Floating command centers?

[CommonHighrise]

Maybe not true 'transportation', but I had a thought. Why not a floating BOL/base. Find a lake big enough (doesn't even have to be that big), and build a pontoon barge to sit out in the middle. Pressure treated wood and some 55-gal plastic drums would work. Could even be built in sections on land, and then each part floated out to the middle and lashed together. Even short boats could work, with platforms built on top.

This would provide unlimited fresh water resources, a wide area of visibility, and best of all security from roaming zeds. Fear of underwater zacks climbing an anchor chain could be alleviated by those standing watch, and I'm sure we could devise something to impede them, similar to those disks people put above their bird feeders to keep out squirrels. Floating undead will be easy targets to pick off, since they will just drifting about.

Even if a main encampment was placed on shore, the floating platform could be used operations that would leave people vulnerable. A floating hospital, or communications station, for example.

Thoughts?

[mcmcallister]

sounds good, especially multiple units combined, could set up exp tent for shelter on some for a handy bug out camp......only prob is if lake freezes over in winter, then your just a regular land camp

[CommonHighrise]

(10-08-2009 05:14 PM)mcmcallister Wrote:  only prob is if lake freezes over in winter, then your just a regular land camp

Nothing a patrol in a john boat with a trolling motor and a hatchet cant fix. Though you make me think of another possible downside; it gets cold and windy out on a lake in winter.

However, we might not have to use the floating base in the colder months, depending on how the drop in temperature affects reaminimated dead. We might see temperatures below 50F slowing the zeds down enough to be easily whackable with heavy pipes, and I'm sure they would become near stationary anytime below 32F, as their muscles would freeze solid without any body temperature.

In other words, once it gets cold and zombies slow to a crawl, there would no be no real benefit to the island base, and it's gear can be moved to a nearby land base until spring.

[nepawolf]

Look up "LARC". They're available on Ebay in the military vehicle section from time to time. It was an amphibious mobile equipment carrier. They can carry 2 deuce and a half's at the same time with plenty of space and flotation left over. A mobile home could be put on one of these and they would be impossible for zombies to get on. I've been drooling over them for years, wanting to get one for just that usage. BTW, they go for roughly $125k so they don't come cheap.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/s...p/larc.htm

[Asmodeus6]

That is so amazingly cool... that would be a great option for amphibious safety! Then BAM, drive that b*tch up on land and, voila... rolling fortress! That is just BAD ASS!

[CommonHighrise]

Fully amphibious, yeah, I could see $25k. However, I think that design could be adapted to be used with ZPAW appropriated items.

Get a few Conex boxes, preferably mounted to trailers so we can roll them into the water. Take a few welders to it to seal up the doors and any holes. Maybe some roofing tar as extra sealant. Drop 'em into the water, and lash them together into a box formation. Use some lumber, maybe some scaffolding steel to create a living/working platform inside the box shape.

Actually, since the cargo containers can be sealed up fairly well, all one would need to do is cut an access hatch in the tops, and run a ladder down. Instant zombie-proof quarters.

When it comes time for the lake to freeze, just tow the whole thing over to the bank and beach it (as level as you can), and it converts to a small land base, with four zed-proof walls that could withstand a serious horde undefended.

Concept;


I'm sure one of you with more construction/boating background could chime in on this with your ideas.

[YukonDon]

One option I like is the 55 gallon drums underneath a large wooden platform. Then, you could build up anything you would like on top of the platform.
Another option is how they build "floating houses". They take concrete forms, fill them will expanding foam and flip them over. The more you attach the more stable the platform.....and it wouldn't be suseptible to fire.

The container idea is nice, but how to move it? It seems it may be too heavy to actually get in/out of the water unless it is on a wheel mounted base (maybe floaties under there with the wheels???).

[mcmcallister]

i would sell my house for a larc in a heartbeat......living on the water works for me....and i dont think property taxes would apply....but not sure....might be a better option if the recession gets worse....not to mention it crushes cars

[Asmodeus6]

(10-15-2009 04:07 AM)mcmcallister Wrote:  i would sell my house for a larc in a heartbeat......living on the water works for me....and i dont think property taxes would apply....but not sure....might be a better option if the recession gets worse....not to mention it crushes cars

Yeah, it crushes cars... and you know... small tanks, buildings...
That thing is immense. Immense and awesome!

[mcmcallister]

i could def see myself driving that thing right over some jackass's truck that i really dont like after this weekend....lil ford would never see her coming