Science Fiction Survival Boat

In my spare time, I am writing a science fiction novel. Mostly I write it for recreation, so I have no idea if it will ever be finished or published. But maybe some of you can help me with some ideas? One of the sub-plots revolves around two couples on a custom-designed boat. The boat was designed to provide everything that the two couples would need for one year at sea, without any contact with anyone else. I know very little about boats, so here are some questions:

What type of boat? How big? How should it be equipped (to survive)? What skills should the crew of four have? How can their skills/supplies compliment one another? How can this boat/crew defend itself against those that might want to board her/take her supplies without looking out of place?

I prefer to place more emphasis on the science, and less on the fiction.

Ideas, links, opinions are all welcome. BTW, the boat is financed by a very wealthy and eccentric man (think of Howard Hughes as a survivalist), but he is not on the boat. So, money is no object.

Thanks for your help.

A famed explorer- solo sailor defeated a boarding party of pirate- natives by pouring TACKS on his deck and retiring below. The recent assault on a liner was repelled by a sonic device. You will want a saltwater desalinization unit, solar panels for power, auxillary sailpower and a hull design capable of withstanding just about everything. I had the honour of being coxswain on the last SAR of the classic, 36' double ender MLB with heavy bronze keel. Design a double ender. Think Viking dragonship with the sonic devise in it's snarling mouth. If you must have firearms, ignore Tommy Lee Jones and his Glock fetish. Get a Martini action line throwing/Harpoon rifle as used in JAWS and air cannons as used by the RN in WW2 convoy duty. I scared a pot runner into surrender putting a bronze linethrowing wieght into his flying bridge. People will read all this arcane stuff and not believe it. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Oh, please dress your characters in real nautical gear. Think 20,000 leagues under the sea instead of Bannana Republic. If they cross the equator or dateline don't forget a modern ceremony complete with Bob Marley and a religous experience with Saint Elmo's fire.

The Spy Who Loved Me - 007 movie great sub and underwater stuff...

clive cussler novels...

Let's see...
Type of boat, definitely a motorsailer (sailing cruiser with a good sized diesel inboard motor), minimum of 40 ft, otherwise they'll drive each other crazy. Large center cockpit with all rigging led to the cockpit. Full navigation station including GPS, long and short range radar, shortwave and VHF radios, along with personal handhelds for all the crew, Web access would be nice, but it's expensive to begin with, and also by the minute (you said money was no objuct). Electric desalinator backed up by hand pumped model. Fully stocked galley, to include separate refrigerator and freezer, double sink, range, oven, and microwave. Two plumbed heads, to include shower, marine toilet, and sink, with backup porta potty. Fore and aft sleeping berths with extra pull out accomodations in the main saloon. Various provisions, to include canned and dry goods, fresh fruit and vegetables (to begin with), and the fridge and freezer full of meat. After the fresh food runs out, you'll want fishing gear to catch fresh seafood... besides traditional fishing gear (poles, reels, hooks,etc.), you should have a couple of fish spears, cast nets, gill nets, and snorkeling/scuba gear. In the Captain's quarters, there should be an arms locker, to include sidearms for all, at least two pump shotguns, at least one semi-auto rifle, and a high caliber bolt action rifle with a scope, and don't forget the night-vision on all the long arms, most piracy occurs at night. There should be a tender/dinghy that will comfortably hold all persons on board, and at least one backup 6 man life raft on board, preferably two. The vessel should be equipped with fore and aft thrusters, and all automatic ground tackle (the anchors). ALL the crew should be competant in the rigging and piloting of the boat. At least two of them should have navigational skills, and the other two should be willing/trying to learn. All crew should be familiar with all tools on board, including the arms. It would help if at least two of the crew were bi/multi-lingual... assuming English is their first language, Spanish, French, Portuguese would be the most use, unless your boat's in the Pacific, then you're outside my realm of knowledge, but I'd guess Spanish and French would be pretty handy there too. Somebody should know which fish are safe to eat, and when... yes, the time of year makes a difference. There should be an armed watch (unless local laws expressly forbid it, in which case, move on) unless the boat's in a secure area, highly populated by other cruising boats (pirates hate witnesses). Oh, and as an afterthought, all around sonar would be good for avoiding reefs, whales, and wayward shipping containers. I didn't realise that this would run on so long, but you're asking about my retirement plans, though I haven't found a super rich benefactor yet. Got any suggestions??? <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
If I can give you any more suggestions, feel free to ask.

