tn. to the gulf

[cmcbob]

any body taken the river from tn to the gulf and kept track of cost and such we want to this spring but have a limited budget . have a25' searay new 350 and dont give a crap about speed or time . just want to wake up to the boat rocking and being closer to the gulf the next night . and surly with the thousands of users some of you keep records [better than me ] of a trip like that. im i cheep no just thrifty . and is the tn-tom the best way or is it 500 miles of the same . we look foreward to advice ,and as far as going to gulf by land yes we have been there at laest 25 times in our rv ,which we sold to get boat , again looking for help

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: tn. to the gulf

What will be your route? If it brings you via the Apalachicola River, give me a shout!

 

[hog88]

Re: tn. to the gulf

If you make the trip please keep us updated. I'm in the Nashville area and when/if we retire that trip is on our bucket list.

 

[sasto]

Re: tn. to the gulf

I've made the trip down the Tenn-Tom several times....and out to the Gulf from Mobile. I do have a log book and may be helpful if this is your route.

 

[egr2fly]

Re: tn. to the gulf

A good source of info is the AGLCA (American Great Loop Cruisers Association) and they can be found at: www.greatloop.org

Overnighting at marinas usually cost by foot (boat length), and level of service. Staying on "hook" (anchor) is free.

I installed a fuel flow meter that ties into my GPS. It helps you run your boat more efficiently.

Hope this helps.

 

[southkogs]

Re: tn. to the gulf

If you make the trip please keep us updated. I'm in the Nashville area and when/if we retire that trip is on our bucket list.

Mine too, hog88. I'm near Nashville as well.

Even better to do a thread of the trip if you can with pictures. The short loop through the Tenn-Tom, and a run down the Welland Canal are ones I'd like to see chronicled ... so I can plan mine

 

[hog88]

Re: tn. to the gulf

Mine too, hog88. I'm near Nashville as well.

Even better to do a thread of the trip if you can with pictures. The short loop through the Tenn-Tom, and a run down the Welland Canal are ones I'd like to see chronicled ... so I can plan mine

Yeah? Are you on Priest or Old Hickory?

 

[southkogs]

Re: tn. to the gulf

Are you on Priest or Old Hickory?

Priest most of the time ... groan :facepalm:. Don't know how many times I've gotten nearly killed out there. But it's convenient for half day or couple hour "outs." When we have the time - Center Hill or Normandy.

Old Hickory is a "someday" when we decide to run to Nashville on the Cumberland.

 

[hog88]

Re: tn. to the gulf

Priest most of the time ... groan :facepalm:. Don't know how many times I've gotten nearly killed out there. But it's convenient for half day or couple hour "outs." When we have the time - Center Hill or Normandy.

Old Hickory is a "someday" when we decide to run to Nashville on the Cumberland.

I'm on Old Hickory (1/4 mile from a ramp) from Friday night to Sunday most weeks. We havn't been over to Priest but I hear it can be troublesome. We go up to Dale Hollow a few times a year and up to Norris every now and then.

 

[southkogs]

Re: tn. to the gulf

Hog88 - sent you a PM

cmbob - sorry to hijack your thread. PLEASE, photos and notes if you take the trip. I would love to read it.

 

[cmcbob]

Re: tn. to the gulf

yes the tenn-tom , yes i know we've been told a hundred times ,if you have to ask you cant afford it , but by the responce theres lots of people who would like to take that trip .and as the guy said ,its at the top of my buckett list

 

[cmcbob]

Re: tn. to the gulf

thanks for all the come backs ,it will be down tenn-tom we are on cumberland near cookeville tn ,but not sure if we will put in here ,maybe near chatt,tn . another thing the boat has a 70 gal tank and if it only gets a mile to the gal ,are there stretches longer than 70 miles between marinas ,i read some where on miss river there are 150 miles between .and believe me when we do go we will keep up dates and pic's ,im a motor mouth .and take lots of pic.again thanks and captan any info will be helpfull ,

 

[sasto]

Re: tn. to the gulf

You stated earlier, cmcbob, that you are not in a hurry. That's good! You are going to save fuel for one thing. Another reason to go slow is your going to encounter many barges being towed. Communication between you and them will be critical. Practice up on your VHF radio skills and learn their lingo. They don't go by port and starboard....they go by the one whistle or two whistle.

Since you will be traveling downstream, idle speed may be sufficient for you.

Have Fun!

