sailing from chicago down the tenn tom

[Shamus Mc]

i'm going down in october, can it be sailed, or are bridges a problem, i cant take that much motering....and advice, or sugested stops?

[Waterway Guide]

You won't be able to pass from Chicago into the river system with a mast over 19.1 feet because of an inoperable bridge at mile 320.4 on the canal...there's no way around this one.

[Waterway Guide]

There are many guidebooks and online resources that can help you plan your trip. Waterway Guide Great Lakes Edition and Skipper Bob Chicago to Mobile are my recommendations...there are others as well. AGLCA has resources on its website (greatloop.org) as does waterwayguide.com and skipperbob.net. Hope you go, and have a great trip!

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Bear in mind the wind will be spotty at best and you'll have close to 600 miles with no fuel or services available via the Tenn-Tom, and very close to 600 miles as well, in the Mississippi route.

Kentucky Lake will be your last facility, as I understand it, until well south in Alabama, and Mud Island on the Miss. Cape Girardeu, MO has trucked in fuel for diesel onlyt and there's a 100 gallon minimum for that. If you only buy 20, you still pay for 100. I was researching a similar trip, and decided against it, myself, and will just trailer my boat down south to the Gulf, instead.

[Waterway Guide]

Maybe this info might make Tom reconsider the trip too: There is a run of 250 miles from Hoppies near St. Louis to Green Turtle Bay in Kentucky between fuel stops, and the next longest stretch is 135 miles on the Black Warrior River from Bobbies Fish Camp (mile 119) to Dog River on Mobile Bay. Hopefully this is the latest info. Hoppies has been shoaling in due to Corps dikes that were built downstream a few years ago, but she's still operational...just doesn't have as much dock space for deep boats. On another point, if you have a deep keel and/or an underpowered boat, many of the anchorages behind wing dams could be tricky.

[Shamus Mc]

thanks, for responce's is there any outher places where it is not worth putting up the mass, and how fast dose it usually run, what should i be expecting to do 75 mi/day average? can you pass the locks, single maned? and can you eat the fish? thanks...

[River Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Shamus Mc

thanks, for responce's is there any outher places where it is not worth putting up the mass, and how fast dose it usually run, what should i be expecting to do 75 mi/day average? can you pass the locks, single maned? and can you eat the fish? thanks...

I've seen many sailboats come thru the marina heading to the gulf , they've all had their mast blocked up & strapped down. Most also carried fuel in cans, never miss a chance for fuel once your south of St. Louis. A quimby's guide will help you plan the trip it'll list all marinas, docks, restuarants & fuel stops. Get the corp paper charts either buy or print off their web site. The current on the UMR in the pool I'am in runs 1.5 to 2 mph at normal stage, other pools may differ depending on how much water they're holding back. Yes the fish are eatable but you won't catch many while cruising, we catch cats on trot & bank lines. Good luck.