friend needs help - what to have sailing down the Mississippi river

[friesepferd]

I have a female friend who will be taking a sailing trip down the entire Mississippi river. They want to have some kind of protection with them, but do not and will not be getting a carry license.
What are their options? I don't know what states tazers are allowed in. I assume if they had a gun, that it would need to be completely unloaded and locked up the whole time. They are okay with leaving it in the boat and not carrying it with them on shore. They mainly want it for nights when they are docked and sleeping in the boat.
I can't think of a whole lot other than knife and baseball bat. Inputs?

States the Mississippi goes through / boarders:
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[sigs]

The Mississippi River is governed by the Coast Guard as a navigable river. I would contact them to find the rules.

[high pockets]

A 6lb cannon would be a good idea.

As sigs said, since the Mississippi River is under Federal regulation, the individual state laws don't apply as long as you are not tied up to a dock. Contact the CG for further information.

[Yoda]

Don't think there are any pirates, me thinks that getting off boat and going ashore would be the greatest risk.

A member of the SEAL team would be a good thing to take along.

[HKinNY]

I can't think of a whole lot other than knife and baseball bat. Inputs?

Spear gun to spear the fish.
One of those big hook to drag the fish into the boat.
A club to whack the fish once inside the boat.
Large set of knives to filet the fish once inside the boat.
Propane torch to cook the fish into the boat.
Heck use the fish

Flare guns incase you get stuck with the boat
Medium size fire extinisher in case the flare gets stuck in the boat.

All items are allowed on boats.
Everything looks normal and make sense to me to be on a boat.

[dukalmighty]

shotgun in case you run into any flying fish

[goldshellback]

+1 in sigs recommendation to contact the Coastguard....... and look at EACH state's laws concerning firearms and boats.

As for myself, I'd recommend beer........

[Yankeejib]

Sailing or motoring? I would think sailing the Miss. would be a total pain. Bad wind shadows, twisty routes (think constant sail handling), counter currents, and shipping traffic does not make for a pleasant sail. Not at all like a five day run to Cancun snagging wahoo or tuna every afternoon and having to remember to find your clothes before landfall.

I'd take a shotgun. I didn't review the laws for each individual state, but long guns get less scrutiny than handguns, and serve a much better purpose.

[J0eyg86]

first thought that comes to mind is a marine coated shot gun. remington 870 marine magnum, mossberg mariner ext ext. easy to use, point and shoot and the mariner coating (from my understaning, correct me if im wrong) would be ideal for being on the water and avoid rust and damage to the gun..

laws permitting that is

[HKinNY]

How about a bear trap at the bottom of the stairs in case a bear comes aboard to eat the fish,that you speared, hooked,clubbed,fileted, and cooked with the propane torch?

[mandpeter]

agreed on the 870. also oc spray of some variation is legal almost everywhere. not much, but better than a bat

[GunGeezer]

I would suggest a Mossberg Mariner. It's a stainless 12 ga. shotgun packed in a water tite plastic case. I've been boarded by the Coast Guard many times. They always ask to secure my weapons but never want to see my CC Permit. That suggests to me that having a gun on board is legal.

[Burns]

Baseball bat, OC spray. Pretty much all you need...

Just remember, the bat is for "RECREATIONAL PURPOSES"