 

[nbragtop]

Re: tn. to the gulf

Hi I have also made the voyage a few times. You should fuel going south because it is downstream. From Chattanooga to Mobile Bay best I remember there are 18 locks to go thru. Remember commercial traffic has the right of way so you are likely to get delayed at some of those. I have had to idle and wait keeping my position in the river for as much as 4 1/2 hours. Most of the time you don't have a convenient place to tie up. And you better be real nice to the lock masters because if not you could wait to lock thru forever and they communicate with the other locks to let them know what all is coming . But if you are real nice to the lock masters and barge captains should be no problem. Remember you are the low man on the totem pole. I have actually had lock masters have their gates open and waiting for me because they were not busy and the other lock masters told them I was a nice captain. (3 locks are just a few miles apart about 1/2 down)

Look for a book by Fred Meyers called cruising the Tenn-Tom. Excellent info on good places to anchor out, fuel, food, etc. Some marinas even furnished a car to borrow to going into town to buy supplies. Make sure you can get fuel between Demopolis, Al and Mobile bay. The old junkie marina in between was washed away last time I was tru there. That is the longest stretch. Also watch your wake in some of the narrow areas because you could swamp some boats tied up on the bank. Also ask permission to pass barges the captains will tell you when and what side (like the other captain told you one whistle or two).

I don't know how far you are going but the trip from Mobile bay to Carabelle, Fl is really pretty on the ICW I really recommend that part. Form Carabelle south I don't know because I always just cut across the Gulf and not follow the ICW.
Have a nice cruise.

 

[four winns 214]

Re: tn. to the gulf

I've made several long river trips in a 21' Sea Ray cuddy with a 5.0L Merc. To have accurate data, you need to make some tests in your boat. Load it as you expect to be on your trip and make some test runs to see what is your speed vs. fuel burn. With a 19" pitch prop, my Sea Ray will make 3.5 mpg at 25 mph. Some folks measure the fuel consumption in gallons per hour. However you chose to do it, you really need to do it so that you can reliably figure the range of your boat.

 

[cmcbob]

Re: tn. to the gulf

really appricate every ones help ,and i do appreicate the lock info .i have read some real bad stories if you get one of them po at you , and never thought of prop size ,and i guess a good gps [marine ]would be a good investment

 

[Haysc]

Re: tn. to the gulf

im jealous. Your plan sounds like a blast!!!

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: tn. to the gulf

I have a Memphis friend that used to seasonally move his 42' Jefferson yacht from Pickwick Lake down to Mobile Bay to the marina @ Point Clear (Mariott.)

They call the Tenn-Tombigbee the "big ditch." But, it's the best way to get a boat down to Florida for Mid America. (The Mississippi River meanders 2:1 between Memphis & New Orleans, it's very dangerous with riverboat traffic and without services.)

The Big Ditch trip is truly boring. No beautiful scenery or anything along the 400 mile route.

Now if you're wanting a great boating experience, the Tennessee River system is the premier inland cruising in the U.S. Drop your boat in at Knoxville, and head south. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, and you can go all the way to Paducah if you desire.

You can stay in hotels along the way in cities like Chattanooga, Scottsboro, Guntersville, Huntsville, Decatur, Muscle Shoals, Pickwick. There are also a bunch of fabulous TN, AL and KY state parks with marinas and hotels along the way.

When you've had enough cruising, park your boat in a marina for a day, rent a car one way and go after your tow vehicle in Knoxville.

For boaters in Middle Tennessee, I would start at Muscle Shoals and go East.

 

[nbragtop]

Re: tn. to the gulf

I hope you do your voyage. It is going to be fun and a experience you will not forget. I have done it in the summer and in the cold (snowing part of the time winter). The locks are not bad if you listen to the lock masters. They will tell you where to attach to the floating bollards (sp) inside the locks. In a boat as small as yours just try not to tie to one at the end of the lock because the is where the water is comes in to fill the lock and it will try to push your boat around like riding atop of a geyser (sp). Sorry nevermind, you will be going down stream and the water will be going out, lowering you not raising you. Also because of you size they will probably not put you in the lock with a full load of barges. I have been with a full load of barges even at night and that does get very testie as there is absolutely no room for my boat to move around, I have even bounced against the barge on my port side when the water blowing up under me pushed me away from the side. If you come from the east you will also Wheeler and the next one (name?) which is the tallest one in the US I think. It is like 140 or 180 feet tall. It is pretty breath taking when you are still tied off and at the bottom and look straight up. Very safe just a WOW factor. Also make sure anyone outside of your boat as you approach a lock has a life jacket the entire time or the lock master will not let you enter.

It is being in a ditch a lot of the time but such a unique fun thing to experience at least once. And one last thing, when you go thru the areas where the river bank is real high above and you see some of those dilapidated cabins up there. What ever you do don't let those type senses from the movie "Deliverance" stick in you mind. LOL

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: tn. to the gulf

It takes 3 weeks to go from Defeated Creek on Cordell Hull to Destin Fla on a 14X80 Sumerset HB via the Tn-Tom...Have friends that have done it!!