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.