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- Jun 10, 2015
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Was thinking of purchasing a barge to build up a bug out house boat. Found solar powered engines and can use propane for heating and cooking. Any thoughts or am I crazy?
Bug out on water
- Thread starter cjsibley81
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i guess something like that can and will work..(BUT) a lot of thought and research will need to done first.just to avoid any costly mistakes whenever possible..propane will be good/great at first.but yet,that'll run out eventually..so a different source for heat and cooking will be needed..like wood fire.and the solar panels will play eventually.so that will have to be replaced with something else.like maybe wind sails..
solar and wind sounds great,do know that steam sounds and feels so old fashioned but in the long run those golden oldies might be the right ones.
heck,if I had to "borrow" a boat I would go for a steam powered one...
heck,if I had to "borrow" a boat I would go for a steam powered one...
Solar panels are only good for about 5 years then they start to degrade. So keep them boxed until the bug out day then you need to learn to set it up quick. Or have an engine ready that'll run propane until you can get the solar set up. Propane is costly right now and you'd need one hell of a large tank to get any real use out of it, like 400 gallon minimum. I have a 150 gallon tank that I use for cooking only and we burn through it in about a year and a half. A barge will be slow moving so take into account defending it from pirates. Because post SHTF that's gonna become real, fast. What kind of water are you bugging out on fresh or salt. How will you keep a fresh supply on hand? If your using propane to create clean water then your propane usage goes up even more. How will you heat the house?
Bugging out on water limits your choices tremendously when things go bad and being a houseboat certainly doesn't help if one wants to remain hidden in a post-shtf situation 
The idea has merits, but here's some things to consider:
1. Where do you live? Some climates can be VERY tough on boats. Here in FL, it doesn't take long for mother nature to really do a number on a non-maintained boat.
2. Also with above, this will impact how long the solar panels last (storms, intense sun, etc.).
3. Fresh water or salt water? Fresh water will make replenishable water easier to come by, but increase your chance of discovery.
4. Can you store, grow enough food on your house barge?
5. What kind of defense can you mount? (making the home bulletproof will mean a lot of weight)
6. How do you maneuver if out of fuel? Sail? Just anchor and use a john boat?
7. Will need a lot of measures to keep from sinking (such as from even a small attack, or just bad luck, etc.)
8. Everything is in one, vulnerable place. You can lose all easily.
Not to say there aren't other good points for it, just have to consider the above, your location, and what scenarios you think may cause you to use it. Really, unless you're living there when the SHTF, you also have to keep up the maintenance, and of course GET to the boat!
Great point, and if you're also doing the propane thing, man, that's a lot of fire risk on a boat. First thing you learn about boats....don't blow up the boat! Tanks on a boat seem to be a recipe for disaster. Go solar and just learn how to deal with limited power. Have replacement panels. Don't be anywhere it requires heat.
1. Where do you live? Some climates can be VERY tough on boats. Here in FL, it doesn't take long for mother nature to really do a number on a non-maintained boat.
2. Also with above, this will impact how long the solar panels last (storms, intense sun, etc.).
3. Fresh water or salt water? Fresh water will make replenishable water easier to come by, but increase your chance of discovery.
4. Can you store, grow enough food on your house barge?
5. What kind of defense can you mount? (making the home bulletproof will mean a lot of weight)
6. How do you maneuver if out of fuel? Sail? Just anchor and use a john boat?
7. Will need a lot of measures to keep from sinking (such as from even a small attack, or just bad luck, etc.)
8. Everything is in one, vulnerable place. You can lose all easily.
Not to say there aren't other good points for it, just have to consider the above, your location, and what scenarios you think may cause you to use it. Really, unless you're living there when the SHTF, you also have to keep up the maintenance, and of course GET to the boat!
Great point, and if you're also doing the propane thing, man, that's a lot of fire risk on a boat. First thing you learn about boats....don't blow up the boat! Tanks on a boat seem to be a recipe for disaster. Go solar and just learn how to deal with limited power. Have replacement panels. Don't be anywhere it requires heat.
