I actually live in Augusta and have done that trip in my center console a couple times.
The river is alot of sandbars and alligators. I can't imagine it being too much of a trip on a slow
cruise. I like the nature part of the experience, but that's all there is to it. Once you get about 15 miles above Savannah there is maybe a few dozen houses, and a bunch of swamp/forest land for the next 150 miles. Then you'll start getting to the industrial area/nuclear plant southeast of Augusta.
The lock is just past all of this. The are pretty sketchy. The local govt and corps of engineers are always going back and forth as to who is going to maintain/repair them.
If it was me, I'd stay on the
ICW and go enjoy the SC lowcountry just north of Savannah.