I have the idea of buying a boat and sailing to different countries. What can I expect? Details follow.?

Question

I understood a long while back that I can buy some sort of docking permit and it will allow me to sail to any port and reside in that area. Is this true?

I am a home-body. I don't want to lose my residence where I live, but I have looked forwards to travelling. Is travelling by self-sailing really inexpensive?

If I literally buy a boat suitable for safe sail and set off for another country, what should I expect upon embarking and disembarking?

Answer 1

Each country has its own rules on where and how long you can stay.  You will need a passport to visit most countries.  Some docks are private, some public,  some areas allow anchoring, some not, others require a mooring.  It is far too complicated to be covered in a couple of sentences.

It is not cheap to cruise.  You have the boat, maintenance, fuel, food, charts, parts and on and on and on.

Each country will have its own procedure, you normally need to visit customs upon arrival and go from there.

A lot of what to expect depends on you.  What are you looking for,  touristy stuff, scenery, adventure?  You can normally find all three or any variation of all.

We cruised for 4 years and loved it.  There were favorite spots and spots we never care to see again.  No real bad experiences and many many good ones.  

My advise is be sure to know your limitations above all else.   Push your limits but in a reasonable way and it can be a great adventure without being a terrible ordeal.  The home-body comment may be a deal breaker.  A mail forwarding service can be a valuable thing.  We used St. Brendan's Isle in Green Cove Springs FL.

Answer 2

Here are a few links that will help you.  You probably need to begin to make contact with the cruising world.  You will learn most of the details of "clearing in" in a foreign country when you meet other cruisers who have been there.  How much does it cost to be a cruiser?  It costs whatever you've got.  One definition of cruising is "fixing things in nice places".  The cruising life is a great life, but not for everyone.  Do your homework and find out what is involved and learn good basic seamanship skills before setting out.  Best of luck with your plans.

Answer 3

That is a very complicated question that will require a volume of books to answer.

Just remember this...."boats are like women, the hull is the cheap part, it's the rigging that's expensive"

2....Americans are not nearly as popular as we once were

It is extrememly important to know what you need on board as far as firearms and how other jurisdictions will react.  

I'm aware of no permit like you mentioned..you may be referring to a "documented" boat which means it is registered with the Department of Homeland Security.  Hit their website or google it and you'll understand.

Answer 4

There are too many details to go into on a site like this.  My best suggestion for you is to buy and read as many extended cruising stories as you can.  Try to find newer books as they will contain the experiences of their writers in a more up to date setting.  Older stories are great for ideas on the open sea but their landfall and anchoring experiences quite often don't apply by today's standards;  laws, fees and attitudes change over time.

Boat shows often have seminars and some of these will be by people that sail the world.  Not only will they have some good tales, you'll be able to ask questions as well.  Sorry to sound so vague but the question is quite a bit larger than you may think.