My wife, Carolyn and I are proof that cruising can be done on a budget. We have less invested in our restored 1977 30-foot Cargile Cutter Cruiser, SunSmiles than we would have in most new 16-footers.

  
Cruising, whether just the two of us; with family and friends; or the Cooper River Yacht Club, is our "escape." Nothing quite compares with time spent on the water or dockside with new friends and old. CruisingTheICW, "Thinking Outside the Boat" is intended to be a resource to those who already cruise, and encourage those who don't to "come aboard."

Helping our son plan a surprise honeymoon cruise in 2002 led to the frustration of trying to find ICW information online. The frustration led to three years of conversations and interviews with cruisers, transients, and other boaters. Thanks to our outstanding webmaster, Eric Jennings, CruisingTheICW, "Thinking Outside the Boat" is a reality. The challenge now is getting destinations to recognize the economic impact potential of the leisure boating market.

The ultimate goal of CruisingTheICW.com is to "connect the dots" --- destinations and marinas --- from Key West to the Canadian border. Cruisers told us they wanted a site providing comprehensive information at a glance, about destinations, marinas, and "cruiser-friendly" businesses, as well as the yachts and boats we cruise and the equipment we use. Few ICW destinations market to leisure boaters, regardless of how much local governments have invested in waterfront revitalization. Community attitudes toward cruisers and leisure boaters makes it easier to understand why the US Army Corp of Engineers does not consider the impact of leisure boaters in assessing the need for waterway maintenance.

Today, cruisers are traveling America's waters aboard vessels ranging from Personal Water Craft to mega-yachts. That is why CruisingTheICW includes information on accommodations, services, and products that some may think are of little interest to cruisers. Cruising may be for the "adventurous," but it is no longer for only the wealthy. Whether cruising alone or with family and friends, we share a wonderful experience that I wish all could share. At the website, CruisingTheICW.com and on this blog, we will "Think Outside the Boat," and hopefully make new friends, explore new places, and share new experiences.

To quote Henry David Thoreau,

"Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows."

Welcome aboard SunSmiles and our CruisingTheICW blog. We hope you'll help others "Think Outside the Boat" by sharing your cruising experiences, and favorite places from Key West to the Canadian border.