The IC 802 is a good radio -- relatively easy to use, capable of TX/RX on both SSB marine and Ham freqs, but it's not cheap. You'll need a good ground plate -- I use a Dynaplate (size about 7" x 20"). I use an insulated backstay for the antenna. You'll need to get the automatic tuner that is designed for this radio (I think its the AT 140??). If you're handy with electrics/electronics you can install it yourself -- there's no rocket science here. If your an electro-newbie, have a pro do it.
Performance with my rig has been very good. Last winter in the Caribbean I heard (clearly) a Ham in Hawaii. I've talked with people in the U.S. SW from the Caribbean.
I'd also recommend you get a Ham license for two reasons: 1. You'll learn a lot about how to use the radio, what makes it work, etc. Long distance HF comms is not a "plug 'n play" affair -- it takes some skill and a Ham General license will get you to the starting line. 2. The Hams are always out there...and they love to talk to "maritime mobiles", esp. on the two prinicpal maritime nets (East Coast -- Maritime Mobile Service Net, West Coast -- Pacific Seafarer's Net). The SSB frequencies can be a lonely place -- but the Ham freqs are always alive with chatter. The Ham shore stations are very helpful -- they'll pull down wx info from the internet for you, they'll patch you via land lines to your home phone, they'll get MD's to do radio housecalls in an emergency. If I had an emergency on Billy Ruff'n the first frequency I'd dial is 14300 KHz -- a mayday there will get you action a lot faster than on the SSB distress frequencies. In an emergency the Ham's will speak with anyone, but for the everyday convenient helping hand type of chatter, you will need a license for them to talk with you.
Good luck with your installation -- there are lots of nice folks to meet out there in radio land.
PS -- re email. Make sure the radio you buy is designed to send emails. Some of the older HF radios, esp. the Ham radios that are designed for voice and CW can have a problem with email transmissions. This is because the email data signal goes out at full power and some of the older radios aren't set up to handle 10-15 minutes of full power burst transmissions. This would probably only be a problem if you bought a radio of older design / manufacture. E.g. I took such a radio out of my boat about 10 years ago -- it was a 1990 vintage Ham set. It worked very well for voice comms, but I would have probably burned it out doing lots of email on it. (I'm sure Rik VE9RIK well set me straight, if I've led you astray -- with my General license I'm only slightly down the track from the starting line).
73s, KB1KZH
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