If I live in Mississippi, and I want to drive a boat to Mexico, and back. What is the proper procedure for that?

I would love to, but unfortunately I am an old millennial that’s barely making it from paycheck to paycheck. I consider myself lucky to have a roof and full belly most of the time. The closest I’ll ever come to making that trip. Is the fishing kayak I plan on buying with income tax money this year.

Truthfully, the reason I posted this is because my partner and I were talking about a hypothetical trip and the logistics involved. These questions were the main points of contention. They thought that you’d have to tell the US government when/where you were going and coming back. File a bunch of paperwork with both governments. Definitely have your ship boarded and searched. Stuff like that.

I figured it would be just go down there, and come back. If a US coast guard ship saw you they might stop and search you. Otherwise no muss no fuss.

But, as is usually the case. Neither of us were exactly right, and the truth lies somewhere in between.