So I kind of have a plan and could really use some direction.

[Campintoon]

Originally Posted by Babbitt

Love the idea. I am also from MN and have spent a lot of time paddling a canoe on the Mississippi and camping from the canoe in the Boundry waters. A decent pontoon you can set up your tent on will the be the hight of luxury compared to that. I have also spent more hrs than I care to admit running a pontoon shuttle, taking people out on pontoon rides and running one in all types of weather. A pontoon in decent shape can take an amazing beating, can't swamp, can be shoved off a sandbar and dosn't require much of a motor.

The smaller outboard you bring the more finiky it will be for good fuel. Get a good fuel filter, learn how to clean the carb while on the boat, protect the prop and you should be good to go.

If you decide to document the trip please share a link. Clearly you have hit on an idea we all love.

Thanks for the advise and stories! Those are my thoughts exactly on the reason for a pontoon. Very shallow draft, room to roam.

Peace and Good Health!

Scott.

[Campintoon]

Originally Posted by Nani Kai

Great Plan! And remarkably great advice from other CF'ers. My contribution: get a copy of the COLREGS which dictates marine operations between boats. Learn the Rules of the Road (what to expect from other captains/vessels in just about any situation you can imagine and what they will expect from you), Vessel lights, channel lights, range lights and corresponding day shapes and colors (which tell you what kind of vessel is coming toward you in the middle of the night, where the center of the channel is, what that boat up ahead is doing in the middle of the River and what is expected of you) etc, etc. Pay particular attention to special requirements when operating on the Mississippi River. You will be mixing it up with the Big Dogs, sometimes in heavy traffic, strong current, miserable weather and limited visibility. Definitely have a handheld VHF radio. Also highly recommend a sound signaling device and a strong, bright spotlight. The better prepared you are the better and safer will be the experience. It will be an amazing adventure! Let us know how it goes. Aloha

I've boated the Mississippi quite a bit but it was some years ago and I do need to refresh my skills. Thanks for the tips.

I'm a little blown away by all the kindness and tips I'm getting here. It feels very good in these disconcerting times.

Peace and Good Health!

Scott

[Campintoon]

Originally Posted by joelhemington

No reason I can see that you couldn't do this. I'd get a pontoon boat with a top - at least for some solar (so you can keep the beer cold) and maybe a big cooler for purging the catfish - catfish tend to taste exactly like the water they came from (you don't want that) And a good skeeter net with a nice, fat air mattress and you'll be stylin'. Maybe a spare rudder just in case. Not sure about AIS for commercial traffic (it only works if everybody else has one and they turn them on).

Cold beer and skeeter protection will be essential! Solar for sure! Thanks for the tips!

Be well!

Scott

[Campintoon]

Originally Posted by Cadence

I sounds as if you intend to go from fresh water to salt. Insure the pontoon boat has aluminum cross members not steel.

Got it! Thanks! Not sure if I'll head into salt water but will prepare for it. Going into the Gulf on a pontoon sounds a bit daunting but I've learned that it can, and has many times, been done. Just need to be smart and not unlucky it seems.

Thanks. Peace and Good health!

Scott.

[Campintoon]

Originally Posted by Capt Jerry

I have two pieces of advice:
1. You mentioned your "health is sketchy" Please don't put yourself in danger. If you take meds, make sure you bring enough with you and maybe a cooler (to store them in) because it gets hot down here.
2. Bring way more extra fuel in jerry cans than you think you need. If you stay on the Mississippi River, the fuel stops are as far as 400 miles apart.

This no suicide mission I don't think. Lol. I will must assuredly keep my health at the top of the list. I'm thinking I can have meds mailed ahead of me if needed.

I think I'll break off the Mississippi and do the Ohio to Tenn-Tom route. I will maybe head into the salt water so need to plan for that.

Thanks for the tips! Peace and Good Health!

Scott.

[SuW]

Originally Posted by GrowleyMonster

A small sailboat would be better than a pontoon boat. Make some LOOOOONG oars, they will need to be at least 10' long, for when the outboard dies. You don't have to row to New Orleans or Mobile, just keep the boat outside the main channel but still in the current and pointing the right direction. With a sailboat you won't need a tent on deck. You will have a proper berth below for sleeping, maybe also a galley. If the boat has an inboard diesel, you got it made. Propulsion and electricity. Plan your fuel stops carefully and carry as many jerry jugs as you will need. Let the current do the work wherever it will. Flour tortillas are more convenient than loaf bread. You need a spare canopener and a spare spare. Plenty of water. Two ice chests. Never drain off ice-cold water! It will still keep your beer cold. Learn the Rules, backward and forward. Get all the safety equipment you might need and hook up with someone local to fit out your boat or raft properly. No way you will get a list of everything you will need just from this thread. Spend some time getting to know your boat before you head down the river. A boat small enough that you can step and unstep your mast by yourself would be great. Lots of stretches where you could sail and make good time without burning fuel. Anyway think this out carefully before you pull the trigger. If you go for it, good luck and safe voyage.

