Howdy and Welcome Aboard CF!
I encourage you to go to Youtube and view the videos by SMACKSMAN1 that show how he purchased (on Ebay as I recall) an older, inexpensive
motor yacht (an Albin
Family Cruiser 27 footer as I recall) and then used it to travel a long part of the Great Loop. He used it to go from Charleston to
New Orleans. Inspiration to show you or anyone how it could be done on a low
budget. His other videos are worth watching too. He first bought a small sailboat on ebay, and went from
New England to
Florida in it. Then he purchased the
motor cruiser (he said it was more comfortable and more fitting for the
ICW travel).
Hope that helps!
Bon Voyage!