night?s rest on a small boat.

Can I ask? Do you have "backwoods camping" where your at? We pay $15 for the whole year, when we boat we find "Our spot" to camp, No people around at all and dogs can go for a walk, use the bathroom, whatever. We have never stayed on the boat over night and have a great time camping, you sais you haven't gone camping for a long time. Sounds like you are way over due, Get back in touch with nature again on and OFF the water. this is the most recent pic of at a spot we picked out.

 

[Splat]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

Just to elaborate on my earlier post. I don't camp often on the boat. But I do retrieve often late at night, and one ramp I use is in a part of town that isn't so desirable. When I do camp, its from shore and just isolated enough that there's people around, but your far enough away that your on your own.

Agreed knowing your surroundings and avoiding situations is the best security however can't always be avoided.

I believe some assumptions on here are silly, and a bit na?ve. Sure a person bording you during the night to rob you is extremely unlikely. A average criminal wouldn't bother. However a 6ft 200lb man high on testerone fed by alcohol can be a deadly threat to your life. Combine that with a anchored situation ina few feet of water, if he gets angry and comes at you, do you really want to grapple with him in waist deep water. A steak knife or a glass bottle, even a flare gun or a boat hook is a deadly weapon in his hands. And how often do we hear or fights by drunken dudes over stupid stuff like "that's my spot on the beach".

People easily become dumb an irrational, and in this day and age it happens more and more as there's less and less accountability for ones actions.

Do you need to carry a gun? No. But some form of protection, along with some prepardness is just smart in my opinion.

Bill

 

[Sikiguya]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

I trained in martial arts for years. Your confidence and attitude can dictate whether you are or not a victim. People don't go looking for trouble. Unfortunately, life happens and bad things can happen to good people. Being prepared is not being paranoid or being ridiculous. Having a weapon...be it a gun, a dog, or bat is not indicator of being violent. Contrary to belief, the police are not there to serve and protect. Ask the folks in New Orleans...

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

I have never considered a human threat when overnighting in a boat. I do have a buddy that is very concerned about sleeping in a boat after his last experience though.

He was sleeping in their 23' fishing boat with his brother and a couple of friends and during the night a sea lion decided it looked like a nice spot to rest.
It came over the side right into where a couple of them were sleeping on the deck, they weren't sure who was the scared the most, the sea lion or them.

It was a mad house for a minute or two as all the participants tried to avoid each other in the confined space. After the sea lion jumped back in the water they couldn't go back to sleep the rest of the night, they just laid there expecting it to happen again. My buddy said he won't sleep in a boat again.

 

[JeepinGunGuy]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

I was born in Gary Indiana and I worked as a security guard and a body guard. So I have a hard time trusting strange people. At least one of these guys come with me.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

rlb2252, where do you live? what bodies of water would you be visiting? i never question our safety on the water. we have camped, but not in a long time. we stay at the hotel mostly now. heck, for that matter, i guess someone could break down the hotel door easier than boarding an anchored boat. tough call, but that sounds a lil like overthinking to me, unless its a really populated, bad area to be at. but then again i dont travel outside where im comfortable at either.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

I do have a few guns and a permit to carry. But I don't consider myself a "gun guy". That said, I bring mine when I camp. But if I left it at home, I wouldn't lose sleep or anything.

I look at it like this, life is about risk. Anything you do besides watch TV is going to have risk attached. You've already decided to be a boater. So theres more risk than other hobbies like tennis, right there. Sure, you could spent the whole time worried about sinking, or falling over board, but that would ruin the fun, wouldn't it? It's better to be aware of the risk, be as prepared as you can for the worst, then have fun. Risk will always be there. You can't let it run your life.

I ride motorcycles. I take them to the race track and ride them fast. Water feels like concrete at 50mph. What do you think concrete feels like? Is there risk? Yes. More than if I went golfing? Yes. But to me, it's worth the rewards. Its the most fun I have. There are risks like dying, ending up paralyzed, etc etc. How much fun would I have if all I did was worry about that stuff? I wear my protective gear. Ride within my limits, watch out for the other guys and have fun.

Boating is the same way. Prepare the best you can. Carry PFD's, flares, whatever you need to carry to feel comfortable. Then just have fun. It's a trade off. You could be really safe and mount a life boat on your boat. But that isn't practical. You could carry a gun, but maybe you'd be safer if you has a .50 cal machine gun. But that isn't practical. At some point you make the trade between prepared and practical. Find the place where you feel it's a fair trade, then be safe and have fun.

But if you can't get over this fear of someone coming to get you on the boat, you may as well not bother. You won't enjoy it. You're probably in more danger in your house. Most evil doers would much rather kick in your door than swim a few hundred yards out to your boat.

