Dive deep into the world of sailboats, from choosing the right vessel for your prepper needs to maintenance and navigation. Explore the skills required to make your boat a reliable, self-sufficient platform.
Having lived in Toronto, and then on a farm in Northern Ontario, my move to a catamaran sailboat on the ocean 8 years ago was a big change, but a welcome one. Eight years of living on the oceans has taught me a lot, and re-affirmed my belief that a sailing catamaran is the ultimate in survival shelters.
The following articles are all about sailing, sailboats, living on or bugging out on sailboats.
Having a sailboat during a disaster can offer several benefits for individuals and communities affected by a crisis. Here are some of the main advantages of having a sailboat during a disaster:
Mobility: In a disaster situation, mobility and flexibility is often critical for reaching safety or providing assistance to others. A disaster area may be inaccessible to cars or trucks, such as flooded streets, damaged roads, or areas with limited infrastructure. A sailboat is not dependent on roads or other infrastructure, which can be damaged or blocked during a disaster. Having a mobile and flexible form of transportation, such as a sailboat, can allow you to bypass these obstacles and reach your destination more quickly and safely. It can navigate through shallow waters, go around debris or other obstacles, and even sail upwind, allowing it to access areas that might be difficult or impossible to reach by other means. This can be particularly useful for evacuating individuals or transporting supplies to areas that are difficult to access.
Mobility and flexibility are crucial because they allow you to adapt and respond to rapidly changing conditions, and provide options for evacuation, relocation, and access to resources.
Catamarans come in all shapes and sizes, but the smallest models don't have the accommodations required to sail around the world. Most catamarans under 30 feet in length don't have a cabin at all, which is a stark difference that they have with monohulls.
Small monohull sailboats often have cabins, as there's plenty of room below on a wide single-hulled sailboat. Monohulls can be as small as 16 to 18 feet and still have a cabin, but catamarans must be much larger to have suitable accommodations.
The smallest catamarans are about 12 to 15 feet long. These are small recreational craft used primarily for racing, and they aren't designed for the open ocean. Larger catamarans in the 20-foot range can (and have) been used on the ocean, but they're usually classified as day boats.
Catamarans become practical for longer excursions once they hit about 30 feet in length. A boat of this size is large enough for a cabin and can usually accommodate between two and four people comfortably. Catamarans commonly stretch beyond 50 feet, which is where they're the most useful and comfortable.
The Doomsday Clock has moved the closest to global catastrophe it has ever been - largely because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and also the climate crisis. Now, a study finds five locations most likely to survive an apocalyptic nuclear winter.
If 2023 is the year the world starts to collapse, scientists think they know where you should head to survive.
The Doomsday Clock has moved the closest to global catastrophe it has ever been - largely because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and also the climate crisis.
Now, researchers say Australia and New Zealand are among five island nations most likely to survive an apocalyptic nuclear winter.
The study, by the University of Otago and Adapt Research in New Zealand, looked at the impact of "a severe sun-reducing catastrophe" such as a nuclear war, super volcano or asteroid strike on global agricultural systems.
Researchers found Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu most capable of continuing to produce food despite the reduced sunlight and fall in temperatures - and help reboot a collapsed human civilisation.
Many people think you must be a millionaire to purchase a sailboat. That simply is not true.
Sure, having a million dollars to spend on a boat will probably get you a bigger, and more reliable boat. But it is not required. If you can afford the downpayment on a home, you have enough to purchase a liveaboard sailboat outright, without any loan.
It may not be ready to face the end of the world when you buy it. But you can then invest in your new floating home to improve your vessel. You should be able to spend a bit each month to add or upgrade all the systems on the boat. This can be done with money that would otherwise be going towards a mortgage (yours, or your landlord's).
A Bug-Out Sailboat is a type of sailboat that is specifically designed and equipped to be used as a means of transportation and shelter in the event of an emergency or disaster. It is a survival vehicle that is intended to help individuals or groups evacuate quickly and safely from potentially dangerous situations or inaccessible areas.
Bug-Out Sailboats are typically equipped with features that allow them to be self-sufficient, such as the ability to generate their own power through wind or solar energy, and to produce their own water through desalination. They also tend to be relatively small and manoeuverable, which makes them easy to control and navigate in various water conditions.
In addition to their practical advantages, Bug-Out Sailboats are also designed to provide a level of security and privacy that is often difficult to achieve with other types of vehicles. This is because they are typically more difficult to board or access, and can be used to escape from potential threats or conflicts.
Overall, Bug-Out Sailboats offer a unique combination of mobility, self-sufficiency, stealth, and security that makes them an ideal option for those who are concerned about being prepared for potential emergencies or disasters.
What Sizes Are Catamarans?
