1. I am a resident of Arkansas right now, but I am selling my house and wish to buy a cruiser for
liveaboard. At that time, I plan to become a resident of my
boat and likely will never come to AR again. Would I be able to remain an AR resident and take advantage of very
cheap registration fees or I am required to become a resident of another(coastal) state? Is it possible to be a resident of the US but not a resident of a state. That really sounds like a stupid question(even to me), but I'm curious. Also, are there any other countries like maybe
Costa Rica or similar places where you can register your
boat and have minimal hassle?
I suspect that I will spend time in many places, but will likely stick to
florida and
bahamas for the first year. After that, I don't plan on living anywhere for any length of time. I want to travel, but I want to be able to do it without being hassled or fined/jailed because of paperwork.
2. What is the best way to get a boat
legal or quasi-legal without paying tons of
fees? For instance, is there a state where I can register the boat, pay whatever is due, get a number or sticker or whatever is required, and then be done with it? Meaning no yearly fees or
taxes on the boat.
3. What is the dif between registering in a state and doing it via the USCG? (cost, requirements, hassle) Is it easier to travel the world with the USCG option?
4. Does boat length come into play? I was looking to buy about a 35'er but then I read someones post that said his boat is under 30' so he doesn't have to worry about it. I got the impression that his boat is not required to be registered though it seems unlikely to me.
I've read many posts about people being hassled in the keys and elsewhere. Is there anyplace left where you can go and just be left alone. I plan to live almost exclusively on the hook spending just enough time at the marina to
fuel up, buy supplies and maybe a
beer and sandwich at the bar. I wonder if there are any good
anchorages at that island Tom Hanks was stuck on in Castaway? That place is about my speed. Well, maybe just a little closer to civilization. Are there Islands where you could go and stay for maybe a year and never see another person. And if you did see someone, they wouldn't shoot you or take you to jail? (or worse) Not that I plan on doing this but it would be nice to able to if desired. Sailing away on a boat has always seemed like the definition of freedom to me, but reading posts here and on other sites has led me to believe that real freedom is fantasy. Perhaps I can declare my boat a soveriegn nation. haha
Let me add that I'm not planning on doing anything with/on my boat that nations would frown on or trying to totally avoid fees/taxes assoiciated with the boat purchase/registration. But, I've been saving my pennies for a long time so I could do this and I simply want pay cash for a
used boat, make it
legal and then leave with no strings attached. No mailing checks to KEEP it legal. Am I just dreaming?