A way to store a gun on board your boat

[Gofirstclass]

Recently there have been a couple of threads about keeping firearms on board our boats. One of my concerns about keeping a handgun on board was where to store it. It had to be in a place that was readily accessible, could be kept loaded (we don't have little kids), would be out of sight and in a place where a boat burglar wouldn't likely look.

I actually came up with this idea for keeping a gun around the house, but it would also work on a boat. The only limit to where to mount this devide is your imagination. You can mount it so the gun hangs perpendicular to the underside of a surface, or hangs parallel to the side of a cabinet, etc.

This "gun holder" is cheap to make (under $5), only takes about an hour and will fit almost any handgun.

Start with a simple brass drawer pull that's available at any hardware store for about $1.50...

Cut one end off as close to the bend as possible. This is what you will be left with. Then coat the long end with "tool dip", available at the hardware or Harbor Freight. The tool dip coats the part that goes into the barrel to protect the rifling...

Mount it to a surface that's readily available yet keeps the gun out of sight. Mount it at a slight upward angle so the weight of the gun keeps it in place...

Here it is, mounted and with a .40 S&W slid onto the end...

In this pic you can see that the mount (and gun) are at an angle that makes grabbing the gun a bit easier...

Feel free to use this idea and make as many as you want. Just send me $10,000 for a copyright infrigement fee for each one you make. :smt043

 

[Nacho Boat]

Very nice....could be used for home also!!!!

Great Idea!!!

 

[wvsundancer]

that is pretty cool.. nice mod IMO

 

[kpetry]

Very nice! Wish I'd thought of that! Qualifies as a "cool mod".

 

[Turtlesboat]

What's keeping that gun from flying around the cabin in rough seas?

 

[Slippery When Wet]

What's keeping that gun from flying around the cabin in rough seas?

Shove a broom handle 3 ft up your ass and hang it on a wall and see how far you fly around in rough seas. :lol::smt043:lol:

I kid, I kid...but seriously, with that handle shoved that far into the barrel, the only way it's coming off is if you pull it straight back.

I would be more worried about the handle breaking from fatigue over time, assuming it's made from potted metal?

 

[Nehalennia]

Why don't you just screw a holster to the wall?
I can't see the tool dip lasting with the vibrations.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Slippery, great answer. The tool dip puts a non-skid coating on the drawer pull. If the gun is angled like the last picture shows, the weight of the gun is going to keep it in place. If the water gets rough enough to pull the gun off there, that is going the be the least of your problems. Sinking comes to mind as a more likely problem.

Yes, the handle is pot metal, but it's pretty stout stuff. I doubt the weight of a handgun would be enough to break it off.

BTW, on an unrelated topic....there's something about the pic of your boat in your signature that makes it hard for me to stop looking at it. Nice lines I guess....on the boat that is! <<BLUSHING>>

Nehalennia, the coating of tool dip on that one in the pictures is from one dip. If a second dip was done the coating would be a lot thicker but it might not fit down a .38 barrel. I don't see that much vibration coming from being on a boat that it would wear off the tool dip.

I'm going to make up a couple of these for my boat. Remind me in a year and I'll tell you how much the tool dip wore down from vibration.

 

[Slippery When Wet]

Yes, the handle is pot metal, but it's pretty stout stuff. I doubt the weight of a handgun would be enough to break it off.

I am sure it can handle the weight of the gun just fine. It's the fatigue I would worry about. Cast metals will fatigue and break when subjected to flex. It doesn't have to be much flex, but even a light gun will cause the metal to flex with an overhung load like that and it will fatigue.

I like the idea, but I would try to find a formed metal handle instead of a cast metal. :thumbsup:

 

[Two Peas]

What do you guys with loaded guns on board do if/when you're boarded by CG or the police?

 

[fc3]

Let's see if I understand correctly. You are saying that this method is a good way to carry a loaded handgun aboard a boat that moves, shakes, pounds, and rocks. When questioned about the safetly and viability the answers are prefaced with "I doubt" and "I don't see." This reminds me of the guys who use portable generators aboard claiming "I think it's OK" and "It hasn't hurt me yet."

Too much risk for too little reward. Seems that keeping an unloaded weapon in a proper holder would be a better idea. Don't see too many "quick draw" contests on the water where such that taking an extra 30 seconds to unholster, load a clip, and chamber a round would be critical.

