Kenny Miller is used to fighting pirates. That is, when he’s not a pirate himself.

Miller’s full-time job is in the electronic security business, where he protects against online pirates invading computer systems. But a couple of times each month, he becomes Crimson Corsair, a fellow prone to belting out sea shanties and swashbuckling his way through a bar crawl.

“There’s this undeniable lore with everything piratanical,” Miller said. “People are attracted to that rebellious side. We want to be nonconformists who don’t have to answer to anybody.

“When people put on the pirate clothes, they become that nonconformist.”

Modern pirate culture reaches its fever pitch at Saturday’s Fells Point Privateer Day and Invasion. Pirates still roam the Earth — on April 4, pirates seized a French luxury yacht off the coast of Somalia. But there’s no record of pirates ever hobbling over Fells Point’s cobblestones. Baltimore was a hotbed for privateers — basically legalized pirates. Nonetheless, eye patches will be affixed, swords will be unsheathed and parrots will be squawking. Miller was one of the first people to float the idea of such a gathering, and its first year attracted 100. Four years later, 5,000 are expected. “There’s definitely this budding pirate culture,” Miller said.

Buoyed by the success of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, the number of pirate fanatics has grown. There are pirate conventions across the country, even pirate groups comparable to fraternal organizations, according to Mike George, editor of Pirates magazine, based near Randallstown.

“A lot of people identify with the image of pirates as bon vivants,” said George, who is still working on his all-too-important pirate persona. “You become a character.”

Cara Joyce took her child on a pirate boat tour and soon turned into an urban pirate.

“I found myself doing what I want to do for the rest of my life,” Joyce said.

That involved buying a boat, outfitting it for adventure and anchoring it in the Inner Harbor. Starting in May, Joyce will head Pirate Quest themed boat tours.

“I can say that now that I’m in the business, it has changed me dramatically,” said Joyce, whose pirate name is Emerald. “I feel like as I pirate I can say anything to anybody. It’s empowering.”

Jordan Bartel is b’s assistant editor. E-mail him at jordan@bthesite.com.

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