2026 ICW Cruising Guide: Your guide by. Bob423 for safely navigating hazards on the Atlantic ICW with full color charts for each hazard and tips for living aboard

What’s new? Know your chart symbols! Do you know what SG-SY means for a daymark? Do you know the symbol for a missing or off-station buoy? Do you know how to tell if anchoring is prohibited where you want to drop the hook for the night? The answers to all this and much more are in the new chapter 11.178 hazard charts have been updated. The one constant on the ICW is change! 2025-2026 was a record year for dredging, but the ICW still has a plentiful supply of shallow areas.Contents:Chapters 1 – 3: Cover getting your house and boat ready for the trip south and your affairs for an extended stay away from your land home.Chapter 4: Cooking on the ICW, what’s needed, what worksChapter 5: Staying informed. What apps and sources are most usefulChapter 6: Basic Knowledge of the ICW – the fundamentals for those new to the ICWChapter 7: ICW University – Going beyond the basics for cruisers of all experience levelsChapter 8: How to ICW-Proof Your Engine by Max Parker of Zimmerman Marine – long distances at slow speeds are not best for your engine; how to compensate?Chapter 9: Introduction to Weather Apps by Bob423 – Some forecast better than othersChapter 10: ICW Navigation Requires New Skills – a must-read before you start your ICW adventureChapter 11: What do all those chart symbols mean? You could study the 134 page NOAA Chart 1 book but who has the time to do that? I cover the symbols that will affect your cruising and boating safety. It’s a must for those going south.Chapter 12: Provides charts of shoaling areas by mile marker and shows how to avoid grounding. Also included are the anchorages and marinas conveniently spaced for traveling south. Not every marina or anchorage is covered, since there are many books available for that purpose, most notably the Waterway Guide Series of guidebooks. I wanted to focus on the places I found the most convenient, and in the case of anchorages, those with shore access for pet relief and spaced at convenient stopping points.25% off coupon. Aqua Map Master should be your first navigation app investment. It’s a bargain that can’t be beat. You will find a coupon in the guide for 25% off the initial purchase price of Aqua Map charts, so be sure to take advantage of the offer if you don’t already have Aqua Map.There are many other features not covered in this brief outline. Read more