Portage_Bay
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2015
- Messages
- 2,658
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- Pacific Myst
- Vessel Make
- West Bay 4500
Janice,
I feel your frustration in having to jump through the hoops to get a driver's license, especially when you don't want or need one for your daily living. I recommend that you do what it takes to get one. As you say, keep the carrot in sight....
I'm a full time liveaboard in Washington state with no "real" dirt address. I had to do some fast talking at the DMV to get my driver's license issued to me with the address of the marina I call home port. I don't know why but having a driver's license seems critical. Once I had that everything else was relatively easy, including renewing my USCG license. I dread when my driver's license expires in 2020 and I'll be 70 and have to go into the DMV in person, no more mail renewals.
One thing I've done is rent a private mail box. The official address is
Street, PMB number
City, State Zip
I substitute the box number for apartment number on most forms and get away with it, including insurance most of the time. Until someone actually runs the address in a mapping app and finds it's a business. Then it's fast talking time again...
In one of your posts you said something about having to maintain a radio log for a 6 pack license. I don't think boats you'd run with a 6 pack are required to have and maintain a radio log any more. I haven't kept a radio log in over 30 yrs on boats up to and beyond 100 tons. Having any license makes getting insurance easier. Yeah, another hoop to jump through.
I feel your frustration in having to jump through the hoops to get a driver's license, especially when you don't want or need one for your daily living. I recommend that you do what it takes to get one. As you say, keep the carrot in sight....
I'm a full time liveaboard in Washington state with no "real" dirt address. I had to do some fast talking at the DMV to get my driver's license issued to me with the address of the marina I call home port. I don't know why but having a driver's license seems critical. Once I had that everything else was relatively easy, including renewing my USCG license. I dread when my driver's license expires in 2020 and I'll be 70 and have to go into the DMV in person, no more mail renewals.
One thing I've done is rent a private mail box. The official address is
Street, PMB number
City, State Zip
I substitute the box number for apartment number on most forms and get away with it, including insurance most of the time. Until someone actually runs the address in a mapping app and finds it's a business. Then it's fast talking time again...
In one of your posts you said something about having to maintain a radio log for a 6 pack license. I don't think boats you'd run with a 6 pack are required to have and maintain a radio log any more. I haven't kept a radio log in over 30 yrs on boats up to and beyond 100 tons. Having any license makes getting insurance easier. Yeah, another hoop to jump through.