Loopers, River Rats and Transport-know more than me's

[HappyMdRSailor]

Hi CF - been a member for a while, but recently started posting and being active on CF... I hope I have helped some, and made others scratch their heads...

Anyway - 2 boat owner, and I need to get the big one to Pickwick lake in TN from Hatteras NC, so I can finish her refit locally where I am at the moment... I would like some advice on whether or not transporting the boat a few hundred miles to the Ohio river, or further to Knoxville on the Tennessee river and piloting her to Pickwick (junction of the Tenn and Ten-Tom) seems like a reasonable idea come this spring...


Boat is a 48 Wauquiez Pilot Saloon, shoal draft of 5'-10", stump of a mast, maybe 30' above the waterline...


Assuming this is a delivery, and not a pleasure cruise, traffic and locking…

1) How long would it take to get to Pickwick from Pittsburgh on the Ohio?
2) Same question Knoxville to Pickwick on the Tennessee?
3) Any draft or other hazard/major annoyance with either???

I can have the boat trucked all the way to Pickwick, but at 8-10K, I would rather spend this money on boat goodies….

Finally… If anybody has recent experience with a good and reasonable trucking transporter, I would love to hear about them!

Shipment link, Move a 48' salboat - Buxton, NC to Iuka, MS from Buxton to Iuka

Thanks All

[Matt sachs]

With that draft and the 30 feet above the water you will (should) have no problem. The Army core says in the worst flood you have 50 feet above at least and the worst drought will still have 13 feet of depth between knoxville and the Tom. Double check that. I spoke to him a year ago.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Matt...

Thanks so much for your input! Hopefully one day soon I will gliding right by you and say hi !!!

Ed

[River Cruiser]

When are you planning this trip? I've never been on the Ohio river but I know the corp maintains a channel for the tows. On the Mississippi the tows draft 9' I would think the tows on the Ohio would be the same. Get your self a copy of quimby's guide it'll have all the info you need on planning your route & stops for fuel, water, pump outs & supplies. It also has the bridge & lock info that'll come in handy. Our 1st year on the river the quimby's & navionics app on my iPhone were all we used & had no problems. A good VHF radio is needed to contact the locks & bridges, I usually made contact about 2 - 3 miles out to let them know I was on the way. They will have the gates open & ready unless a tow is scheduled ahead of you. The VHF is also needed for talking with the tow pilots for passing instructions. I've never had the weather hold me up on the river we've been out when a thunderstorm would blow thru & all day long rain, just move to the lower helm. After a heavy rain there will be debris that gets washed into a river, just keep a sharp eye & it's easy enough to avoid. I don't follow behind a tow because older river boaters told me that the prop wash behind them can move deadheads off the bottom. If I can answer anything else just ask.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Hi River Cruiser... Thanks for the input!!!!

Trip would be end of April maybe... I'll grab a Quimby's... Likely to have all of the info I need as you say... Was looking primarily for the feasibility... (ie draft and time...)

Will be back for more questions after a peruse through Quimby's!

Thanks again...