I did a little reading on this today and like you I don't have a clue what's absolutely required <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> but there's this guy, Capt Mike from Ontario I believe? he has a great blog "zero to cruising". Mike and his wife had no sailing experience at the start of their blog just a few years ago, they bought a boat and did the live aboard thing for a couple years and they are now operating a charter cat named One Love out of St Thomas. You might want to go to his blog www.zerotocruising.com and introduce yourself, I think he'll have the answers! Theirs is a great story for sure!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />