I took a couple pictures this morning of some of my more colorful Key West neighbors. Most, obviously not all, appear to be full time live-aboards with considerable collections of "stuff" on deck. The "stuff" is typically protected by a mean-looking (not Elena Kagan mean-looking, but pretty mean-looking) dog of questionable pedigree. Many have signs cautioning against coming aboard or taking their "stuff."
There, I Fixed It should send a correspondent to Key West; there are some of the most amazing work-arounds, jury rigs and engineering solutions to be seen and documented. If you click on the 3rd picture you may be able to make out the steering/propulsion arrangement for the vessel. There are a number of 2x4" boards gripping a small, nearly submerged outboard motor like chopsticks. The boards are somehow linked to PVC pipes which serve as a tiller. I assume that this arrangement is to get around Florida law which requires a vessel to be operable in order to be classified as a "cruiser." If your boat can theoretically be navigated you can call yourself a "cruiser" and live aboard. If your boat cannot be operated, you are a bum an may not live aboard. I guess that this is based on the idea that these guys could conceivably get out to the 3-mile line to pump sewage, but it is clear to me that they never do.
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