Ship it or drive it???

[yachtsmanbill]

Man, this would work out great if I could tie it into taking that 55 to Chicago. It's gonna take some time to figure this all out with the iPhone since there are no mile markers on the charts. It would take a heck of a lot of cursor moving to get things figgered out.

You should remember how far it was from your place to Padookee, and it would be easy to figure from there.

YEP... that outa getcha all warmed up all right! Does that bag come with a number 7 or a number 8 nozzle?? ws

 

[Freeebird]

OK, I did some quick straight line shortcutting and came up with about 650 miles (conservative). If his boat will cruise at 20 and get 1MPG, we're looking at 650 gallons @ $3.50 per gallon = $2,275 and about 40 hours of running time. That should be able to be done in 4 days easy enough assuming things go right. I'm guesstimating roughly $3,500 by the time all is said and done. He can ship it for about half that.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

How many laps you do back and forth around Hales bar to get all that river time? If you average 100 miles a day yer doin' damn good. Lets see, Theres 7 locks on the Ill river, Each one has at least two tows waiting each way, its about 25 percent no wake zones, and yer gonna average 20 mph?? Looks like Ill be hiring you to run both of my boats south next year. Say "Howdy" to the sheriff at the next lock... maybe he'll text you the ticket. Sweet dreams baby, how long must I dream... ws

 

[Freeebird]

Yeah, I know, I was being REAL optimistic in several areas just to get a quick idea of cost for shipping vs driving. It don't take a rocket scientist to figure out it's gonna be a lot cheaper to ship it.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

BTW... gas is 4,11 here, plus removing the flybridge. Maybe yer mechanic can put it back on for him... Lemme see now, where'd I put that oil pan. Oops... fergot the oil pump too. Zzzzzzzz ws

 

[Freeebird]

Yeah, we swapped PM's and I told him to figure the cost of R&R with the bridge and travel lifting vs splashing the trailer on both ends. Still gonna save him some money based on the figures he gave me, but what fun is saving money?

 

[sunset grill]

Keep up your sense of adventure. I purchased my fourty footer in Houston, and brought her back to TN in nine days, 1000 miles. I would not take anything for the experience. Other than a oil leak in Homa, LA and waiting three hours to lock in New Orleans the rest are good stories. It is imperative to make sure she is sea worthy B-4 embarkinng on such a journey. I would attemp to help you get her home also, depending on when. I couldn't make the whole trip at one time, but could travel a few days if you need me. It is good to know another Hatteras is headed to TN. What is going on with the new marina -condo that was being built in Ashland City, TN?

 

[captddis]

OK, I did some quick straight line shortcutting and came up with about 650 miles (conservative). If his boat will cruise at 20 and get 1MPG, we're looking at 650 gallons @ $3.50 per gallon = $2,275 and about 40 hours of running time. That should be able to be done in 4 days easy enough assuming things go right. I'm guesstimating roughly $3,500 by the time all is said and done. He can ship it for about half that.

Figure 7 days at least. It took me 6 days and 70 hours with a 25 kt boat that had more range. You will do lots of waiting for locks. The IL locks are the slowest of the whole trip.
Not sure of the status of the electric fence now, but there were delays recently.

 

[ppat324]

Dave, at this time the fence is not a problem. They not doing anything to stop the invasion.... with the Roamer when we brought her up from Seneca it took 10 hours. Some of those locks are very slow as you know. Pleasure craft do not have the right of way on the river. ppat

 

[Freeebird]

Thanks Dave. As I told our new owner, this is going to come down to a choice between economics and adventure. Even with my very rough calculations, it would cost him a couple of grand more to drive it than ship it.

Tim made a very good point about this being a great time for such a trip as it's one way. There will never be a less expensive trip between the Great Lakes and Tennessee than this one.

 

[captainwjm]

"Youre gonna need fuel at Cape Girardeau"

Beware, Fred's in CG is not longer selling fuel; that's why you need to keep checking Active Captian for the most recent information! No fuel available from Hoppies to Barkley/Kentucky lakes.

To keep fuel consumption low, you'll need to slow down, and that means you'll probably need to anchor out. Active Captain shows the available anchorages - but keep current on the water level - some of these places are dry land when the river is low.

