ICW Gear Must-Haves

By
Alex Jasper
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2
Multiple cockpit enclosures were essential to make the cockpit comfortable in varying conditions. These shade flaps helped to keep temperatures down. Alex made them in a marina while waiting for a storm to pass. (Photo/ Alex Jasper)
Multiple cockpit enclosures were essential to make the cockpit comfortable in varying conditions. These shade flaps helped to keep temperatures down. Alex made them in a marina while waiting for a storm to pass. (Photo/ Alex Jasper)

After several weeks on the ICW (Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway), I decided that I’d serendipitously bought almost the perfect ICW boat. I can’t take credit for this—it was a happy accident. The things I really appreciated about my boat, a PDQ 32-ft. catamaran, were my shallow draft, short mast, multiple cockpit enclosures, autopilot, furling headsail and a Rocna anchor.

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ICW Gear Must-Haves
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Alex Jasper
Alex Jasper
Alex Jasper went to live aboard sailing school for her 40th birthday. She then started sailing on New England lakes in the summer. After waking up one morning at anchor on a 16’ boat in Lake Champlain, she was hooked. In 2017, she started sailing a 32’ catamaran in Rhode Island and southern New England waters. Then, after racing for a year in California, she pointed her own bow south and headed down the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to the Bahamas. Who knows what is next?

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Nice list! I also appreciated having a VHF handset in the cockpit for the bridges, and a stern anchor for tight anchorages. My draft is 5’6″, my airdraft is 57′, had no issues with that outside of creeks crossing the ICW, when shoaling was very irregular.

  2. Nice list, In my situation, I did find the AIS valuable managing overtaking barge traffic, allowed me to observe, communicate and be positioned for passing in tight navigation conditions. Agree the VHF handset was great to keep on the local working channel.