^^ Living on a boat 6 months a year in the Caribbean:
I break down my own defense needs aboard into the following two categories:
A: Intra-Vessel Security.
and
B: Extra-Vessel Security.
Intra-Vessel security is no different than basic home defense, although the "swing room" for employment of defensive arms is more limited. Basically the scenario is that someone has come aboard uninvited or has entered the boat cabin (IE: a small-scale version of a home invasion) and requires discouragement. This is the typical "bedside gun" sort of need. I meet that with a M9 with a light on an aftermarket rail stashed by the head of my bunk (which is at the point of furthest retreat aboard). In the small cabin environment a pistol is the correct tool, and the large capacity of the M9 and the light mounted under it are an excellent combination for this need. A shoptgun is not stowable for immediate use nor is one short enough tobe usable in the cabin.
Extra-Vessel security is for discouraging the approach of another vessel or for repelling same should discouragement not be sufficient. A rifle is the correct tool. It needs to be short for stowage, very durable, with extreme reliabilty. I use a very basic "disposable" AK with an aftermarket ACE side folder. This is kept in a locker on the flying bridge where I generally run the boat, as running down below to retrieve arms if needed would be impossible in a confrontation.
Shotguns, if carried (they are not), would be reserved for shooting trap off of the fantail. They have no other purpose aboard. They are neither handy enough for intra-vessel employment nor do they have the range required for extra-vessel use.
The black powder cannon that can be mounted on the bow is simply for signaling Sunset and the Call to Rum, although I bet it would scare the crap outta the odd native in a canoe.
Willie
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