Augusta to Savannah river trip

pro-crastinator

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 12, 2013
Messages
453
Hi guys,
Been thinking bout putting in and going down the Savannah river. Its a max 200 mile trip, may be an overnighter.
No fuel available the entire way, undeveloped, alligators, hornets, wild pigs, shallow, adventure a plenty.

From what I can gather, there is a group that runs 18 to 20 foot I/O powered bowriders on fathers day weekend. At 30 - 40 mph, they sleep at the hilton in Savannah and buzz back the next day, putting in at Thunderbolt marina. At my speeds, its going to be an overnighter.

Anybody have experience in this water?

Thanks in advance. [h=3][/h]
 

drrpm

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
707
I live in the area and know that people do occasionally do this trip. The river has been running quite low this year due to the lack of rain and I would be quite leery of blasting down the Savannah at planing speed since it meanders quite a bit and who knows what is lurking under the water. Here is a link to a blog about a guy who did the trip in a kayak a couple years ago.
http://bit.ly/1TjlFgO. At the time he did it the river was running high. Doing the trip in a power boat would turn it from a camping trip to a glamping trip.
 

pro-crastinator

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 12, 2013
Messages
453
Thanks for the heads up on water level. While the kayak sounds fun, I think that a 14 ft with a tiller steer on back will make it bearable for an old fart like me.
 

SteveFleming

Banned
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Jun 25, 2018
Messages
7
This trips is fabulous which provides some stunning experience which make your tour special. You can also see some fabulous animals here such as Sea lion, etc.
 

robert graham

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Apr 16, 2009
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6,908
Pick your dates....like October or April, when the weather, bugs, water level could be better....overnighting in hot weather is not much fun. I do mine when the evenings are about 65 F and days around 85F......
 

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
This trips is fabulous which provides some stunning experience which make your tour special. You can also see some fabulous animals here such as Sea lion, etc.

Only sea lions you'll see are in the Georgia Aquarium......................In Atlanta.

Are you making stuff up?
 

sphelps

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 16, 2011
Messages
11,429
Maybe there is another Savannah river in a cold salt environment ?
I don’t know if there are even manatee in the Savannah ..
Probably otters as Robert suggested ..
 

robert graham

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Apr 16, 2009
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Like I said, July-August are not the time to do this....Yellow flies, Black flies, Mosquitoes, snakes, high heat and humidity can have a negative effect on your trip enjoyment.....
 

FrizFreleng

Seaman
Joined
Apr 10, 2012
Messages
58
So SteveFleming got "Banned" for sighting Sea Lions? Probably best I not pass along my mermaid sightings. At any rate, this cruise has always fascinated me. I followed the river on Google Earth and sure enough there is literally nothing but wilderness. I am amazed that there is no development along the river. What gives? A shame there are not locks into Strom Thurmond reservoir above Augusta. If there were a great trip would be from Savannah to Strom Thurmond, spend a few days, dock in Augusta, rent a car back to Savannah to retrieve your truck. But, no locks, forget it.
 

robert graham

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Apr 16, 2009
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The St. John's River is probably your best bet....310 miles of wild River, lots of wildlife, crystal clear springs for swimming and diving, etc., etc.....but again, July/August probably not the best time to go....
 
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