Tennessee Tombigbee Locks single handed?

[Tatheelrod22]

I have a 40 ft schooner. I’m considering bringing her up the waterway, but there are numerous locks. I’d be northbound which I understand will be more turbulent since water will be pumped in. Would I likely regret attempting this solo?

[twig]

Depends if you are willing to let sides get bumped on the walls. You are going to need a midship cleat and loop it around bollard with just a little slack then be able to go up or back down deck fending yourself off wall with a boat hook. Have bumpers attached and a line on both sides, you never know which side you will tie off on. I went thru a few years ago but didn’t think locks were very turbulent. Lock keepers are mostly pretty helpful so you might call some locks and ask them.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Tatheelrod22

I have a 40 ft schooner. I’m considering bringing her up the waterway, but there are numerous locks. I’d be northbound which I understand will be more turbulent since water will be pumped in. Would I likely regret attempting this solo?

You have a gorgeous boat, but unfortunately is is not one which is nimble under power. I would really recommend you hire a deck hand to do that trip.

[AKA-None]

Genera and maybe fender boards would likely help keep the bumps to a minimum
But yes an extra pair of hands would be a really good idea

[valhalla360]

Can it/has it been done? Yes.

It's not the greatest option though, single handed. You need lots of fenders even with a proper crew. There were times with 2 of us on a smaller, lighter and straight sided 34ft catamaran where it took both of us to keep control going down.

Also what is your air draft? If I recall correctly, there are some 50ft bridges, so if you are much over 45ft air draft, you will need to pull the mast and have it strapped on deck limiting your ability to pop from one side to the other.

As someone else mentioned, how well does your boat handle in tight conditions? If you are struggling to get the boat into position, can you really leave the helm, grab the boat hook and snag the floating bollard without drifting out of position?

If you can get someone to crew with you for the trip, it would be really worth while.

[CaptTom]

I agree with the above. You need crew. Ideally, two more. It shouldn't be too hard to find some folks willing to go on a free boat ride. Your bigger problem will be air draft.

You are correct about turbulence in the locks, but the water isn't pumped, it's gravity fed. A minor point, and probably what you meant anyway, but I'm feeling pedantic today.

It's a fun trip, good luck!

[Tatheelrod22]

Thanks to all of you. Answers pretty consistent and what I expected. Air draft I’ve researched and not a problem as I’m 44 ft. If that 6 ft clearance were significantly compromised I’d be a fool to buck that current anyway.
Draft is only 4ft 8in, rare for a schooner but great for the gulf coast’s thin water.
To the question as to how she handles under power I think great, but it’s a cutaway full keel so she doesn’t back worth a darn.
Thanks again to all of you except Capt. Tom, who now has me looking up the meaning of pedantic��

[captmikem]

I took an Alden 54 up singlehanded. It was pretty easy, but I had four fenders and a couple of 2" x 6" x 12' planks on either side outside the fenders. not a problem anyplace, just take it slow and easy.

There is little tricky maneuvering, straight in and straight out, mostly floating bollards, and the lock tenders are helpful, just remember, slowly slowly slowly. A boat hook and a free round fender is handy as well.

M

[walbee]

Originally Posted by Tatheelrod22

I have a 40 ft schooner. I’m considering bringing her up the waterway, but there are numerous locks. I’d be northbound which I understand will be more turbulent since water will be pumped in. Would I likely regret attempting this solo?

We cruised from Seneca IL to Fort Myers FL this past Fall. Our trawler's 6' draft does a pretty good job at catching lock turbulence, with its full keel, when going up river.

I smartened up after sustaining minor rubrail damage in the Pickwick lock and started asking the lock masters, in advance, where the least amount of turbulence could be found inside the lock. For most of the locks we traversed, either end yielded the least amount of turbulence.

We have four of these fenders which really helped...

https://aeredockingsolutions.com/aere-ball-fenders.html

[Cadence]

As previously said, fender boards would be a good idea and be very nice to the lock keepers.

[DrDelmas]

I have done it single handed on 40 ft catamaran. Lock master can tell you what side to tie to. I preferred the back of the lock. As recommended have fender board and fenders in place, boat hook handy and go slow.

[rslifkin]

I haven't done the Tenn Tom locks, but I've found I prefer large ball fenders with no boards in the other locks I've done. They tend to slide with less friction if the lock walls have rough spots.