I have some information from mine professor!
He says that, theoretically, the American economy might actually be vitalized by the inability to sail out of the sight of land, because if you look at the time after the War of 1812, the economy really took off because the American people were pretty much completely cut off, and had to cope.
Also, there were some pretty strong pressures to cleave together (there were bitter arguments about it IRL, but stuff like "We can't trade with anyone but YOU guys" would be a natural bonding point). Because remember, the colonies had a really strong shared heritage, and if you run this soon enough after the war, the propaganda would be very good at getting everyone to feel a general comraderie, as it were.
Also, you have to remember that people who wanted a stronger central government would use ship disappearances, once they become widely known enough, as an argument that a stronger government would help prevent this. Not that it would, but...
And I have no objection to Boston, which could be alternately known as the City of Riots. Rioting seriously was one of their favorite pastimes. Alternatively, Charleston or New York could work, if you want to have towns that would be slightly richer; plus, it might be fun to travel up and down the river highways down South...
Of course, down in the South you have to deal with a culture built up from indentured servitude and violence, which could be fun.
Hmm... I'm picturing it now... The South would follow the Indians, gobbling up land as they went, while the North might try to get friendly with a newly free Canada, just for the resources up there...