Decide on your destination. To narrow your focus, choose the type of cruising experience you want. Do you want to poke along the canals and rivers, stopping at ports that strike your fancy? Here, the enjoyment would be in the journey. Conversely, perhaps you want to stay at a nice yacht club in Florida for several months. That destination would dictate a more directed trek down the coast.
Confirm your ICW dockage arrangements. This is important for two reasons: (1) During the "snowbird" season, docks in the warmer southern climate tend to fill up quickly. You want to be sure you have dock space before you arrive at a marina; (2) If you plan to anchor most of the time, be aware that many towns have restricted or banned anchoring within their local waters. Thoroughly research any anchoring plans in advance.
Replenish your "boat parts and supplies" inventory. Things will break and wear out, and they will need to be fixed and replaced. If you have those parts on board, you don't have to spend valuable time sourcing parts and wondering where you will be in several days to receive them.
Develop a meal planning system. First, the crew should decide if they want to eat most meals aboard the boat. If so, compile a list of crew members' preferences and work out a menu plan palatable to everyone. Keep in mind that most staples (i.e. paper goods, sugar, coffee and pasta) will be available in most ports. However, if a crew member requires a special diet, it's wise to stockpile the specialty ingredients before you leave.
On the other hand, perhaps the crew wants to dine ashore whenever possible. This will result in a much shorter list of needed foods and supplies. Remember that your budget may greatly influence your meal planning.
Set up mail and bill payment arrangements. Some cruisers ask relatives or friends to handle their personal affairs and to forward mail packets to post offices or marinas along the ICW route. If this is not feasible, consider a professional service such as St. Brendan's Isle (SBI) in northern Florida. SBI has been serving the needs of worldwide cruisers since 1988, and provides foolproof mail forwarding services. In addition, they serve as a shipper for discount boat parts and can also handle bill payments. SBI currently serves more than 3,600 clients around the world. Other mail forwarding services can also provide information.
Build in some time to "enjoy the ride." An Intracoastal Waterway cruise can be a life-changing experience for everyone aboard. You might see dolphins play in your bow wave, watch incredible sunsets and visit some quirky ports populated by fascinating people. Leave some time in the schedule for fun.
