Advice on heading South from Chicago

[spindrift]

Dear Friends:

Thanks for you advice on bringing the TI down to Norfolk from Newport. This trip will be done shortly,

Yours truly seems to be in high demand to help friends move boats South this year. I have another club member that would like to bring a new purchase, a Hatt, south from Chicago to Florida. Given the time of year, I am inclined to advise him to take the inland route south down the rivers and via the Tenn Tom to Mobile. He eventually wants to wind up in Miami. Given the time of year, I am concerned about traveling across Lake Michigan, Huron, and Erie to the canal and down the Hudson. So my friends, do we head south through the heartland or east via the Hudson.

Have any of you down the trip down the inland river system? I think that this is part of the great loop. How much time should we budget to Mobile. Is there a height limitation through Chicago? The height of the boat is 18 feet off the water.

Thank again in advance for your wise advice.

Spin

 

[yachtsmanbill]

The gage on that bridge was just over 19 feet last week. That way is much easier on the pucker string factor... Three weeks to Mobile Bay. ws

 

[Bugsy]

I think this is a MUCH easier trip from Chicago south than across the lakes etc.
The only concern I would have right now is with the flooding that will impact the Mississippi and I have no idea how long that will take to clear.
The height limitation is as indicated so you're okay. I did it a while back on a 48 MY.

I was was thinking of that route this year just to avoid "the ditch" but decided there were too many extra miles.However, I was starting out at the bottom end of Lake Huron rather than the bottom end of Lake Michigan. You'd be adding those same miles (and at a weather adverse time) going anyway other than the Illinois/Ohio/Tenn-Tom route.