Qala Kart

I will be living on the French Canals Info on - Problems of buying a French registered boat as a Brit which leads to "any problems with residency, tax, VAT etc, etc " the pitfalls and possible pratfalls of buying a French Registered Boat ???

I am a British subject (English born) at present living abroad but within the EU. It is in my mind to purchase a French registered canal boat on the Canal du Midi and to use this as a home for the next few years. I have been delving into the Internet and keep coming across unpleasant little hints that this path could be strewn with nettles. Can anyone give me any advice on the probable do's and don'ts of this project and how, if I decided to follow through, I should best proceed so as to have as little trouble as possible with French beaurocracy.