Paperwork - an unbelievable amount to get ready for our trip

·      US Coast Guard Documentation for the boat (& cancel Minnesota title)

·      Permanent USCG Documentation numbers inside hull; and homeport displayed on outside of hull

·      Minnesota Boat Stickers (to show state tax paid, so we don't get stopped on the East Coast)

·      Boat Operator Competency Tests & Certificates (to operate boat in Canada for more than 44 days)

·      FCC Ship Station License (for international VHF and other broadcasting)

·      FCC Restricted Radio Operators License (ditto)

·      International MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number – to program into VHF radio for DSC (Digital Selective Calling) for emergency rescue and ship-to-ship private conversations

·      EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) purchase and registration – for automatic sending ID & position to satellites for dire emergencies when out of VHF ship-to-shore range

·      AIS (Automatic Identification System) purchase, installation and registration – to send/receive position and identification to/from other ships

·      Satellite Phone – purchase; set up on-shore pre-paid minutes plan and e-mail VPN (Virtual Private Network) to send/receive/store/forward e-mail

·      GRIB (GRIdded-Binary) reader – for display of weather information (wind, wave, weather charts)

·      Weathernet subscription – source of GRIBs and other weather-related information

·      Marine Weather Center – to receive generic and custom weather forecasts

·      US, Canada, Bahamas – Customs and Immigration forms, advance registration (?) and procedures; country courtesy flags

·      Boat insurance – expand to cover areas beyond inland rivers

·      Boat towing – expand prepaid unlimited towing contract, to cover Great Lakes and oceans.

·      Join Great Lakes Cruising Club

·      Renew Seven Seas Cruising Association membership

·      HAM General Class License (probably will not)

·      US Coast Guard Captain's License (probably will not)

·      Drivers Licenses renewal (while out of state)

·      Prescriptions for medications for offshore medical emergencies (including seasickness)

·      Cell phones – extend calling plan to include Canada; other for Bahamas?