Lasse and I have started a little regional Seasteading initiative called Baltic Seasteading.
Lasse has made a nice web site, http://www.balticseasteading.com/, and as you can read on the web site we have also set up a mailing list and will have our first meeting in Copenhagen on September 19. I am primarily in it for the meetings since I guess it will be a nice way to get to know potential Seasteading partners.
See you there if you are interested. All nationalities are welcome.
I think you guys have the right idea…
Seconded, looks like a great initiative.
I wish i could make it there. Only half a day driving or so for me. Im very busy then, so ill probably wont be able to make it, but well see.
I’ll try my best to make it.
I have some doubts regarding the suitability of the Baltic for seasteading, mostly weather-related, but I would love to be proven wrong.
The webpage looks very nice too.
I have some doubts regarding the suitability of the Baltic for seasteading, mostly weather-related, but I would love to be proven wrong.
Are you worrying about low temperatures in the winter? I am. I worry that a high difference between the temperature inside a small boat and outside will create moist on the inside of the boat. Plus heating of a poorly insulated boat might become expensive. Also, there is a risk (not big, but possible) that the water freezes in the winter. Ice will put extra strain on the boat.
The solution I am most attracted to is using the Baltic area as a summer location. In the winter the boat can be put on land or you can sail it south to a warmer place.
If you put your boat on land you might still live in it or you will need an alternative winter home on land or water somewhere.
If you sail south you can go through the Kiel Canal. The places you can go will depend on things like how fast and how economical (mainly fuel consumption + use of labour) you can travel and what size of waves you will try to put your vessel into. Holland or the Mediterranean Sea might be decent winter destinations.
Yeah, low temperatures, rain, snow, ice. The Baltic region isn’t the nicest place in the world for all-year living. But, perhaps the lower wave height or the proximity to ports (for trade, for instance) in many countries will make it worthwhile.
There are no proper international waters in the Baltic though…
For part-time (part season) seasteading these issues might not be that important though, like you say. Perhaps it will be a good place to try out and experiment with seasteading for people who already live here.
Carl wrote:
There are no proper international waters in the Baltic though…
It’s all EEZs, yes, but it’s way big enough for seasteaders to escape the contiguous zones. As long as we don’t pump up oil or fish for commercial purposes, we should be able to do whatever we want.
I like the idea, but have some doubts about winter weather in the Baltic too. Seems like the winters could be pretty uncomfortable in a small boat. The Meditteranean may be better, at least in winter, but possibly year-round. Better access to International waters too.
A comparison of Mediterranean and Baltic storms and waves could be useful, in addition to temperatures.
Regarding winter weather, it’s of course an issue to have in mind. But while it may be that the Baltic is a less than perfect location, it is a well worked issue: It’s not like living in a boat in the Baltic is a new thing, it’s just new to want to do it away from the coast. People are already living in houseboats year round in habor. Jeff, why would a boat be significantly harder to heat than a house?
A comparison with the Mediterranean would indeed be interesting. If it turns out the Med is better, Baltic Seasteading could be seen as an incremental step for people living in the area on the way to Mediterranean Seasteading.
Boat hulls tend to be thin, compared to the walls of houses. Especially a steel-on-water contact is pretty insane in terms of heat conduction. People i know who live on houseboats in amsterdam do complain about temperature. Im not saying its impossible to deal with, but something to keep in mind.
Plastic boat hulls probably don’t conduct heat as well as metal, but I’m thinking the heat energy budget and stormy weather would make the Baltic less practical. Being in a harbor or out on the open ocean are pretty different environments. Actually IIRC, the Med get’s pretty stormy too, but it’s warmer there.
Next get-together will be Sunday the 3rd of January 2010 at 6 PM in Copenhagen. Contact me or Lasse if you are interested.
Being interested in seasteading and living in denmark i might be interested in showing up at a future baltic seastading get-together, im not sure i can be there on the 3rd though, but im interrested in knowing what the topics are going to be (also, feel free to pm me)
im not sure i can be there on the 3rd though, but im interrested in knowing what the topics are going to be
There will be no formal agenda since we are so few. Last time we discussed different approaches to seasteading, exchanged experiences, and created some personal bonds. My best guess is that the next meeting will see more of the same.
Ok, that sounds interesting, I’ll do my best to meet up at the next one in line (not the 3rd of January, but the next one after that)
Good luck with the meeting =)
Steffen 3 years ago.
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