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[email protected] December 26th 05 02:17 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?

Thank you for all serious replies.

Ted Shoemaker


Butch Davis December 26th 05 03:04 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
Ted,

First, get some training from USPS and CG Aux. Buy and read a Chapman's.
Get some experience on the water including the Mississippi.

Have the right boat. Make sure your insurance will cover the area planned
for your trip. Choose the time of year carefully. The river can be pretty
wild when the snow melt begins or if it's been rainey upstream or around the
upstream tributaries. Don't be tempted to overload your boat with
provisions. Be prepared to make a provisioning stop or few.

If it was me I'd try to arrange a two or three boat flotilla to travel
together. That adds a significant safety factor and could be more fun.

Good luck.

Butch
wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?

Thank you for all serious replies.

Ted Shoemaker




Doug Kanter December 26th 05 03:25 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?

Thank you for all serious replies.

Ted Shoemaker


Another vote for Butch's recommendation to read Chapman's book. He's
referring to:
Chapman Piloting and Seamanship 64th Edition
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...oductId=125875

If that link falls apart, just go to www.westmarine.com and put "chapman" in
the search box. Buy the book and read the whole thing. Then, read it again.
Bookstores sometimes don't carry it, so you may have to order it online.



FREDO December 26th 05 03:44 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
IMHO It is a big trip with few places to stop for supplies/gas without much
local knowledge/research. Also river travel in a boat is made more
treacherous by shoals of shifting sand and mud not to mention barge traffic
(a barge wake can overturn an 18 foot boat if you approach too closely). I
suggest you start by docking your boat on the Mississippi river for a period
of time until you can learn some of the idiosyncrasies of river boating all
the while planning where to buy gas, food, etc.

Also the coast guard should have some good info on river navigation lights
and travel you can use.
wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?

Thank you for all serious replies.

Ted Shoemaker




JimH December 26th 05 03:56 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?

Thank you for all serious replies.

Ted Shoemaker



Great advice so far.

A good link with a lot of information.

http://members.aol.com/americacruisi...roduction.html



Doug Kanter December 26th 05 03:59 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?

Thank you for all serious replies.

Ted Shoemaker


Be sure to bring along some Mark Twain to read. Some of his river stories
might be fascinating, especially to the kids, if any.



Gary December 26th 05 04:51 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
Tamaroak wrote:
The Mississippi River is not dangerous until you end up south of St.
Louis and deal with the huge tugs and their wakes, I am told. The best
way to go after Cairo is to cut over to the Tenn-Tombigbee waterway.

The very best part of the trip is from above the locks in Minneapolis
(one is a 48 footer!) down into Iowa, very scenic and doable by just
about any boat you might consider. Take a side trip up the St. Croix,
considered by some to be the best cruising in the Midwest. North of the
Twin Cities is nice, but you have to figure a way to get around the dams
at Coon Rapids, St. Cloud, Little Falls, Brainerd and more. There will
also be some shallows in those stretches in summer that you will not
find south of the Twin Cities.

Charts are downloadable from the US Corps of Engineers. Watch out for
wing dams. There are two kinds of Mississippi boaters, those who have
hit wing dams and those who will. I'm in the first category......

Email me with questions.

Capt. Jeff

What is a wing dam?

Tamaroak December 26th 05 06:21 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
The Mississippi River is not dangerous until you end up south of St.
Louis and deal with the huge tugs and their wakes, I am told. The best
way to go after Cairo is to cut over to the Tenn-Tombigbee waterway.

The very best part of the trip is from above the locks in Minneapolis
(one is a 48 footer!) down into Iowa, very scenic and doable by just
about any boat you might consider. Take a side trip up the St. Croix,
considered by some to be the best cruising in the Midwest. North of the
Twin Cities is nice, but you have to figure a way to get around the dams
at Coon Rapids, St. Cloud, Little Falls, Brainerd and more. There will
also be some shallows in those stretches in summer that you will not
find south of the Twin Cities.

Charts are downloadable from the US Corps of Engineers. Watch out for
wing dams. There are two kinds of Mississippi boaters, those who have
hit wing dams and those who will. I'm in the first category......

Email me with questions.

