Guns on a Boat, Yes or No?

[LaidBack OldMan]

Hello, I am new to this. I want to someday,hopefully soon, live aboard a boat and sail extensively. I want to have all safety equipment and procedures necessary to make sure everyone arrives safe every time. I have read some post about pirates and other scoundrels on the water. I have just started researching laws of different countries about gun laws and find it quite confusing. Also, I am a hunter so I would like the option of arranging some hunting trips in some of the countries I visit and want to use my own guns to do so. I would not be comfortable in a strange land without some kind of protection. My one goal of gun ownership is to never have to use it in self defense, but I want the option to do so to protect my friends and family if it came down to that. My question is, how do I find out what the rules are? Does the US government have anything on this? If I went into, say Mexico's waters and had a gun on board would I wind up like the US soldier that is still in prison because he had guns in his vehicle? I assume once you cross the imaginary line in the waters of a foreign land you are technically under their jurisdiction. Your thoughts please.