The area your boat is in, is the most beautiful part of the Mississippi.
On the Mississippi just stay between the buoys, that is the channel and is
11ft deep minimum.
Going up river, green buoy to the right.
Once you are used to the river, you can venture off the channel.
All kinds of sand to pull up onto and spend the night or longer (free).

I'm on the Missouri River along Iowa regularly during the Summer. On
our side of the state it is Red Buoy on the Right when heading
upstream. Green to the left. Same with the channel markers on shore.
There are definitely some places on the river where you don't want to
get it wrong or you're going to end up on the rocks. The river channel
is your roadway. Venturing out of the channel on a regular basis
(especially in new territory) is a recipe for disaster. I regularly
see boaters cutting to the inside of a bend and it makes me cringe
every time. There will always be 2 or 3 news reports during the Summer
of a boater who rammed a rock dike and was killed.

Here are some references I pulled on river navigation and safety:

http://www.boat-ed.com/mo/course/p3-7_navaidsbuoys.htm

http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/lewisa...SafetyTips.pdf

Scott

The area your boat is in, is the most beautiful part of the Mississippi.
On the Mississippi just stay between the buoys, that is the channel and
is
11ft deep minimum.
Going up river, green buoy to the right.
Once you are used to the river, you can venture off the channel.
All kinds of sand to pull up onto and spend the night or longer (free).


In case you missed the news, 4 lost in boat accident, just north of
Lacrosse,WI on the Mississippi Sunday.
Got too close to the down river side of dam fishing, and when he pulled the
anchor, his motor would not start.
Current pulled the boat back upriver into the tail water of the dam.
Father, wife and two kids. They found 3 today, 1 child still missing.
Always start you motor and make sure it is running properly, before pulling
the anchor.
And the current downriver of a dam will pull you back upriver to the dam.



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Well the area they, the folks that drowned, were in when the anchor line got
caught in the prop is an area only fisherman and fools enter outside the
marked channel and get that close to a dam either up or down stream.
You have not said what size you boat is. I would definitely take a boating
course. I would also have a Coast Guard Auxiliary Safety Check.
http://safetyseal.net/

You will find the Coast Guard Auxiliary inspectors a good source to answer
questions you may have about the river and your trip.
Jim

"JR-CJ" wrote in message
...

The area your boat is in, is the most beautiful part of the Mississippi.
On the Mississippi just stay between the buoys, that is the channel and
is
11ft deep minimum.
Going up river, green buoy to the right.
Once you are used to the river, you can venture off the channel.
All kinds of sand to pull up onto and spend the night or longer (free).


In case you missed the news, 4 lost in boat accident, just north of
Lacrosse,WI on the Mississippi Sunday.
Got too close to the down river side of dam fishing, and when he pulled
the anchor, his motor would not start.
Current pulled the boat back upriver into the tail water of the dam.
Father, wife and two kids. They found 3 today, 1 child still missing.
Always start you motor and make sure it is running properly, before
pulling the anchor.
And the current downriver of a dam will pull you back upriver to the dam.



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