Probably not upstream
The Arkansas is navigable to the Verdigris as far as Tulsa, Oklahoma (actually Tulsa, Port of Catoosa). Lake Dardanelle is a part of that McLellan/Kerr Navigation System. I have several friends who have gone from Tulsa Port of Catoosa to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond in sailboats. I am planning such a trip 12 months from now. I believe it will take you a VERY long time to make it upstream in a sailboat. It takes 5 or 6 weeks to make it to the Gulf of Mexico from Catoosa, but that is going downstream. The lowest bridges are 52 ft above "normal" water level. August/September seem to be the months with the lowest water levels and currents. There are 18 Locks and dams between the Mississippi and Tulsa. http://www.tulsaport.com/navigation_system_map.html They are very accomodating with lock openings. They will open for a single bass boat if it is requested. http://www.swt.usace.army.mil/navigation/navcharts.cfm is the Corps of Engineers site that has the charts for the Arkansas/Verdigris part of the trip. http://www.mvd.usace.army.mil/gis/navbook/main.html is the Corps of Engineers site that has the charts for the Misissippi part of the trip. p323ms, tell me about the marina closings in Panama City. I have heard really bad stories about slip availability. I have had boats at Watson Bayou and Sun Harbor and was told that BOTH marinsa are now closed.
