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

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

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

Ted Shoemaker

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.

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

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

" 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" 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.

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.

" 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