Doing the intracoastal waterway on a pontoon boat?

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Doing the intracoastal waterway on a pontoon boat?

by Don James
(Leesburg, Florida)

Any pontoon boats on the ICW ( Intracoastal Waterway )

I am thinking about doing the intracoastal waterway on a 20 foot pontoon boat.

Hi my name is Don and I live in Florida, and with the following closure I'm wondering if anybody has attempted this yet.

And if there is anyone that knows anything about doing this I would appreciate the feedback. Hope to hear from somebody about this project soon. Thanks for your help, Don.

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Reply - Answer
Well Don, thanks for sharing your post with the community. When it comes to doing the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway), which is basically a canal most of the way, and also has wide/rough bodies of water. I have heard stories about all kinds of people attempting it in various size boats.

I know of people that can cross "small oceans" in specially built rowboats, and most "make it" and some don't. So, with that in mind, I would recommend reading some of the following articles to help you make a decision whether it's a good idea, or simply a thought that should be put aside.

Houseboat travel on the ICW Inter Coastal Waterway

Houseboats to Cruise the Great Loop

Houseboats for Coastal Traveling

Any seaworthy houseboats?

You don't mention if, or how much boating experience that you have, so I would also recommend some Power Squadron Boating Courses to at least start things off.

Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their ICW Intracoastal Waterway houseboat experiences and tips. Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN - from www.all-about-houseboats.com

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Doing the intracoastal waterway on a pontoon boat?

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Pontoon houseboat on the ICW?
by: Russell

Just wondering if you ever got away and took your boat up the ICW? If not, we are heading north in about 6 weeks up to the Chesapeake Bay from south Florida. It is late January and we intend to leave here around March sometime.

Possibly leaving Fort Myers and heading down around the Keys and up the ICW all the way to the northern Chesapeake Bay at an idle. An awesome trip if you have never done it.

Actually, it's awesome even if you have done it twenty times or more. Keep in touch.

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ICW in a small boat
by: Russell

Okay, I have run the ICW several times from the upper Chesapeake to Panama City Beach and beyond. I have seen and met people with boats ranging from a 17 foot open fishing boat, a 20 foot Wellcraft with cutty cabin, a 27 foot sailboat and even one guy in an 8 foot pontoon seat-boat like you would use for a very small fishing boat.

All said they were having the greatest time in the world. Personally, I would like a bit larger boat but have run my old 26 foot pontoon boat down the Chesapeake to Norfolk and went from Morehead City to Norfolk in a 10 foot wooden rowboat with a 15 hp outboard back in the early 80's.

One guy down in the Keys was traveling with a kayak piled up with a backpack and fishing rod. He said he came down from Canada.

As for crossing open water... Not a great idea on a small pontoon boat but if you really watch the weather and hug the shoreline until you have a fabulous crossing day I suppose it can be done.

I have crossed Pamlico and Albamorrow sounds with glass like water and have also seen them and many other areas as raging lunitics. The main thing is to know your limitations and those of your equipment.

90% of the ICW is narrow and calm other than the idiots in megayachts trying to get somewhere in record time. Watch out for those wakes.....If I was 40 years younger I'd join such an adventure. Russell.

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Doing the intracoastal waterway on a pontoon boat?

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Doing the intracoastal waterway on a pontoon boat?