ICW cruising tips

Primer For First Timers Heading South On The ICW
Toronto - Dry Tortugas - Bahamas

DO NOT run the canals or the ICW at night ! This was so obvious to me that I never thought to include it in my narrative however a recent presentation by an "experienced" cruiser recounting his (mis)adventures in night running these areas made me realize the importance of this caveat. Don't do it, this is dangerous. The further south you get the faster and earlier it gets dark. This is why we plan on anchoring by 1500hrs. This gives us time to get to our alternative anchorage if the first one doesn't work out for some reason.

Lockmasters on the Erie Canal System tell me that 350 to 450 Canadian boats pass through the locks on the way south each year. For those of you planning to join the migration for the first time I offer the following suggestions that may ease the learning curve. аI have tried to break these tips (many of them learned the hard way) into logical sections however there are some overlaps where certain issues fall under two categories.

Almost everything you read about the ICW talks about the Norfolk, VA to Miami, FL section but in truth you can cruise inside with only short outside runs from Duluth Minnesota through the Great Lakes, down the east coast all the way to Texas.

Although all of my suggestions are based on personal experience, I must add that some experienced cruisers disagree with some of my opinions. There's more than one way to catch a lobster. Think it over and make your own decisions.

Anyone can successfully manage this voyage if you think of it as nothing more thanаa long series of daytrips. The longest open water passage between Toronto and the Bahamas is from Toronto to Oswego and although the tips may look intimidating to the novice cruiser, they, like the voyage itself are simple enough if taken one step at a time. The only guarantee on this trip is that it will not be what you thought.

1.	.	The Boatа Е as long as it runs and floats
2.	.	Power & Sail DifferencesаЕ. not as much as you would think
3.	.	Boat Preparation, Spares & Maintenance Е the Boy Scouts got it right.
4.	.	Preferred Equipment Еа hot tubs and DVD playersЕЕа not really.
5.	.	Power Management Еа and I donТt mean the admiral.
6.	.	Ground Tackle & how to use it Е and weТre not talking football
7.	.	Mooring Balls & Docks Еа free and otherwise.
8.	.	Dinghies Еа the family car.
9.	.	Reading the Water Еа itТs in Greek.
10.	.	Marks on the Charts Е аwhat you see may not be what you get.
11.	.	Navigation Equipment Еа and why chart plotters can be dangerous
12.	.	Maps, Charts and Guides Еа some are great, some are no more than glossy adТs.
13.	.	Weather, Wind & Waves Еа the second thing you better get right.
14.	.	Communicationsа Еа WiFi to satellite phones.
15.	.	Provisions & Free Supplements Еа lobster, conch, mahi, blue fish, oysters etc.
16.	.	Entertainment Е aside from anchoring antics.
17.	.	Cost Е just like Disney World, a plan for every budget.
18.		The Three G's Е Guess !
Captain Wallace Gouk AMS® SAMS® Accredited Marine Surveyor Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors® Transport Canada Licensed Master Transport Canada Tonnage Surveyor BoatUS Approved Surveyor Or if none of this sounds interesting you can always go ......
Captain Wallace Gouk AMS®, Survey reports accepted world wide by all financial and insurance institutions for sail and power boats servicing Ontario east, west, south and beyond including Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines, Grimsby, 50 Point, Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Bronte, Port Credit, Mississauga, Toronto, Oshawa, Pickering, Port Hope, Coburg, Newcastle, Kingston, Brockville, Penetanguishene, Midland, Barrie and Keswick. I have also worked in New York State, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Virginia, Florida and the Bahamas.
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