Publications on Sailing Intercostal Waterway

[SailDan]

We are planning on sailing (34-sailboat) from NYC to Florida via the ICW in the near future (starting in Chicago => Lake Michigan & Huron => Trent-Sevene canal, Ontario, CA => Lake Ontario => NY Erie Barge Canal => Hudson River => NYC). Looking for good recent publications / books on the ICW. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[exposure]

Skipper Bob's Anchorage and Marina guides are invaluable. They can be found at most marinas along the way, or bought at...

http://skipperbob.home.att.net

They are simple guides, not the stuff that makes you dream, but they are very useful.

Woody

[GordMay]

Some excellent On-Line resources to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW):

ICW GUIDE from Tom and Pam Dove (by Cruisers - for Cruisers)
http://mysite.verizon.net/tomdove/icw.html

FLORIDA ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY MOVABLE BRIDGE GUIDE
http://www.aicw.org/bridge.htm

ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY ASSOCIATION (AIWA)
http://www.atlintracoastal.org/

THE FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT - AICW
http://www.aicw.org/

Latest information on Intracoastal Waterway activity
http://www.watercruising.com/default.asp

The Intracoastal Waterway On-Line Cruising Guide
http://www.ftkltd.com/ICW.htm

Published Precautionary Notices - Atlantic Coast of the U.S.
http://co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/notices2.html#Atlantic

[sjs]

several new sites I did not have in my favorites file.

[GordMay]

Surf before you sail: www.atlintracoastal.org

Intracoastal Waterway cruisers headed south this fall should check out a new Internet message board.
The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association, in cooperation with BoatU.S., has created a way for boaters to share local knowledge regarding facilities, experiences and channel conditions along the 1,200-mile route threading the East Coast.
The free message board at www.atlintracoastal.org includes sections covering the waterway from Norfolk, Va., to Miami. Also included are sections where cruisers and locals can note problem spots, an Army Corps of Engineers news area, and a "Trips" page for Q&A exchanges as well as comments from cruisers en route.

[GordMay]

An Insider's ICW ~ By Jon Eisberg
A delivery captain and cruising sailor spills his guts about diversifying the Intracoastal Waterway experience, countering disturbing cruising trends, and spending more time actually sailing ...
“Cruising World” magazine - September 1, 2004
On-line at: http://www.cruisingworld.com/article...ID=419&catID=0

[grandmaR]

I've used the Waterway Guides (Mid Atlantic and Southern). They are very complete, but tend to be a bit out of date, plus it is expensive to replace them each year. They do have information on marinas with little chart-maps of where they are..

I also use Skipper Bob's books as has been mentioned. Invaluable for bridge hailing information (Anchorage Guide), and comparing marina costs. They come out every year and so are about as up-to-date as anything could be. Also they aren't very expensive. I usually get them free because I contribute information.

And for SC and GA I really like Claiborne Young's Guides, particularly for anchoring and sites off the ICW although his guides tend to be very confusing to use at first. The NC Guide isn't as good IMHO, and I do not like the Florida Keys Guide at all. I think it is a piece of junk, although it does have the interesting concept of going both ways. Haven't seen the other Florida ones.

I have a record of our trips at http://www12.virtualtourist.com/m/4a9c6/

There is a new guide which combines the best of all of these guides called "Managing the Waterway" It is especially good for those doing the waterway for the first time, although I learned quite a lot that I didn't already know when I read it.

It covers the area from Norfolk Virginia to Miami Florida. It has marinas, anchorages, waypoints, and marine stores (plus how to get to them from the boat), and interpretive vignettes. websites & telephone numbers. Up-to-date with 2005 bridge schedules

I helped edit the book, and they used several of my photographs, But I receive no compensation for my work other than a free copy of the guide and acknowledgement in it.

"Friends of Grandma Rosalie" can get the guide at an introductory price of $5 off at:
http://www.managingthewaterway.com/grandmarosalie.htm

[sv_makai]

We used Skipper Bob's guide to head south on the ICW from the Bay. We had many othes but found his the best and most up todate. Though it is only publishd once a year updates can be down loaded from the website. These updates are from people who make the passage and provide the info.

We found it very current in most places.

http://skipperbob.home.att.net