I planning a trip down to Mobil AL with my Formula 242 to do some boating in Mobile Bay, the intercoastal towards Pensacola and out in the Gulf. Buddy of mine is flying down and going to go with me. He is suggesting to take a shotgun just in case of alligators or sharks if we have any problems with the boat. Is this a good idea? How do the Coasties or local PD react to this?

I'm subscribing because guns and gators sounds like a blast.

I don't care what they say, I have 2 guns on mine. I'm concerned with pirates and I don't think Liberals can swim (Capt Jack Sparrow will never get my boat) but I have never seen any.

I don't foresee any problems with the engine. It is a EFI 350 Mag/ Alpha and has about 300 hours on it. Its very reliable. But we'll be boating in an unfamiliar area . I have a Garmin GPS and charts of the area to take care of navigation, a VHF and cell phones.

Shotgun? Na.








Deck mounted 50 caliber.

If you have a Michigan CPL, Alabama recognizes it as valid (reciprocity). Another option is a bang stick. I've only seen 2 in my life and both were .38, but they offer sizes from .22 to up to 50BMG, but I wouldn't want to be on either end of a five foot pole with a 50BMG cartridge.

Also, with the Michigan CPL, everybody except IL honors it from here to Florida, so you can carry on the trip down. Having seen some of the crap that goes on in hotels/motels (think Dearborn/Detroit Victory Inn), the occupants at a motel right off the freeway would be a bigger concern than pirates or gators. Therein lies my other piece of advice- Fairfield/Hampton or better on the trip. Less junkies and thieves than the Super 8 or Red Roof Inns. NEVER stay at an ABVI unless you're looking for dope and happy ending massages.

Sharks and gators are more scared of you than you of them.

Don't swim in inlets or after dusk for sharks. Stay out of fresh water in the south is my rule for gators.

Just a little further down this road. If police make contact, do you volunteer that weapons are aboard?

[QUOTE=Speedracer29;4532504]If you have a Michigan CPL, Alabama recognizes it as valid (reciprocity). Another option is a bang stick. I've only seen 2 in my life and both were .38, but they offer sizes from .22 to up to 50BMG, but I wouldn't want to be on either end of a five foot pole with a 50BMG cartridge.

Also, with the Michigan CPL, everybody except IL honors it from here to Florida, so you can carry on the trip down. Having seen some of the crap that goes on in hotels/motels (think Dearborn/Detroit Victory Inn), the occupants at a motel right off the freeway would be a bigger concern than pirates or gators. Therein lies my other piece of advice


For what it is worth --
I do a lot of travel for work - the BEST KEPT SECRET in regards to hotels is Hyatt Place - they typically are as or less expensive as a Hampton and you can get Hyatt Points -- Can you spell Maui??

3pointstar

I think the reciprocity reply was good and valid. I would store the firearms in a secure private location out of sight on the boat and only answer if directly questioned. Local water cops can only stop you for a safety inspection (without suspicion). They have no authority to search without PC (mobile conveyance doctrine). The Coasties can also stop and board you for a safety inspection. If you give the locals or coasties a reason to search like leaving a joint laying around then they have free reign to search. Only US Customs (CBP) officers and some cross designated Coasties (with title 19 authority) can board and search a vessel in customs waters with NO suspicion (Customs border search). I think most cops feed off the attitude of the operators. If you operate your boat in an unsafe manner you're gonna call attention or act like a jerk during a safety inspection. Good luck.