Troy

I really like your suggestion on boat design Chris, could a prior Coastie critique my post on the subject???

Troy

I'd consider all that electronic junk backups to a fine Weems and Plath Sextant, chronometer and a good set of charts along with Bowditch's Practical Navigator. After a year who knows what could happen to our technological umbellical cord. I'd include a small hydroponic garden or just some soil baskets for fresh vegetables. Spend some time at sea or in reduced light and all you want is something GREEN and FRESH. The souls needs nourishing too. I'd add some classical, jazz and The Beach Boys Greatest Hits and the classics of literature. I was helmsman on a cutter in a miserable storm. Most of the crew were sick in their bunks except the old man, the senior chief machinists mate and yours truly. The chief comes to the bridge to find the skipper and me singing The Ballad of the Sloop John B. and joined in on the chorus "this is the worst trip, I've ever been on." Common cultural bonds help on a long voyage too.

Great stuff. Please keep it coming.

A small hydroponic garden? Wouldn't that splash out with the movement of a boat? I assume a soil basket could hang, thereby swinging harmlessly with the movement of the ship?

And yes, low-tech backups will be required, as most of the high-tech stuff goes away in the main story line. Those that do not know the way things used to work will have major problems.

Of course you need all the best safety equipment both on ship and personal EDK , you never know when you will be knocked into the water or capsized. A (fictional) year at sea and you will probably see some weather!

With a crew of four you want this craft to be sailed singlehandedly if needed. People sleep and you can't always just drop anchor.

Here is a link you may find interesting BoatDesignNet
they have detailed discussions(read as "out of my league") on hull design , fuel consumption for various designs, etc.

A year without contact, means either a sailboat, nuclear power, or a pre-positioned fuel&supply Island.

In addition to the solar panels that Chris mentioned, I would add solar thermal panels for hot water. And if you do a search on Air-X wind generators , those are also being used on boats to generate electricity.

I assume you've packed some nice dehydrated foods, besides the mainstay bars. You will probably want to fish , will it be hook and line or a net/trap of some sort?

You might want to consider a composting head, as I recall the chemical ones needed pumping more frequently than yearly.
CompostingToiletWorld

The gardener in me says you need a mini-greenhouse just for the cherry tomatoes and chives! 8^)

For just "coolness factor" here you go..(from the boatdesign.net gallery)


Sorry for rambling
Lee

Hydroponics are often in a medium like perlite, not just water
GrowingMedium

MotherEarthNews
note the use of fish emulsion, and seaweed as fertilizer.

and yes it could be gimbaled to keep it upright!

Does the crew know it will be "at sea" for a year when they depart?

You mentioned that all the electronics fail, is this an EMP / EOTWAWKI type scenario ?

If money was no object then perhaps you have had some custom air guns made by Mr Barnes.
GLBarnes
these are not your typical pop guns!


Lee

Lee123, thanks for all of the info. The links are great! No EMP, but (without giving all of the plot away), it would not take much to disrupt our technology. If half of America did not come to work for a week, life here would be very bad. Imagine the panic at the local market? Think about the hype from the local news, fueling the panic. So, with all of this happening on land, it would be nice to be in the middle of the Pacific Ocean....

Very good points, all, especially about the caveman nav. gear... I got a little carried away and plumb forgot all about that. And yes, a good library is worth it's weight in gold.

Troy

I definitely agree that it wouldn't take much to disrupt our society. If half the people stopped going to work, food shipments would dwindle.

I've heard the average city has only two days of food on hand.

If you lose half your police , fire, and public works it just compounds the problem.

Sound like a great setting for a story! (I hope it doesn't come true!)

