centerboard,
The most economical way to do
email on the
ICW is to go to local libraries. They nearly all have
computers that you can use or take your
laptop as they're mostly
wifi now. Next is "borrowing"- war driving, as there are unsecured signals along the way. In most harbours you'll be able to get a stray signal, and if you go ashore you can visit free hotspots. Many
marinas have wifi and there are a couple of companies that claim they have signals up and down the ICW, cost about $10 a day. It's cheaper if you sign up for a monthly pass but I am not sure of their coverage claims.
In the
Bahamas, Starbucks in
Nassau has free wifi if you buy a coffee. There are a couple of
internet cafes too. In the
Exumas, wifi at Sampson Cay and Staniel Cay is free. In
Georgetown there is a pay
service that covers most of the harbour but for good
reception at
anchor you'll need a good
antenna. There's a couple of other services ashore, one of the better spots is at Eddy's Edgewaters where you can have a
beer and do your mail.
The coverage in the Abacos is pretty good. Marsh Harbour and Green Turtle being very good. Just take your laptop and the other cruisers will tell you where the hotspots are. It's not unusual to see a cruiser sitting on the curb in South Beach catching up on email.