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