 

[Slippery When Wet]

Let's see if I understand correctly. You are saying that this method is a good way to carry a loaded handgun aboard a boat that moves, shakes, pounds, and rocks. When questioned about the safetly and viability the answers are prefaced with "I doubt" and "I don't see." This reminds me of the guys who use portable generators aboard claiming "I think it's OK" and "It hasn't hurt me yet."

Too much risk for too little reward. Seems that keeping an unloaded weapon in a proper holder would be a better idea. Don't see too many "quick draw" contests on the water where such that taking an extra 30 seconds to unholster, load a clip, and chamber a round would be critical.

I am not really a gun person, but how is that any worse than a cop carrying a loaded gun while walking, running, doing drills, etc? As long as the safety is on and it is secured (and kept out of children's hands), why would it be any more dangerous? :huh:

 

[fc3]

I am not really a gun person, but how is that any worse than a cop carrying a loaded gun while walking, running, doing drills, etc? As long as the safety is on and it is secured (and kept out of children's hands), why would it be any more dangerous? :huh:

A police officer's gun is secured (as you stated) in a holster with a retainer and it's right next to him where he can keep an eye on it. A loose friction fit isn't secured. The cop's gun is not in a locker somewhere where maybe it'll fall off the holder and bounce around for the next few dozen nautical miles. I don't trust the safety that much. Actually, I don't know anyone who "trusts" the safety. A loaded gun is a hazardous gun, safety set or not. I'm not a gun expert, but I've been around them, owned them, and fired them so I have some familiarity.

Best regards,
Frank

PS
To the commissars of the people's republic of new jersey.

Privet!
Just kidding. I don't have any guns. None. Really, you can trust me on that.
do svidaniya tovarishch!

 

[Woody]

Gofirstclass, I like the idea except I think care should be taken to make sure the dip covers around the bend where the barrel end makes contact or maybe a rubber washer for a stop to prevent possible damage to rifling, barrel crown, bushing, slide etc.

 

[JV II]

Nice idea. There are a number of compartments in the cabin to store the gun. Jam it between a stack of t-shirts. If you are worried about a child finding it, use a small biometric safe like this one http://www.gunsafes.com/BioBox.html. And, it should always be loaded, safety off, and cocked. Thank goodness my handguns don't have a safety. A thief will not find it on the boat if it is where it is supposed to be, on your person.

 

[Weave]

Smith and Wesson...stones throw from my current job

 

[JVM225]

I've been carrying a hand gun for thirty years. 25 with the PD, and 5 since I retired.
If the gun is on your person, then it should be loaded and ready to go. If it isn't on your person, or in your readily grabable area, it should be properly secured (locked away).

 

[Gofirstclass]

Too much risk for too little reward.

Then I would recommend that you not make one and use it. I presented the idea...it's up to the individual to determine if they would want to use it or not.

I like the idea except I think care should be taken to make sure the dip covers around the bend where the barrel end makes contact or maybe a rubber washer for a stop to prevent possible damage to rifling, barrel crown, bushing, slide etc.

Excellent idea, thanks.

If it isn't on your person, or in your readily grabable area, it should be properly secured (locked away).

Again, this is an individual choice. I much prefer to have a handgun readily (grabable) available but out of sight. I'm not saying that's right for you so do whatever you believe fits your individual style.

A thief will not find it on the boat if it is where it is supposed to be, on your person.

I'm not concerned about someone taking it away from me while I'm on board, I'm more concerned about someone taking it FROM the boat while I'm not on board.

Guys, this was an idea I came up with to store a couple of guns at home in places where the common neighborhood teenager burglar would think of looking. That's what most home burglars are and they're usually in and out of your home within just 3-5 minutes. They are looking for stuff they can pick up and walk away with.

If, within that 3-5 minutes the kid doesn't see your gun he's not going to spend a lot of time looking for it.

Same thing with boats...they know boats have electronics, binoculars, booze, etc. They want to be in and out quickly.

If any of you chooses NOT to use one of these, that's fine with me. I really don't care if you use it or not. It works for me and that's all I really care about.

 

[Summer Fun II]

Just put the damn gun away before you windup losing your big toe !! When that goes off by accident.

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I think is a good idea. :thumbsup:

 

[fc3]

Then I would recommend that you not make one and use it. I presented the idea...it's up to the individual to determine if they would want to use it or not.

I shall not use the idea, thank you very much. But since it's a really, really bad idea, it has a good shot at winning a Wing Less Cool Mod award.

Best regards,
Frank