So I live in the city and was thinking what if I needed to bug out of the city. Seeing how backed up traffic is normally in Boston I can imagine trying to leave the city during a SHTF scenario would be impossible. I live a block off the beach in Southie so was thinking I could bug out that way if needed. I was wondering if anybody has any recommendations for a good bug out kayak option. I have all the stuff for backpacking and have a few places I could bug out to north and south but know it will probably be impossible to get out of the city. Sorry if this is a dupe I did search and didn't see this mentioned.
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SHTF Kayak as a bug out option
- Thread starter Dmiller27
- Start date
Have experience with kayaks but not for a shtf type planning.
Go lightweight, with a rudder. If you can make sure your pack is high enough to take some of the weight when carrying it.
If you are going on the ocean you want a deeper draw than in the river. I used to have a river kayak that drew about an inch and a half of water. Hit a log fast enough and I could get over it.
They wont help you in a storm though
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Go lightweight, with a rudder. If you can make sure your pack is high enough to take some of the weight when carrying it.
If you are going on the ocean you want a deeper draw than in the river. I used to have a river kayak that drew about an inch and a half of water. Hit a log fast enough and I could get over it.
They wont help you in a storm though
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That's pretty neat. He lives life his way. As to the question I would say a touring kayak simply for storage and ease of paddling,although a recreational type will be easier to transport over land.
Kayaking in the Ocean is not to be taken lightly.
Check out the Intro to Ocean Kayaking courses at Charles River Canoe and Kayak, or else where.
Charles River Canoe & Kayak :: Sales, Rentals, Trips, Instruction, and Gear in Massachusetts
You can carry a lot in a kayak and you can go far, but it is not something you want to just jump into without some training and experience.
Check out the Intro to Ocean Kayaking courses at Charles River Canoe and Kayak, or else where.
Charles River Canoe & Kayak :: Sales, Rentals, Trips, Instruction, and Gear in Massachusetts
You can carry a lot in a kayak and you can go far, but it is not something you want to just jump into without some training and experience.
yup, for the record though he is mentally unstable--to put it kindly. I've seen him more than a few times in the boston commons. I haven't seen him around in a while though.
Its not a bad idea if you have a solid destination that is within paddling distance. I have an uncle that does a lot of ocean kayaking in open water and you definitely have to know what you are doing. You can carry alot of gear in a good kayak. The bigger question to me is where are you going to go? Most of the coast is heavily developed. Once you are out of the city if you dont have a destination you are a refugee at best. Also what happens in winter?
I don't see how you could get anywhere worth going in a kayak, you are not really bugging out if you spend all day paddling a mile up the coast, at that point you would get much further in a better direction in a car or even on foot! Now if you had a speed boat stashed within paddling distance, then could get somewhere, that might help, but if the shtf, just hit he harbor, jack the nearest boat and get out of there!
CoastieRon
NES Member
You're going to be pretty tire, pretty quick as soon as you get outside the harbor. A couple things to consider:
If SHTF in Boston, you are not the only one with this idea, and the others will have powerboats/sailboats. The inner harbor is going to look like a storm from all the wake.
Have you decided which direction you want to go? Salem sound to the north, Pt. Allerton to the south. Getting to Salem sound is going to be a pretty tall task in a kayak, but heading south to Pt. Allerton may be viable. Less "open water" to traverse.
If SHTF in Boston, you are not the only one with this idea, and the others will have powerboats/sailboats. The inner harbor is going to look like a storm from all the wake.
Have you decided which direction you want to go? Salem sound to the north, Pt. Allerton to the south. Getting to Salem sound is going to be a pretty tall task in a kayak, but heading south to Pt. Allerton may be viable. Less "open water" to traverse.
You could make it a good distance up or down the coast, but plan a couple routes to take in different wind a weather patterns.
For an idea of reasonable distances look at these kayak day trips in and around Boston harbor.
