[brass_cannon]

Valid point, but if I am rich enough to be living on an isolated island micro-country, and will fetch a healthy enough ransom for pirates to snatch me, I am also investing a fair amount of resources into my own defense. Think small arms, ample security systems, security guards, etc.

[ahi]

You don't need to board the thing to take it ransom. Just need to have a credible threat of doing serious damage. "You have 5 minutes to wire $x into our bank account or your little country gets sunk."