Cost for docking/Living aboard at a Marina

[RetireeWannabe]

I have no idea where I'd stay. I just started throwing around the idea a week or so ago to be honest. Just tryng to research to see what the reality of living aboard is. I figured it couldn't be paradise all the time... Hopefully I', wrong!

As far as working, I figure I can work odd jobs to fund my minimal existence. Do you need a visa (if that's the correct spelling/term) to set foot on land in other countries? Or would it be a passport?

Thanks again everyone for educating me.

[sailingdog]

Retiree-

You need a visa and a passport generally to stay in any other country. Go to Noonsite.com and check out the various countries you may be interested in. They should have the requirements for each there. However, be aware, while Noonsite is a great resource, it isn't always as up to date as it should be, and if you need the most current info, you should go to the country's website and check with their government.

[imagine2frolic]

Just sail in with a passport, and hand over your cruising fee. Fishing license comes with the fee, and don't forget to ask for it. Living on the hook means getting serious about groundtackle. That's your insurance when anchoring.

It is cheap to live this way, and beautiful too. Yeah squalls passthrough inconveniently at 2am, but look at how many people choose to do it anyway. You learn to live with the inconveniences. The rewards are HUGE, HUGE, HUGE. Did I mention the rewards are huge?

You can spend a lifetime in the Bahamas , and not see it all. You can choose to be alone, or socialize. Since I discovered the Bahamas my rush to see Bora Bora has calmed.

[camaraderie]

Retiree...You will not be able to work in the Bahamas..illegal. But you CAN anchor pretty much anywhere and all the harbors have dinghy docks. You will need a passport and boat papers for the Bahamas.
A cruising permit for 1 year runs $150 in the Bahamas for a <35' boat and double that for over 35'. It can be extended for up to two more years for $500 per year. That lets the BOAT stay. You can stay for SIX months only before needing to leave the country and THEN return. A quick shopping trip to Miami will work. If you leave on your boat...then you must do another cruising permit on your return.
This applies ONLY to the Bahamas. Other carribben countries can be uite different in terms of entry fees and how long you can stay. If you need to work...your only choices are Puerto Rico and the USVI as most of the islands are very protective about their workforce. You may be able to pick up some off the books work in a few places if you are quite skilled at something needed.

[RetireeWannabe]

OK, thanks for your help! Sounds pretty exciting. I look forward to it.

[sailing320]

I think dock rates are high everywhere. I sailed down to Hawks Cay in the Florida Keys a few months back and they were charging $5.00 per foot, 40 foot minium and $20.00 resort fee per night. The crazy part was I got the last dock available!

[devilfishlane]

How about Nassau? Anyone live on a boat there?