so im trying to talk to Cursor Lucullus in Cottonwood Cove and im Vilified against Caesar's Legion. im trying to catch some boat he can apparently get me on.
now ive tried sending Boone away and also tried waiting for 24, 48, and 72 hours and nothing. can anyone help me with this?

tell boone to wait some where and then put on a low ranking legion outfit and walk in avoid the veterians.

This is just something I need to check; are you wearing any NCR armor?

Stand on little raft near the dock, look down, click.

Something I just found out. Boone cannot even be in your party. Waiting elsewhere is not good enough. You have to tell him to part ways and send him back to Lucky 38 or Novac.
And you do not need help to use the raft. Just use it yourself using Legion gear or you will be ambushed when you arrive.