Maps are things that few cruisers will think of until they are well underway on this trip however they are an invaluable source of information not available on charts. Maps help provide an overview of where you are, what may be just off the strip charts and longer distances more easily calculated than flipping pages of a chart book.

Many of the NOAA weather reports you listen to will reference weather by counties. Do you have any idea where Cataret County is ? It's not on your chart.

An east coast road atlas will provide this and more. Each state tourism office will gladly send you information packages which will incude toursit type maps and a lot of info on places you may want to visit. The more you know about where you are the more you will enjoy the trip. Many museums in the US are free and some small town museums and galleries are surprisingly good.

Skipper Bob’s” guides are indispensable but NOT infallible. These are the only ICW guides worth buying as they provide a tremendous amount of information with on-line updates.

Most other guides to the east coast seem to be little more than glossy ad’s for over priced marinas.
Even if you do not intend to stay in marinas I recommend you purchase Bob’s “anchorages” and “marina” guides as you will need information contained in both. Bob relies heavily on cruisers to keep up to date and some of the info is subjective. When Bob says an anchorage has room for 1-2 boats he means a canoe and a paddle boat, when he says room for 2-3 boats he must be thinking of 16 footers. Bob also scours the USCG and Army Corp of Engineers web sites for ICW updates. If you do purchase these guides you can go to Bob’s web site for updates since the date of publication.I have found Bob's to be totally unreliable for the whole New Jersey inland route. Do not take this route if you draw more than 3’ and then only on a rising tide. * Bob died but his efforts continue under a new editor.