Capt. Jeff

Tamaroak December 26th 05 07:36 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
A big wall of rock piled up at an angle to the main flow of the water to
channel the water and reduce the need for dredging. If you stay between
the channel markers you will miss them; if you don't ......

In spring the water is high enough so you float over them.

Capt. Jeff

sherwindu December 27th 05 05:28 AM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
Made the trip from Chicago to New Orleans many years ago in a 22 foot
sailboat and a 6 h.p. SeaGull engine. That includes the Illinois Ship
and Sanitary Canal and the Illinois River which enters the Mississippi
at Grafton, Il. As mentioned earlier, you have to watch the charts and
stay in the channel marked by buoys or run aground or hit these dams.
Stay well clear of the huge tug boats which throw up monstrous
wakes, especially when they are going upstream. The current is very
strong, especially on bends of the river, so we missed a few landings,
because we couldn't power against the current. There are big floating
logs and other debris, which can do a lot of damage. We had to rebuild
the lower transmission in Greenville, Mississippi and that was doing
well considering other boats with us who had gone through numerous
outboards. Don't expect a lot of marinas, but you must find a place to
get off the main flow of the river for overnight stays. You have to use
ingenuity, like tying up to barges, or seeking out sloughs (old beds of
the river). I thought the main Mississippi River was the most
interesting, especially from a historical viewpoint with towns like
Cairo, Memphis, and Vicksburg. To really enjoy this trip, you need
several months to see all the sights. Take with big fenders, or tires
to protect your boat when tied up next to the huge tugs inside the
monstrous locks. Not exactly a pleasure cruise and one I would not want
to repeat, but I'm glad I experienced it

" wrote:

Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?

Thank you for all serious replies.

Ted Shoemaker



Dene December 27th 05 06:40 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 

" JimH" wrote in message
. ..

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?

Thank you for all serious replies.

Ted Shoemaker



Great advice so far.

A good link with a lot of information.

http://members.aol.com/americacruisi...roduction.html


That is a great site. Wondering if there is a similar one for Cruising
Europe?

-Greg



Dene December 27th 05 10:38 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 

"sherwindu" wrote in message
...
Made the trip from Chicago to New Orleans many years ago in a 22 foot
sailboat and a 6 h.p. SeaGull engine. That includes the Illinois Ship
and Sanitary Canal and the Illinois River which enters the Mississippi
at Grafton, Il. As mentioned earlier, you have to watch the charts and
stay in the channel marked by buoys or run aground or hit these dams.
Stay well clear of the huge tug boats which throw up monstrous
wakes, especially when they are going upstream. The current is very
strong, especially on bends of the river, so we missed a few landings,
because we couldn't power against the current. There are big floating
logs and other debris, which can do a lot of damage. We had to rebuild
the lower transmission in Greenville, Mississippi and that was doing
well considering other boats with us who had gone through numerous
outboards. Don't expect a lot of marinas, but you must find a place to
get off the main flow of the river for overnight stays. You have to use
ingenuity, like tying up to barges, or seeking out sloughs (old beds of
the river). I thought the main Mississippi River was the most
interesting, especially from a historical viewpoint with towns like
Cairo, Memphis, and Vicksburg. To really enjoy this trip, you need
several months to see all the sights. Take with big fenders, or tires
to protect your boat when tied up next to the huge tugs inside the
monstrous locks. Not exactly a pleasure cruise and one I would not want
to repeat, but I'm glad I experienced it


I'm assuming a 32 foot powerboat with twin engines would have an easier go
of it. Correct?

-Greg



sherwindu December 29th 05 07:17 AM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 

Dene wrote:


I'm assuming a 32 foot powerboat with twin engines would have an easier go
of it. Correct?

-Greg


Yes, as far as having enough power to fight the current. However, you still
have
all the other problems I mentioned. The water is very silty, so you will be
sucking
a lot of mud and debris into your cooling system, so be sure you can handle
that.
The floating debris can also do a number on your props. Issues of anchoring
and
finding marinas also hold for you. There are facilities in Memphis, St.
Louis, and possibly
some marinas have opened up since my trip years ago. I'm not sure what is
going
on with New Orleans, since the hurricane. I stayed there on Lake Ponchetrain,
which
I heard got hit pretty bad. You may want to take with some spares, like a
prop,
cooling system filters, etc. Consult a mechanic before taking off.

