Any Merchant or Navy men/women on iboats?

[hostage]

I am starting a novel and it has to with ships being taken over by pirates in the horn of Africa. As this is my first book and I don't know much about setting other than what I have read and watched on TV, I would like to get info from people who have been there.

I guess I am wanting to know the following.

What is life aboard a merchant or navy ship like?
Are there any interesting experiences that you could share?

I know this might sound odd, but I don't know where else to start, though I find iboats is an excellent place to ask people about almost everything.

Kind Regards,

Hostage

 

[angus63]

Re: Any Merchant or Navy men/women on iboats?

I have both Navy and Merchant Marine experience. I also teach at the US Merchant Marine Academy. If I can help, pm me and we can talk. Good luck!

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Any Merchant or Navy men/women on iboats?

I think there are plenty of Deckies and Snipes snooping around this forum. I'm Texas Maritime, 1977, MARE, but I don't think I could relate my experiences in anything less than a novel as all of my experiences were "interesting". However, there are several short stories out there by persons who have made a trip or two and then wrote about it. I think the last one I read was "Eight Bells and Top Masts". An OK read, probably better than most.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6dQ-bShtTM

Yours Truly somewhere in the Black Gang of 9.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Any Merchant or Navy men/women on iboats?

AArrrrrr, Matey, i can give ye the pirates life iffn ye be so inclined. AAARRR

 

[hostage]

Re: Any Merchant or Navy men/women on iboats?

Angus - I'll hit yah up

Woodnaut - I am trying to look for both filler and to avoid the "that would never happen" or "they don't do it like that"

AArrrrrr, Matey, i can give ye the pirates life iffn ye be so inclined. AAARRR

LOL
Oh, can't forget about the pirates, if anyone has engaged in piracy (not talking about the mp3 kind), I would like to speak to you too.
I don't think Somalian's have wide access to the internet and post on iboats.

Post: I need help repairing an AK-47 bullet hole in the bottom of my run about..I mean I hit a rock and I need to repair the whole hole in my hull, else I will have to haul it away.

 

[IPhone pirate]

Re: Any Merchant or Navy men/women on iboats?

I've got ten years in the Marine corps. Department of the navy~