Lee

Steve and Linda Dashew design large sailboats that can be handled by a couple. Check out:
SetSail.com
Keep in mind that the marine environment is very harsh. Cruising is also known as fixing your boat in exotic places... LOL Manual backups and good seamanship are a must.

If the sailboat is intended to be a major compnent of the story, definietly do some research into real world transoceanic cruising, both planned and accidental :P

Consider a catamaran. The twin hull design might give the couples more privacy (ie the couples can each have their own "hull") with the central saloon for most encounters. The shallow draft means you can do more coastal stuff as well. Search the web for "megayacht" and "catamaran" for examples. I'd think something in the 40+ foot range for a catamaran would be roomy enough with adequate storage for extended periods. A years supply of food for 4 adults is gonna be tough however. Sailing is your only option as no yacht can carry enough fuel for very long (well, any yacht that can be run by 4 people anyway).

You can have lots of fun with small personal watercraft like hobie cats, windsurfers, even jetskis if they can spare the fuel. The larger yachts can easily carry that kind of stuff.

Weaponry would depend on the world situation. Lots of ports frown SEVERELY on heavily armed personal watercraft in their ports. Also, it would be tough for just 4 people to fend of a serious pirate attack (think 2-3 motorboats loaded with folks with automatic rifles) barring a mounted gun emplacement which would DEFINITELY be a no-no in almost any port.

If you want to be REALLY sci-fi try a submarine yacht from ussubmarines.com (think that is the address). Obviously they will need a fuel depot somewhere, but how cool are those things??

At least it wasn't a case where he "came and ate up all of your corn"! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> [color:"black"] [/color] [email]Chris Kavanaugh[/email]

While being good and Stable in the water, -it should also be designed so that if a capsize / rollover should occur, -it will be of little to no problem. Included there is a certain ease in righting itself again. Somewhat egg / saucer shaped, -to describe it very loosely. [color:"black"] [/color] [email]KI6IW[/email]

Now I know the double 360 I took on the Tillamook bay Bar wasn't my poor seamansship. My MLB wasn't an egg. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> !SRLBs ( self righting lifeboats) are designed with lower voids, heavy keels and lightened topside structures to let gravity do it's thing. Ball shaped objects make for poor handling qualities. Just look at the ancient celtic coracle.

Well, actually, that's what the keel's for. On a small boat, you might be able to right it on your own, but if we're talking blue water cruiser, you better hope she comes on around by herself. If she turns turtle, you're gonna be riding the hull.

Troy

Thanks to all for the suggestions and links. I am learning, and that is half the fun of writing the book. Here are some answers to questions and comments made by others:

I liked Chris’ suggestion of a line-throwing rifle. Never would have thought of it, but I would think that it would be seen as a legitimate piece of nautical gear in any port.

No submarine stuff. Sorry. SCUBA yes!

Wildcard163 had great suggestions! It will have all of the modern toys (I mean gear), but with failsafe backups and redundant backups for critical systems. I have been studying the history of sailing, to see how it was done before modern times.

Thanks to you, I know how to make the garden work. Good for morale, and also extends the stored food.

Yes, the two couples were recruited knowing that they might have to go into “survival mode”, but their normal “cover job” is maritime research of some type. Still have not figured out what type. Any suggestions?

Books will be on board. Both reference and recreational.

Regarding music, I am thinking that one member of the crew should play an instrument of some type. What works well on a boat?

It will have to be a sailboat with motor backup. No nuclear reactor on board, but it will have two RTG’s onboard. Google RTG and you will see why (and that money is no object). I have solved the stored food problem, but never considered a resupply island. I have to think about that more….

I like the catamaran idea. Guns in port are not a problem, as they will be well concealed. Once the SHTF, they head out to the open Pacific, trying to AVOID everyone until things normalize. I will have to research the sonic self-defense device that Chris mentioned. I still think that I need something unconventional (or disguised) but effective to repel pirates. Any additional out of the box thinking?

As to instruments on a boat, a concertina would be practical AND traditional, harmonicas and guitars come to mind, most anything acoustical that doesn't take up too much space. If they're to be a quartet, a cornet or trumpet might be nice, I've always liked brass <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Troy

How do wooden instruments and humidity get along?