 

[Splat]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

I do have a few guns and a permit to carry. But I don't consider myself a "gun guy". That said, I bring mine when I camp. But if I left it at home, I wouldn't lose sleep or anything.

Totally agree.
Bill

 

[xxturbowesxx]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

Ive been camping with and without a firearm. That being said I sleep better with my pistol beside me. I am what would be considered a "gun guy" and own firearms as a hobby and being a source of protection is just a side note for me.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

I'm not even the least bit concerned of others threatening me while I'm out at night, but then again, I'm not out where there are partiers and well off the beaten path. I'm more concerned with the wildlife, snakes, scorpions...

Closest would be the boat load of drunks at 2 in the morning.

Buddy and I had the same experience. 3 guys in a canoe, carrying on, drunk as a skunk when one decides to take a leak and the other decides to rock the boat. I'm guessing canoe's are not too stable while you are #1 drunk #2 taking a leak, as they all fell in the water and had to swim to shore. Oh yeah, the water was 52*.. Soooo we hear;
- help
- you hear that? -nope?
- HELP
- Stupid drunks!
- HELP &@(%@%& IT
- Well, guess we need to go over there and help those guys out

So we head over and see 3 wet cats shivering on the shore, fish their canoe out of the water and head down river to retrieve all the stuff that floated away. Managed to find their paddles, fishing pole, tackle box and slew of empty beer cans. As my buddy was handing their stuff back he said we didn't bother fishing your 5000 empty cans out of the river.

 

[rlb2252]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

rlb2252, where do you live? what bodies of water would you be visiting? i never question our safety on the water. we have camped, but not in a long time. we stay at the hotel mostly now. heck, for that matter, i guess someone could break down the hotel door easier than boarding an anchored boat. tough call, but that sounds a lil like overthinking to me, unless its a really populated, bad area to be at. but then again i dont travel outside where im comfortable at either.

Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin state line.

Have Rockford, Illinois' second largest city right here. Milwaukee about an hour away. And Chicago about an hour and change away by highway.

I'm in a very low crime area. I feel safe enough here that leaving car and even house doors unlocked is not automatically cause for alarm.

Frequently, I go for late night walks through the neighborhood, (there are no street lights) always unarmed, and feel perfectly safe and content. Although I have access to a weapon if desired, we keep none in the house.

Even when I lived in high crime areas I never regularly went about armed--although there was one in that particular house.

As far as where I would ultimately boat (I don't own a boat currently), I don't know. The Rock river is closet. Illinois's Chain O' Lakes maybe fifty miles away. Lake Michigan a bit farther.

And that's the real question. Security would or would not be a serious issue contingent upon where I'd be docking. If in Chicago, where I have personally witnessed the aftermath of man's inhumanity to man in the form of dead bodies still lying warm on the street, chalk outlines being drawn, wash down crews scrubbing away the brain matter of the deceased--yes, I'd like to have something on board, a bat, a gun, a two by four with a nail, a machete, a skillet of hot grease--something other than my handsome face and bare fists.

 

[JaSla74]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

Though I own a firearm or two I've never once considered taking one boating or camping. I'm the least paranoid person I know.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

"How safe do you feel on the water? I don?t mean from the usual boating tragedies, such as capsizing, collisions, accidentally toppling over-board. I mean how safe do you feel from the public at large?"





No, I don't overnight but am looking forward to a planned trip on the WI river next summer. I do not plan to bring a sidearm, I'll leave them at home . A flare gun is much more effective.
I too grew up in an urban area where there was a lot of commotion and am happy to have left it behind. Kinda takes a while to relax in the head, you know? The only thing I have to worry about are the coyotes chewing on my old beagle , but she's smarter than they are and I keep a rifle handy for 'em too...
Many boats docked on our river , nothing really goes missing....but its well outside the fray and not that easy to get to.
Let go of that paranoia if you can, the great thing about being in an isolated area is just that----isolated from the crazy world around us. The chances of something happening are very slim out on "the hook " I believe. Granted I would not sleep in a channel near the marina or on the docks, but get me out in the lake- sounds like heaven to me . I've spent plenty a night asleep in a canoe. How's that for small???
Also spent many a late night sorta sleeping ( that's what my wife called it) on a fairly populated lake gazing at the stars and into each others eyes. Never a problem . Could hear anything coming from far, far away.
I'm more nervous driving my vehicle though the city or in town than being anywhere on the water. Heck, being in my own paradise of a home has more risk than sleeping on the water or camping in my eyes.
Relax, enjoy it .

 

[rlb2252]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

I was born in Gary Indiana and I worked as a security guard and a body guard. So I have a hard time trusting strange people. At least one of these guys come with me.

I'm not sure who I'm most afraid of, Jeepin, you or the bad guys!

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Personal Security Paranoia

Aw, its just a couple of 10/22's.