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Chicago down Mississippi

13K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  Arcb 
#1 ·
My wife and I are considering sailing down the Might Miss starting in Chicago and continuing in the Gulf of Mexico. We will be sailing in a 38' sailboat in very nice condition. We will be living aboard and continue to do so. Any comments, suggestiions, advice? All thoughts most appreciated/
 
#2 ·
A few year back, there is a Toronto Couple did that. They motored down to the Gulf and to Key West. Sailed to Caribbean and Island hoping for a few year. Then up the coast to NC to Bermuda. From Bermuda, they sailed to UK and then Mediterranean Sea.

Now they are back home. :)

I will look for their link tonite. :)
 
#3 ·
Look up "Tenn-Tom Waterway".
The lower half of the Mississippi is very recreational boater UN-friendly.
Basically the route is Chicago/Calumet River, Ship Canal, Illinois River, Mississippi River, Ohio River, through Kentucky Lake and than the Tennessee River to the Tombigee water way; which final dumps you out in Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico or if you like the intercostal in the Florida Pan Handle.
This is the preferred route of most that want to make the trip.

THE TENNESSEE-TOMBIGBEE WATERWAY
WELCOME TO THE TENN-TOM WATERWAY
 
#4 ·
Tim's suggestion above is sound -- get off the Mississippi at Cairo and then take the more scenic and less heavily trafficked alternate route.

We did this trip in the fall of 2008. Do a search over on Anything Sailing to find the comments I made there at that time.

Feel free to PM me if you've got any questions -- I'm happy to share.

All the best,
PF
 
#7 ·
I would strongly agree with Sailortjk1. 2 days ago we left the Mississippi River and got on the Ohio. Today we are on the Tennessee heading for Kentucky Lake. The current was a slow go up the Ohio for us. We have a 15 hp Yanmar, but we made it. The water is much more smooth then the Miss. The Mississippi south of St. Louis is very blah. We put our sailboat in at Pepin, WI on May 5th and headed down the Miss on May 25th. We are loving the Tennessee River. I would recommend cutting off the Mississippi at Ohio & taking that route.
 
#9 ·
It is a great idea! Sadly however, it is the wrong route... The person that suggested you check out the Tenn-Tom route offered good advice. Fact is this voyage requires a 450 mile fuel range if your vessel uses gasoline and a 352 mile fuel range if you use diesel. Additionally, there is are only 2 Marinas (only 2 places) you can access any on shore services between Hoppies Marina on the Upper Mississippi and the Gulf ICW beyond New Orleans. To learn more about it, go to captainjohn.org click routes, click Lower Mississippi River.
 
#12 · (Edited)
I don't think it matters that it's a 6 year old thread. My wife and I have been talking for years about taking a year off work and doing this trip, except, I think I'd really like to try the lower missipi route (we are aware of the lack of fuel and Marina's).

No imminent plans, but I like to read people's thoughts on it.
 
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