Kentucky Suggestions

[Sadey]

Looking for suggestions and advice on weathering this CV storm in Kentucky or even Tennessee. As some of you may know FreeBird, my wife and I are planning on bringing our 60 motor yacht from Stuart to Racine. The planned route was up the East Coast. With all that’s going on we’ve talked about running the river instead. However there’s a real possibility of getting stuck even if we can get that far because of the lock closure in Chicago and height restrictions due to spring flooding.
If we change plans and head up the river can any of you provide suggestions or local knowledge of where a good place to spend the balance of the summer and storage for the winter? I would like to have it in heated storage for the winter. As far as the summer goes any place that’s more convenient to an airport and a fun place to boat would be ideal. We have a son attending college in Nashville which might be of interest to us as well. Thank you in advance for the help.

 

[captainwjm]

We're from Nashville originally, so we'd be glad to offer suggestions about our former hometown offline. As far as boating, you'd do better remaining on the Tennessee River instead of heading up the Cumberland, unless you want to be near your son. Vanderbilt? Belmont? Lipscomb?
For summer, stay in the Grand Rivers, KY area for the most boating opportunities - Green Turtle Bay is the biggie, there. It's realtively close to Paducah, or if you need a bigger airport, Nashville is 2 hours away. If you want to winter storage, I'd head back south to Aqua Yacht Harbor in Counce, MS.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Years ago, we took my dad's boat south on the rivers to Guntersville, AL. He wanted to be closer to his elderly parents in Florida but didn't want to leave the boat in saltwater for extended periods. It was a good compromise as the covered slips on the rivers provide some nice protection and the boat can still be used year around. From Michigan it was only a 10hr drive so easily done without an overnight stay. I think that might be a good plan considering the uncertainty right now.

 

[HahnR]

2nd on the Green Turtle Bay. We left our boat there for a month, very nice well run Marina. They have a new travel lift & are more than capable of doing repairs on a boat of your size.
Clean freshwater, no worrying about hurricanes, you may even score a covered slip.

Plus the bird is only a hop, skip & a jump away!

Randy

 

[Freeebird]

Missed this until now. No such thing (or need) as heated storage that I know of on that route. Lee Spry is the only marina I can think of who might have something, but it’s pretty much in the middle of nowhere at the north end of the Tenn-Tom. Green Turtle is by far your best option unless you just want to be closer to Nashville.

 

[Freeebird]

Just to address the river route concerns a bit more, there is always the possibility of having to hold up in Kentucky because of flooding on the Mississippi. Biggest concern there is the Illinois is closing July 1 for scheduled lock maintenance, and it won’t reopen until late October. That leaves a very real possibility of being trapped.

 

[northshoreone]

Lake Michigan is at record high water levels! I haven’t checked the bridge clearance height but the lake is up about three feet! Keep that in mind before you head that way.

 

[Freeebird]

I would “assume” the locks on either side of the canal where that 19’2” bridge is located will keep that section regulated. It’s definitely something I would confirm ahead of time.

 

[Nightingale]

If you leave now, you have a good chance of being home well before the lock closures.

Myself and two other Captains just brought three boats up to Chicago last week. I left Knoxville and the other two left from SW Florida.

We really didn't have a problem anywhere finding fuel or dockage the entire way and bridge clearances are what they state they are on the charts until you get beyond the O'Brien lock and out to the lake.

I arrived back in Michigan on Saturday and was greeted with a flat calm lake to cross.

North of the Tenn Tom:
-Aqua and Grand Harbor were open and pumping fuel.
-Clifton Marina, open and pumping fuel.
-Green Turtle Bay, open and pumping fuel.
-Paducah docks were closed but we were advised that we could stay on the dock if we didn't mind not having power overnight.
-Mississippi river was on the down slide from flooding and receding quickly as was the Ohio, about a 4 mph current we calculated.
-Typical anchorages on the Mississippi looked very usable along with Kasaskia and Hoppies. Hoppies has no fuel but they will allow you to dock there if needed overnight.
-Alton and Grafton both did not have fuel but Port Charles and Polestar both had fuel and if you know how much you need, they will call in a fuel truck ahead of time.
-Peoria free dock was open as well as IVY club.
-Spring Brook in Seneca, IL was pumping fuel and open.
-Harborside Marina in IL was open.
-Marine services in Dolton was open.
-Now you have all marinas considered essential in Wisconsin.

If it were my boat, I'd make a run for it now. You can always bail in Kentucky at Grand Rivers!

 

[Sadey]

Thank you for all the info. After further discussion with the admiral and as much as we love that area we do not want to get trapped there for a year. Just too many complications to deal with. We have a great set up in Stuart that will be a great fall back plan. The real issue is hurricane insurance. My current company does not cover storms. No big deal for us as long as we are north of the 32nd parallel before July 1st under our current company. So now the search for a new carrier begins.

 

[HahnR]

Dave,

We brought our boat from the Savannah, Ga. area to Dubuque, Ia., at the 581 mm on the Upper Mississippi. Took us 30 total travel days, you should beat that. I agree with Nightingale, I'd leave now. Mississippi is running hard now, but should be down by the time you get there. You'll be enjoying your boat in Racine long before the Illinois lock closures. No hurricane insurance, fuel is about as cheap as it's going to get.

Get the bird down there & get going!

Randy

 

[Freeebird]

Dave,

We brought our boat from the Savannah, Ga. area to Dubuque, Ia., at the 581 mm on the Upper Mississippi. Took us 30 total travel days, you should beat that. I agree with Nightingale, I'd leave now. Mississippi is running hard now, but should be down by the time you get there. You'll be enjoying your boat in Racine long before the Illinois lock closures. No hurricane insurance, fuel is about as cheap as it's going to get.

Get the bird down there & get going!

Randy

Hear that, Dave?

 

[captainwjm]

Good point about fuel pricing.

 

[Freeebird]

Osprey Marina in Myrtle Beach has diesel for $1.39 last I checked. Doubt river fuel will be that cheap, but I’m guessing these low prices will be around for at least another few weeks.

 

[Sadey]

The Admiral has spoken. Looks like we might give the river a try. She does not want to spend the summer and winter in KY but she is anxious to get a move on with the hope we will make it to Racine. Again nothing against KY we just have all our family and friends in IL/WI. Soooo we are going to set up a long term slip in Green Turtle Bay as a back up, waiting to here back from Bill Gary the dock master. Any suggestions from the locals about dos and dont's for that area? Maybe a backup marina?

1. Best way to prepare for the winter?
2. Best DD mechanic?
3. Hull service should we need anything?

 

[Beachcomber]

If you think you will end up at GTB let me know. We keep our boat on pier 8 slip 3 and can help with anything you need. Might even have a little pull with Bill 4 if it comes to that.

 

[Freeebird]

I didn’t realize you guys were back at GTB. If everything goes as currently planned, I’ll be seeing you there twice this summer.