Rich, Congratulations on your "new" boat! Doing the waterway at the right time of year can be a real treat. Excellent charts and cruising guides are available to make the trip easier, so be sure to include them in your delivery budget. Here are links to a couple of "overview" pieces I wrote a few years ago; the details may be a bit out of date, but the principles never change. https://www.bluewaterweb.com/newsletters/9-01ditch.asp https://www.bluewaterweb.com/newsletters/9-01ditch2.asp If you lack xperience handling a boat of the size of your Carver, you would do well with a day or two of orientation with an experienced captain onboard. Your broker should be able to help you locate someone in the area where your boat is who can assist you. Have a great trip! --Milt Baker, Nordhasvn 47 Bluewater, Fort Lauderdale Rich wrote: Just bought a 1994 39' Carver in Rhode Island and will be bringing it down the ICW, across Lake Okee, up the West Coast of Florida, over to the Mississippi River and on to Galveston. I understand a lot of boats migrate South for the winter and back North later on. Can anyone tell me during what periods of the year these occur? Would like to meet boat people going South around April timeframe. Also looking for any tips and advice from those who have made the trip before.