My bug out vehicle is a boat.

My bug out vehicle is a boat.

Everyone seems to have somewhat of a plan for SHTF. Problem is it can hit the fan many ways. Murphy’s Law is it won’t be the way you expect. Most people I read about their preps are stocking food surpluses. Others are living off the grid or working their way there. I on the other hand at the age of 56 have already had property in the country, kids, farm land and don’t want to spend the rest of my life doing the same thing. So to kill multiple birds with one stone, my plan is to bug out on a boat in the direction of the Bahama Islands and sail. Sailing or boating in general going from port to port, marina to marina, Tiki bar to Tiki bar is not new to me as I have spent most of my life in Florida doing this since I was 15. It’s still about survival. I just like surviving with an umbrella drink in one hand and a fishing poll in the other while at anchor off the coast of the Virgin Islands.

Now to kill these birds with one stone. For one, it’s a great retirement plan and way of life regardless if SHTF or not. So investing time, money, and energy required with boat ownership of this magnitude, will happen anyway. (Some people are not boat people the same as some people are not swimming pool people). Then this is not for you. But if you have a spirit of adventure and love the water, you may have thought of this. My wife and I enjoy four-wheeling in our jeep, kayaking in fast water and being on our boat. Prepping on a large property requires discipline and hard work. I respect that and that’s why I read all these discussions. Same ideas apply to living on a boat. Just trade offs with mowing the grass verses polishing the brass. So this kind of prepping is different but I believe it is more survivable than a land based compound.

Another point is if nuclear detonations have occurred, there is nothing you can do if you’re at or near ground zero, so enjoy life and thanks for all the fish. But it can also happen with limited destruction. North Korea lights off one and the US makes a crater out of Kim jong un’s neighborhood. Limited exchange or an accidents of power plants can leave options. I have choose the Bahama Islands which leads into the Virgin Islands because the waters are shallow with lots of fishing grounds. The trade winds and currents push the air and water around Florida and north following the Gulf Stream. This takes fallout north of the Bahamas. This image shows the wind surface level flows around the world. If the nuclear event is worse, the general consensuses is south of the equator is more survivable than north. My target location is well underway to head in that direction if necessary. If not, I will stay at anchor and finish my umbrella drink.

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On a boat you don’t have room for stockpiling tons of food and supplies. Your food and supplies need to be within easy reach. So the area you sail in needs to be rich in a sustainable food and supplies. The shallow reefs in that area are rich in shrimp, lobster and every fish you can imagine. The locals will trade now and even after a SHIFT event. Trading from boating ports have been happening since before recorded history and will continue as long as we exist. I’ve worked in Thailand, Japan and Dominican Republic. Barter is a common way of life. So boat bug out prepping takes on a different mindset. One barter I have which is endless is that I am a PLC Electrical Controls System’s Engineer. (I can fix electrical systems on other boats). This can get you more than a case of Scotch.

Another scenario is the US economy falls apart and depression, marshal law and looting begins. A good reason to be out of Dodge. Money stays mostly stable if you have gold or silver. Best not to put all your eggs on the US dollar. But trade goods will always be physical tangible items such as fish, booze guns and ammo. Items being traded as I type this at many ports. Nothing new. Also as I’ve said; your skills go a long way. I’m a jack of all trades and master of many. I know a few people like this, I’ve hired them. These skills become gold when everything falls apart. If you’re not one, you want to have one around.

Currently the pictured sailboat is only my weekend getaway boat. On the Ohio River I don’t want to navigate with anything larger than this 26 foot Pearson. The boat I bug out in will be in Florida in about 5 years if everything holds out that long. If not, I have plan B and C which will still get me there. This Pearson has a forward cabin which sleeps my wife and I comfortable. The galley is small but functions for cooking and preparing meals. The head works and is private. It contains all we need just on a miniature scale. Something close to living in an RV except this floats. Every square inch has to be justified. This type of boat has crossed the Atlantic but my Florida boat will be three times the size. This just keeps our sea legs active and our boat prepping skills sharpened.

There are many tradeoffs and pros and cons with this compared to digging in on a property. Some people include bugging out in a vehicle to get to a property. I’m in the same boat. (Sorry). Currently I have to get to my boat or put it in the water. So my current plan is to bug in but I can trailer my existing boat to the coast (less than 12 hours). Always an option. My “A” plan is future based but to compare apples to apples, let’s say I’m already living on the 72 footer in a slip on the Florida coast.
So I am interested in other opinions or to add their pros and cons:

Pros:
1. Mobility to move from bad area to good area. If you don’t like your neighbor, move.
2. Mobility to escape without the need for roads. Even a mass escape will not block your passage.
3. Living a Jimmy Buffet lifestyle. And yes I am a pirate.
4. If you love to fish, there’s no better life. No telling what’s on the end of you hook in the ocean.
5. You likely own the boat so no house payments or property tax.
6. Options. You can sail, lie at anchor or put in at a slip. You choose your environment.
7. Change of surroundings? You can always put in at a spot where you can rent a house temporarily.
8. Exploration. Camping, hiking, biking in new places are always an option. (You can leave the boat). The boat is just your home. You can always have a home port and you can change that too.
9. Pet friendly. Our beagle is a perfect companion.
10. Socializing with others is always present as an option. There is always a party on someone’s boat.

Cons:
1. Hurricanes. Bad weather. You have to always be on your guard. Google Earth the amount of boats in the Caribbean. You will see this is not a deterrent for boat ownership in the Caribbean. There are options to move around the storms or weather them out in safe harbors.
2. Maintenance. Trade off with the maintenance of your home and property except your house does not sink if you don’t keep your hull in repair.
3. Pirates? No different than your home burglars or trespassers. Security is always a prepping concern no matter what the situation.
4. A meteor event impacting the ocean will cause a killing wave. That will suck for just not the boats. All coastal communities will be impacted as well. Besides, it can hit near you just as easy.

More pros than cons, I think my plan is solid. What do you think?

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My bug out vehicle is a boat.