Given the proper care, just fine, but if they get soaked, it's the same on a boat as in a flooded basement or a leaky attic, not too well, but acoustical will fare far better than electric, not to mention, no drain on the power supply and accoustical just seems to sound so much better out on the salt.

Troy

RTGs (radioisotope thermal electric generators) seem a bit exotic and government-ish. They use a very radioactive fuel source, e.g., Plutonium, which normal people can't obtain. If the presence of RTGs becomes known, the boat becomes a target for eco-activists and is probably banned from several countries, e.g., New Zealand. Terrorists who believe that "Plutonium is the most dangerous substance on Earth" might target the boat to obtain the fuel. Maybe this becomes a new plot complication!

And RTGs don't really produce much power. Current state of the art is 290 watts (about 1/3 horsepower). For less money, and a lot less hassle, go solar.

IIRC, the Soviet Union developed some small fission reactors for spacecraft. Now that would be exotic!

73, de N4PYB

Howdy Neighbor! Thanks for the ideas. I already have a way around the "problems", and yes, it does add to the plot. Also, not everything on the boat is exactly "legal". It is fun getting to be a bad guy for a change, if only in fictional writing.

73

If you like the line thrower, look at the Mossberg version. A simple barrel swap (done in less than a minute with my 590) gets you a 12 guage shotgun. Read here: http://63.149.92.163/manuals/LineLauncher.pdf

Probably a useful thing on any long term excursion, and really really handy as a plot device <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

For this, -I would think things along the lines of Ocean Currents / Temperatures, Global Warming, and El Nino / La Nina.

Also, -for Musical Diversion and Entertainment, -a Harmonica or Flute comes to mind! [color:"black"] [/color] [email]KI6IW[/email]

I must Admit that I'm Far More of an Aviator than a Sailor! Aviation is among my First Loves!, -Seamanship and Sailing is an Interesting "Side Matter".

But as I understand it, -even Well Keeled Seacraft sometimes get capsized. Though Well Keeled is Far, Far Better!, -than No Keeled.

So I'm looking at a Craft that is pretty much the same below the Waterline as above. Or rather the other way around, -"Above as Below". (We can't have open decking below! <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />) And "Seamlessly Sealed round the middle".

My earlier speaking loosely of things such as an Egg Shape, -is probably a Wrong Suggestion to throw out. But I did mention that I was speaking loosely so.

Again, -my idea is for something akin to two saucers welded together, -Sealed and pretty much the same on Top, as on Bottom. Specifically "Saucer Shaped",though, -may be in the same league as "Egg Shaped", -I may come to Concede and Grant! [color:"black"] [/color] [email]wildcard163[/email]

What year is this set in???
There are some very useful things 'right around the pike', depending one just when this is set...

A Browning 50Cal. on a pintle mount, would be very useful, especially with a larger than normal percentage of tracer rounds, or even some REAL incendiary rounds...

I have read about the sonic gun in 'MAKE' magazine, and it is a nice option, but it is bulky and could probably be defeated by just staying out of range and pelting the boat with bullets, until the crew are either dead or too afraid to go above-decks, or the weapon is destroyed(it is NOT a small target, or something flammable on the boat goes up...

I would suggest a round bottom motor-sailor, with a stabilizer system, like one of the larger Haterois... The round bottom, because you do NOT want to be in a small 'V' bottom boat in heavy seas, the stabilizer, because you do not want to be sea-sick all the time because of the same round bottom design, and the motor-sailor for the obvious reason that you do not want to use all your fuel in the first week...

If price is NO option, there is always those luxury submersibles that that one company sales..
Ahhh, here they are... U.S. Submarines

For musical instruments, try getting a catalog from Lark in the Morning.
Their catalog will give you so many ides that you will be amazed... I will bet(unless you have a music background) that most of the stuff in their catalog, you will have never heard of!!!

Thanks for the info. I will do some of the suggested research this weekend. The story is set in present day, but cutting edge technology is just fine. So is technology that has been proven by hundreds of years of use.