Sherwin D.




Rosalie B. December 29th 05 03:13 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
" wrote:

Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?


Skipper Bob has a book on the Great Circle route which includes the
Mississippi. I haven't looked at that book because we aren't really
interested in doing that, but his other books contain good
information. The books are fairly inexpensive and I would expect it
to deal with marinas, anchorages, fuel etc. Skipper Bob has/had a
trawler.

Thank you for all serious replies.

Ted Shoemaker


grandma Rosalie

Wayne.B December 29th 05 05:06 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 15:13:37 GMT, Rosalie B.
wrote:

Skipper Bob has a book on the Great Circle route which includes the
Mississippi.


===============

http://skipperbob.home.att.net/publications.htm

Cruising From Chicago to Mobile
Cruising the Inland River system from Chicago on Lake Michigan to
Mobile, AL on Mobile Bay. Information on anchorages, free docks,
marinas, bridge and lock restrictions, and navigational concerns for
this route. Includes the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland,
Tennessee, Tombigbee and Mobile Rivers as well as the Tenn-Tom
Waterway. (2nd edition)

ISBN 0-9727501-5-0 $15

I haven't seen this one, but his ICW books are very useful.




Bill McKee December 29th 05 06:33 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 15:13:37 GMT, Rosalie B.
wrote:

Skipper Bob has a book on the Great Circle route which includes the
Mississippi.


===============

http://skipperbob.home.att.net/publications.htm

Cruising From Chicago to Mobile
Cruising the Inland River system from Chicago on Lake Michigan to
Mobile, AL on Mobile Bay. Information on anchorages, free docks,
marinas, bridge and lock restrictions, and navigational concerns for
this route. Includes the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland,
Tennessee, Tombigbee and Mobile Rivers as well as the Tenn-Tom
Waterway. (2nd edition)

ISBN 0-9727501-5-0 $15

I haven't seen this one, but his ICW books are very useful.




Right boat and you do not need any docking places to New Orleans.
http://www.howardarneson.com/articles/fireonmiss.asp



Me December 29th 05 09:14 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
In article ,
Rosalie B. wrote:

" wrote:

Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?


Watch out for the Sand Bars............


Me Mark Twain had the same advice.......

[email protected] December 29th 05 10:36 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
Get some training from USPS ??
The only USPS that I know of is the United States Postal Service.

Ted Shoemaker


JimH December 29th 05 10:41 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 

"Dene" wrote in message
...

" JimH" wrote in message
. ..

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?

Thank you for all serious replies.

Ted Shoemaker



Great advice so far.

A good link with a lot of information.

http://members.aol.com/americacruisi...roduction.html


That is a great site. Wondering if there is a similar one for Cruising
Europe?

-Greg



Good question. Where in Europe are you from Greg and where in Europe do you
cruise?

I always wanted to rent a houseboat and cruise the Ohio River or to check
out the Ft. Myers area.



Wayne.B December 30th 05 01:10 AM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 17:41:58 -0500, " JimH" wrote:

I always wanted to rent a houseboat and cruise the Ohio River or to check
out the Ft. Myers area.


======================================

I live across the river from Ft Myers and can see it from my back
deck. You could cruise a houseboat in the river here but you'd be
better off getting a trawler so you could go out in the Gulf also. On
a windy day even the river could be a bit rough for a houseboat,
depends on size and freeboard.


FREDO December 30th 05 02:46 AM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
Ted,
I think that stands for United States Power Squadrons?
Fredo

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On 29 Dec 2005 14:36:14 -0800, "
wrote:

Get some training from USPS ??
The only USPS that I know of is the United States Postal Service.


http://www.usps.org/newpublic1/guesthome.htm




Dene December 30th 05 04:53 AM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 

" JimH" wrote in message
...

"Dene" wrote in message
...

" JimH" wrote in message
. ..

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I'm interested in taking my family down the Mississippi River some
summer. So far I have almost NO boating experience, so I recognize
that I can't start with a big project; I'll have to learn the basics
before taking The Big Expedition.

