The key to personal safety is what I call "Situational awareness". Marie and I are both very aware of our surroundings and people. We think the same way--and have a set of very subtle signals when we thing that something is suspicious. If we are being followed, we will head for a police station or a place where there are many other people. Several times we have stopped and turned around confronting the person. If a boat is suspicious, we will radically change our course--and if the boat is a type that would have a radio, begin a converstion with another boat (which may be a phantom). (the other "boat" can be a handheld on our boat) We will use a spotlight liberally--and attempt to determine what the intent of the people in the boat is. Being facile in the language of the country you are visiting is certainly a real plus. An example is a ponga 20 miles off the coast--are they poor fisherman who just need some water or other supplies or are they pirates who have an AK 47 under the tarp which is covering them? This can be a really tough situation. I never let a boat come along side when under way. I would certainly attempt to never be in a position where I would be exposed to potential fire from a boat. If the people appeared to really be fisherman, I would ask them to show what was in the boat. We had a situation off Central America, where a boat a few miles ahead of us felt that they were being followed by a Ponga. They slowed down a bit and turned back, and we sped up to catch up with them. The Ponga left--and our assesment was that it was an innocent encounter--but who knows? There is the option of avoiding an area. In the 80's we stayed 50 miles off Guatamala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicraguara --but went into Cost Rica and Panama. We had heard of problems in some parts of Panama, but were cruising with another boat which was also armed--and checked out areas visually. It turns out they were fine. In the 90's we wanted to go to all of Central America and in each harbor checked in with the military. Since my home of record was near Naval Air Station Pensacola, I visited with the commander of each base, gave him a card and invited him to visit our home if he was back in the US for training. Each time we were offered the military pier to either tie up the boat, to bring our dinghy to, or a guard to watch the boat while we were gone. We also were told where there might be places to avoid. I did have a patrol boat attempt to come along side in a sea which would have damaged my boat--I refused to stop--I told the skipper of the boat it was too dangerous and I would follow him to his port. I then got out a video camera and informed the patrol boat skipper I would hold them responsiable for any damage (while I was videoing). He relinquished and I passed over copies of the ships papers, Zarpe and our passports with a clothes pin on a boat hook. They come over for a beer when we got into port. We would never take a weapon ashore in a foreign port. One of the problems I envisioned in foreign ports was robbery or assult when on the boat.--being more probable than at sea. If the guns were declared and taken then we would have no protection. Also if you declare weapons, you need to know that the rules of the country are. Note the post I put up about Bali last month. Noonsite has some information about weapons in foreign countries. For example an M1 Carbine would be considered a military weapon in many countries--same for a more expensive mini 14. As noted some countries require that the weapons be surrendered when you check in--and then either obtained at that same port--or perhaps transported to the check out port for return when you leave. I know of instances where weapons were not returned--and where they had been mistreated and were worthless when returned--one time the bolt was gone. Another defensive idea is an electric fence charger. Electrifying raw metal lifelines or a light cable all around the boat. A legend (may be true) was the John Wayne had several Boston Whalers stolen in Mexico from the stern of Wild Goose. The story goes that he put one hot side of 220 volts to the railings on a whaler and the neutral to the water near the boat. The story goes that one person died and no more dinghies were stolen. I do know of several folks who have electrified the lifelines--just be sure that you remember what you did! As said before--it is a very difficult decision and personal decision. Regards, Bob Austin