I myself am familiar with the Inter coastal Water way, one of my Uncle's is the Captain of a Barge tug and I took a cruise with him when I was 15.
It starts in Brownsville, Texas an ends at the Manasquan River in New Jersey. We began our cruise in Tarpon Springs Florida and only went to Charleston South Carolina but My Uncle has sailed it's entire length an had pictures and maps of all his trips.
If I were seeking a Captain under whom to sail who could help myself an his crew survive I'd chose an Inter Coastal Barge Captain. He'd know were to fuel, to find stored non perishable foods and all other manner of things along the shipping route