Long oars? Ask your local rowing club (especially university/college clubs) if they have any old oars. Sweep rowing oars are about 11 feet long, made of carbon fibre and weigh next to nothing.
Sculling oars are about 9 feet long. Smaller and even lighter.
Get a matching pair if you can. Macon (spoon) oars are best for this and they are now mostly obsolete for racing.

Heck, if anyone around here wants a couple of sweep oars, for a donating a few bucks to my club (http://stlawrencerowing.com/) let me know.

[sailorladd]

As the Nike ad reads, "Just do it!"...but consider the safety angles first, then the logistics .... you might consider a drive along said river and imagine doing it on a pontoon.... check out reality first and don't forget to take your copy of Huckleberry Finn with you...

[merrydolphin]

When you go through big things in your life like divorce, it’s really good to have something positive and exciting to get into. when I divorced, I got my pilots license. It was a great endeavor. Flew for a few years including sailplanes. But it got too expensive. One thing about voyaging is that you can justify the expense as it is your home too! And In my case also became my livelihood as well, so was doubly justifiable.

[GoneDiving]

This guy is land based but absolutely killing it and living a life many of us would envy. Maybe some of his thoughts and processes could be replicated on water?? Cebrtainly not the typical #vanlifer.

https://www.youtube.com/user/forestyforest

[valhalla360]

I would lean towards a houseboat or even a small cabin cruiser but if you get a pontoon boat, make sure she's solid.

Mississippi south of St. Louis was the only place we've taken water over the cabin of our 34ft catamaran. Trying to figure out what that island up ahead is because it's not on the chart only to find it's a tow 6 wide 7 deep (equivalent to 3 titanics tided side by side) coming up river. The wake up close to her stern was easily 12ft high and there were wing dams just below the surface along the shore so you could only get so far away.

Even if the boat doesn't break up.... While a tent sounds romantic, expect it to get old setting it up and tearing down daily and the day you get lazy and leave it up is when that wake will wash across the boat and take out the tent.

[Sailingsailor12]

My suggestion is to go to Facebook and join the Mississippi River Paddlers group. I think you will find more of the information there that you are looking for. I would also suggest that you start your journey at Minneapolis, MN rather than at the Lake Itasca headwaters. I have started descending the Mississippi River, but I have only made it from Lake Itasca halfway to Bemidji, Minnesota. If you have questions you may contact me at DeerWood9323@Yahoo.com

[Davy J]

Sorry didn't read all of the pages....... Maybe posted, maybe not;

Great Loop by pontoon boat:

https://www.boatus.com/magazine/2011/october/hurry.asp

[MicHughV]

sooner or later...you will be running into another woman somewhere along the line.....who might want to tag along with you....
Make sure your habitat is " chick friendly"....

[SSgtPitt]

All excellent advice.
Being on the MS River only once in a 36’ sailboat with a 5’ draft I realized -
Rule #1 - stay on the boat
Rule #2 - do not fall off the boat
It’s an extremely busy waterway and it is extremely regulated. Navigating the main waterway is like being on a freeway. You’re doing 2 kts, everyone else is doing 20kts.
You need a radio.
You need current charts, you can easily get lost.
There are numerous eddies that will spin you around.
You need navigation lights.
Do not navigate at night.
A spotlight is a wonderous tool, especially at night watching a tanker bearing down on you, or a shrimp boat, or a barge.
There’s a LOT of stuff to run into.
There’s a LOT of things that will run you over.
Anchoring out is awesome! The current keeps you pointed upstream.
The skeeters will suck out all your blood.
DO NOT attempt to swim in the river.
You will meet some outstandingly friendly and helpful people.
Riverside local restaurants will change your diet forever.
Ice....lots and lots of ice.
That log may not be a log, it may have really big teeth. Do not swim in the river.
The entire shoreline is private property.
Do not anchor where is says “Do Not Anchor”.
Whatever you do , have fun, stay safe and take lots of pictures.

[Carl-T705]

Here's some real advice and direction. Locate your local Coast Guard auxillary center and talk with some real knowledgeable people who more than likely been on the river for decades. Forget all the soul cleansing BS and get some real River advice and relative training for what you want to do. It's all free for the most part. Every step of rigging your vessel can be inspected as you progress in preparing for a safe passage by the CG, it's what they do when they not looking for drunks in boats . There's a little more to it than when Tom and Huck took their adventure. People have gone down the river in a rowboat so whatever you chose it's about your comfort level, which is more at 55 than it was at 15. I've seen pontoons with small metal buildings on them so anything is possible. I doubt you would enjoy the trip all the way to NO LA it's kind of barren and there are other more attractive routes. I think it would improve your health , being with the wrong spouse can ruin your health, quickly.