Some people have advised me against going on the Mississippi
altogether. "Too dangerous."

Okay. What do I need to know?

Thank you for all serious replies.

Ted Shoemaker



Great advice so far.

A good link with a lot of information.

http://members.aol.com/americacruisi...roduction.html


That is a great site. Wondering if there is a similar one for Cruising
Europe?

-Greg



Good question. Where in Europe are you from Greg and where in Europe do

you
cruise?

I always wanted to rent a houseboat and cruise the Ohio River or to check
out the Ft. Myers area.


Actually....I'm from Portland, Oregon where we play on this little brook
called the Columbia River. ;

But....I'd love to do Europe via boat, in about 15 years. Buy a boat there,
then use it, abuse it, and lose it.

-Greg



Dene December 30th 05 04:57 AM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 

"sherwindu" wrote in message
...

Dene wrote:


I'm assuming a 32 foot powerboat with twin engines would have an easier

go
of it. Correct?

-Greg


Yes, as far as having enough power to fight the current. However, you

still
have
all the other problems I mentioned. The water is very silty, so you will

be
sucking
a lot of mud and debris into your cooling system, so be sure you can

handle
that.


Or get radiator cooling. My boat has that now to guard against salt water.
We love the red dot heat feature.


The floating debris can also do a number on your props. Issues of

anchoring
and
finding marinas also hold for you. There are facilities in Memphis, St.
Louis, and possibly
some marinas have opened up since my trip years ago. I'm not sure what is
going
on with New Orleans, since the hurricane. I stayed there on Lake

Ponchetrain,
which
I heard got hit pretty bad. You may want to take with some spares, like a
prop,
cooling system filters, etc. Consult a mechanic before taking off.


Will do....10 winters from now.

-Greg



[email protected] December 30th 05 03:42 PM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
Yes. Someone else offered a URL, but unfortunately that message is set
to self-destruct in 6 days. For the benefit of anyone who may be
reading this more than 6 days from now, the URL is
http://www.usps.org/newpublic1/guesthome.htm

Ted Shoemaker


FREDO December 31st 05 05:12 AM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
Good luck on your trip and keep us posted in the N/G as to your research and
progress.
Fredo


wrote in message
oups.com...
Yes. Someone else offered a URL, but unfortunately that message is set
to self-destruct in 6 days. For the benefit of anyone who may be
reading this more than 6 days from now, the URL is
http://www.usps.org/newpublic1/guesthome.htm

Ted Shoemaker




Boots January 4th 06 12:41 AM

Mississippi River trip -- what does a newbie need to know?
 
My family and I did it with a 34' House Boat and had a great
time. We also went up stream from the Ill. River. That is a
lot nicer trip.
"Dene" wrote in message
...

"sherwindu" wrote in message
...
Made the trip from Chicago to New Orleans many years ago

in a 22 foot
sailboat and a 6 h.p. SeaGull engine. That includes the

Illinois Ship
and Sanitary Canal and the Illinois River which enters the

Mississippi
at Grafton, Il. As mentioned earlier, you have to watch

the charts and
stay in the channel marked by buoys or run aground or hit

these dams.
Stay well clear of the huge tug boats which throw up

monstrous
wakes, especially when they are going upstream. The

current is very
strong, especially on bends of the river, so we missed a

few landings,
because we couldn't power against the current. There are

big floating
logs and other debris, which can do a lot of damage. We

had to rebuild
the lower transmission in Greenville, Mississippi and that

was doing
well considering other boats with us who had gone through

numerous
outboards. Don't expect a lot of marinas, but you must

find a place to
get off the main flow of the river for overnight stays.

You have to use
ingenuity, like tying up to barges, or seeking out sloughs

(old beds of
the river). I thought the main Mississippi River was the

most
interesting, especially from a historical viewpoint with

towns like
Cairo, Memphis, and Vicksburg. To really enjoy this trip,

you need
several months to see all the sights. Take with big

fenders, or tires
to protect your boat when tied up next to the huge tugs

inside the
monstrous locks. Not exactly a pleasure cruise and one I

would not want
to repeat, but I'm glad I experienced it


I'm assuming a 32 foot powerboat with twin engines would
have an easier go
of it. Correct?

-Greg





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