Massachusetts Sea Kayaking | Massachusetts Sea Kayak Tours
Learn how to get back in a kayak if/when you come out of it. Learn with an empty kayak, then start to load it until you can do it with a fully loaded kayak, then practice in bad weather.
The investment in time and equipment to make this a realistic and reliable option may outweigh the potential for it as an escape route.
If you are already passionate about kayaking go for it, but if you are going to take up kayaking just for this escape option I think you should reconsider.
For an idea of reasonable distances look at these kayak day trips in and around Boston harbor.
Massachusetts Sea Kayaking | Massachusetts Sea Kayak Tours
Learn how to get back in a kayak if/when you come out of it. Learn with an empty kayak, then start to load it until you can do it with a fully loaded kayak, then practice in bad weather.
The investment in time and equipment to make this a realistic and reliable option may outweigh the potential for it as an escape route.
If you are already passionate about kayaking go for it, but if you are going to take up kayaking just for this escape option I think you should reconsider.
Pt. Allerton to the south. Getting to Salem sound is going to be a pretty tall task in a kayak, but heading south to Pt. Allerton may be viable. Less "open water" to traverse.
good luck getting across hull gut in a paddle boat.
and then if you make it you are in hull![[hmmm]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/009.gif "Hmm [hmmm]")
good luck getting across hull gut in a paddle boat.
and then if you make it you are in hull
Yeah, this wouldn't happen, meaning bugging out up the Charles isn't feasible. There are so many locks, falls, and gates on the Charles that you'd be carrying the kayak as much as paddling. In any event, you wouldn't get past Waltham.
WRT bugout by ocean, like others have said, it could be dicey. A nice 17' boat with rudder could get you far, but paddling in the surf can be tough, rough ocean is a challenge, and capsizing makes for an unpleasant trip even if you can roll or otherwise recover.
I'm no expert, but I've done a fair bit of kayaking, and I'd recommend you get really comfortable kayaking on the ocean, and hauling a loaded kayak by yourself, before you consider this a viable option. Keep in mind that you would be at a huge disadvantage both when bivouacing the kayak and when on the water should you make contact with anyone in a motorboat as your speed and mobility are limited.
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45collector
NES Member
Definitely consider something like this if you're serious about the kayak being your bug out vehicle.
Kayak/Canoe Cart with Tuff-Tire Wheels by Wheeleez®
Kayak/Canoe Cart with Tuff-Tire Wheels by Wheeleez®
I used to kayak quite a bit. I've kayaked in Boston Harbor, around Cape Ann, up in Acadia NP and so on with a 17' Wilderness Systems Cape Horn. As others have said, ocean kayaking isn't to be taken lightly. I always went out in good weather and even then, the weather could be serious business. Around this area, that good weather is about 4 months of the year and the rest of the time, you need to really know your stuff and be properly equipped.
Unless the kayaker is a real expert, I can't think of a realistic scenario in Boston where your odds of survival don't go down by trying to kayak out (assuming it's between mid October and early May).
Unless the kayaker is a real expert, I can't think of a realistic scenario in Boston where your odds of survival don't go down by trying to kayak out (assuming it's between mid October and early May).
"Anybody who would want to hurt me or take my things, they would have to have a boat. And boat people stick together."
Seems legit
CoastieRon
NES Member
Pt. Allerton to the south. Getting to Salem sound is going to be a pretty tall task in a kayak, but heading south to Pt. Allerton may be viable. Less "open water" to traverse.
good luck getting across hull gut in a paddle boat.
and then if you make it you are in hull
Yup, it's pretty dicey. I wouldn't do it it unless I have a motor boat.....
sounds like an episode of doomsday preppers there have been a couple episodes where people flee cities via small raft or kyak. I think your efforsts would be better spent on a on/off road dirtbike. trouble with little boats is little things sink them then all your stuff is gone and your wet and cold. to much risk putting allyour gear in a little boat.