 

[Freeebird]

Here's a link to what Bill is talking about...

http://www.activecaptain.com/

 

[captainwjm]

"What is going on with the new marina -condo that was being built in Ashland City, TN?"

Bankruptcy! The marina and condos are built, and look nice! The condos are empty, and the proposed amenities are non-existant. There is no fuel, and the courtsey dock was damaged in May's flood. Last time I was there, late June, the courtsey dock was still twisted up on the bank, but there were plenty of nice slips open in the marina. Riverview, across the river was totally destroyed, so the closest fuel is at Rock Harbor.

 

[Megalodon45C]

If the boat is sea worthy drive it

 

[34Hatt]

If the boat is sea worthy drive it

Big question "IF"

Yours is a 1968 so most likely has the fiberglass cockpit. If those tanks need to be replaced it is no small task I know this because been there done it to a friends boat 1967 34C

 

[mkh8911]

"What is going on with the new marina -condo that was being built in Ashland City, TN?"

Bankruptcy! The marina and condos are built, and look nice! The condos are empty, and the proposed amenities are non-existant. There is no fuel, and the courtsey dock was damaged in May's flood. Last time I was there, late June, the courtsey dock was still twisted up on the bank, but there were plenty of nice slips open in the marina. Riverview, across the river was totally destroyed, so the closest fuel is at Rock Harbor.

Bill, you are exactly right. There is a hearing on September 24 to determine if Bank of America is going to their plan approved which would allow the current slip owners / PSL holders to stay. It's a mess. Walt at Riverview is trying to get the local building officials and FEMA to let him rebuild. Real mess...

 

[Freeebird]

If the boat is sea worthy drive it

Big question "IF"

Yours is a 1968 so most likely has the fiberglass cockpit. If those tanks need to be replaced it is no small task I know this because been there done it to a friends boat 1967 34C

Why the big "IF" over fuel tanks as they relate to the boat being seaworthy?

No way will these tanks need to be replaced until they are filled with ethanol fuel and allowed to soak. Nobody addressed my assumption that putting ethanol in a fiberglass tank won't cause immediate problems. Then there is the issue of whether or not ethanol-free fuel would be available along the route home. It may or may not be more cost effective to replace the tanks in his home town, but I'm assuming it would be.

 

[Tim Powell]

I'd be willing to talk to you about it depending on when you want to make the trip. No, I'm not a mechanic, but I've owned thirty some odd gasoline powered boats and have logged thousands of hours and did my 100 ton master a while back. I’ve got all the charts both paper and electronic. I don't need $350 per day to make it worth my while either as I‘m bored and would enjoy the trip. I would suggest having a mechanic look it over in addition to a few hours of local running before heading out. If it will run for 2-3 hours, it will most likely run long enough to get it home. It's not as though you're heading across the Pacific, and you have two running engines. Besides, it's downstream most of the way. Get a small dingy with an outboard, and you'll have things covered in the event you have problems. That and a big ass anchor. Wouldn’t hurt to sign up with SeaTow or TowBoat US before you head out either.

Check around and see who has ethanol-free fuel. In these parts, it's not a problem. Just chart your course and know where you can buy fuel. No big deal to confirm availability ahead of time. As for ethanol, I'm assuming if you burn it out about as fast as you put it in, it probably wouldn't be an issue anyway. You can ask the x-spurts about that one. If the boat has been laid up that long, it's not going to have ethanol in the tanks now, so it shouldn't be an issue. I would suggest having the tanks pumped out and filled with fresh fuel before running it at all.

just gotta put my mouth in this ////forget freewillie and call the guy you bought it from/// if he declines shipit! freebird has taken these kinda trips before so it wont be new to him tim

 

[Freeebird]

Uh... who you talkin' to tIM?

 

[Tim Powell]

Thanks Dave. As I told our new owner, this is going to come down to a choice between economics and adventure. Even with my very rough calculations, it would cost him a couple of grand more to drive it than ship it.

Tim made a very good point about this being a great time for such a trip as it's one way. There will never be a less expensive trip between the Great Lakes and Tennessee than this one.

it would be a lot of fun Randy what kinda boat we talking about somthing was said about gas and fly bridge//// Randy how long will it take aproximately if all goes well