![[smile]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/001.gif "Smile [smile]")
I have to agree with what most others have said: training and experience are a must to even consider something like that. I've done a fair share of paddling around Salem and Marblehead Harbors as well as Essex and Ipswich. The minimum needed is a 14' touring kayak for any type of ocean paddling as well as a dry suit for any time outside of late-spring to early fall (both of these significant investments) . Packing gear isn't really a problem as you can typically pack enough for a camping trip in a decent boat, and you could bug out to one of the islands for a bit... but then you'd have to figure out where to go next. Unless you have a vehicle parked somewhere north or south you'd eventually have to ditch your boat.
I talked to Michael, the guy in this article, today. Since he was sitting on a bench I asked him how the canoe was. He said it has some stress fractures (it's an old aluminum model) but is holding up otherwise. I asked him if the harbor gets icy in winter and he said Dorchester Bay does ice up and make it difficult--so that's something to consider in your evac plan. I commented that I've only been out in summer in my kayak in Dorchester but it was crowded to which he laughed and said he probably wouldn't be out in the harbor in the summer because it would be too crowded--even at night.
Then he offered me his newsletter and asked for a donation for his lunch and I gave him a few bucks and shook his hand. The newsletter is about Public School improvement, which I thought about posting it here but since he's selling it I didn't want to hurt his sales.
ive done a lot of kayaking and i dont think i would want to rely on one to get out of a gridlocked Boston in a hurry.
I think something like a dual purpose motorcycle would get u through the gridlock, out of the city, and on to anywhere u want to go in a hurry... hell, u could ride it down the commuter rail tracks and be out of the city in about 10 minutes...
I think something like a dual purpose motorcycle would get u through the gridlock, out of the city, and on to anywhere u want to go in a hurry... hell, u could ride it down the commuter rail tracks and be out of the city in about 10 minutes...
I own this one: Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Sit-On-Top Kayak - 2012/2013 at REI.com. Not for SHTF but to paddle around with my dog who fits perfectly in the rear storage area.
It's a sit on top model with good storage inside. Even if it tips over (which is really tough I tried) nothing inside will get wet. As someone else mentioned, a 14ft model might be better for the ocean. You might have trouble toting a 14ft by yourself....the 12 gets pretty heavy after a while.
Join the sailing club and learn to sail. If SHTF "rent" one of their boats.
It's a sit on top model with good storage inside. Even if it tips over (which is really tough I tried) nothing inside will get wet. As someone else mentioned, a 14ft model might be better for the ocean. You might have trouble toting a 14ft by yourself....the 12 gets pretty heavy after a while.
Join the sailing club and learn to sail. If SHTF "rent" one of their boats.
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TayNinh_66
NES Member
A 24' sailboat may be viable if you have some heavy weather sailing experience. Otherwise, dirt bike or trail bike.
Don't count out walking. You can cover 30 miles a day at 4mph pace with a 60# pack.
I don't know why youre thinking about this stuff. The government will rescue you.
Don't count out walking. You can cover 30 miles a day at 4mph pace with a 60# pack.
I don't know why youre thinking about this stuff. The government will rescue you.
Overall, I'd tend to agree with other posters wrt a dual sport bike or worst case a mountain bike. Short of a complete societal breakdown where everybody is attacking anything that moves, your chances of getting out of the city in a timely fashion are better/faster on a bike than a kayak. It might have a somewhat higher risk profile initially, but once you are out to Cambridge and hit the bike trails it's fast moving to the country.
Either way, if you are not ahead of the wave, you would be stuck in a huge crowd; in one case you're on a kayak getting battered by the wakes of thousands of motorboats; on the other you're more mobile than the people in cars and have an advantage over those on foot.
I'd go with a KLR650 or something like that. It's got a 300 mile range and is good all-around.
Either way, if you are not ahead of the wave, you would be stuck in a huge crowd; in one case you're on a kayak getting battered by the wakes of thousands of motorboats; on the other you're more mobile than the people in cars and have an advantage over those on foot.
I'd go with a KLR650 or something like that. It's got a 300 mile range and is good all-around.
