we are thinking of moving our sailboat up the tombigbee waterway to Wheeler lake on the tennessee river. I bought a guidebook but it is about 20 years old!!! I didn't realise it's age until I recieved the book. Does anyone that has made the trip care to comment?? It looks like about 400 miles from Mobile to the TN river and then another 100 or so to Wheeler. Does anyone on Wheeler lake care to comment on sailing there?? We really hate to leave the coast but circumstances seem to make that the reasonable thing to do at this time. we are thinking of making the trip in late April and have sheduled 2 weeks off. we figure 3-4 days to sail over from Panama City and then at 5 knots for 10 hours/day 8-10 days to get to Wheeler. That would leave a little time as a fudge factor. thanks Tom
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I counted ten locks
to your distination. You should check with the lock masters for the time to get through each one. I thought that your time table was cutting it a little close. You may need to allow a little more time for the unexpected. I think that it is do able. http://tenntom.sam.usace.army.mil/Navigation.html This is a pretty informative web site for the Tenn-Tom.
to your distination. You should check with the lock masters for the time to get through each one. I thought that your time table was cutting it a little close. You may need to allow a little more time for the unexpected. I think that it is do able. http://tenntom.sam.usace.army.mil/Navigation.html This is a pretty informative web site for the Tenn-Tom.
Browse Internet
Browse the internet under"ten tom" and you will find the log of of a trip down the river to Mobile. There are also printable charts to be found. We have been researching it as we are planning a trip on a trailerable down river. Good luck.
Browse the internet under"ten tom" and you will find the log of of a trip down the river to Mobile. There are also printable charts to be found. We have been researching it as we are planning a trip on a trailerable down river. Good luck.
Time is a Problem
Yep time is a problem. I have considered using a 4 day weekend to move the boat from Panama City to Mobile and then leave it at a marina in Mobile for a week of more before moving up river. The other option is that if we can make it most of the way then leave it at a marina at Pickwick lake or however far we get. Leaving it up river has the advantage of a shorter drive so that we don't have to drive to the coast twice. We live in Birmingham and Wheeler is about 80 miles to the north whereas Panama city and Mobile are both about 300 miles away. The high price of gasoline is one reason that we are moving the boat. Hurricanes and high slip rates at the coast are two other reasons. When we bought the boat gasoline was $1/gallon and the slip cost $150.00/month. Now we are looking at $300.00/month and $2.30/gallon. Together they add about $300.00/month to keep the boat!!! Keeping the boat now is running about $600/month !!!! Our other option is to sell. Tom
Yep time is a problem. I have considered using a 4 day weekend to move the boat from Panama City to Mobile and then leave it at a marina in Mobile for a week of more before moving up river. The other option is that if we can make it most of the way then leave it at a marina at Pickwick lake or however far we get. Leaving it up river has the advantage of a shorter drive so that we don't have to drive to the coast twice. We live in Birmingham and Wheeler is about 80 miles to the north whereas Panama city and Mobile are both about 300 miles away. The high price of gasoline is one reason that we are moving the boat. Hurricanes and high slip rates at the coast are two other reasons. When we bought the boat gasoline was $1/gallon and the slip cost $150.00/month. Now we are looking at $300.00/month and $2.30/gallon. Together they add about $300.00/month to keep the boat!!! Keeping the boat now is running about $600/month !!!! Our other option is to sell. Tom
Tenn-Tom Logs
Bill Dietrich made that trip about two years ago. His daily logs can be found at http://www.geocities.com/bill_dietrich/RetireSailboat.html#Plan You may be able to get some useful information from those as far as bridges, locks, marinas, etc. I don't know what effect Katrina may have had that might impact your trip. It would be worth some phone calls to bridge / lock operators to confirm schedules, etc. Good Luck!
Bill Dietrich made that trip about two years ago. His daily logs can be found at http://www.geocities.com/bill_dietrich/RetireSailboat.html#Plan You may be able to get some useful information from those as far as bridges, locks, marinas, etc. I don't know what effect Katrina may have had that might impact your trip. It would be worth some phone calls to bridge / lock operators to confirm schedules, etc. Good Luck!
PC to Wheeler
I have made the trip up and down several times, the last coming down last October from Guntersville to Choctawhatchee bay, a distance of about 750 miles. Some comments: If you have a garmin gps, I could email you a track coming down last fall. Displaying an earlier track on the gps can help. Be aware that spring river flow may slow you down. Going up in late summer 2004 I averaged 6.5mph with a Hunter 33 but that was with pretty much minimum current. Current is a factor most of all in the Mobile river and Tombigbee below Coffeeville. At Mobile and up probably 30 miles tidal flow can cut a sailboat speed by almost half or speed it by 50 percent. Pays to hit Mobile docks with a rising tide Locking up is much more turbulent than coming down. Pick the most upstream bollard to tie to. Less turbulence near the upstream sill. Though the trip can be singlehanded, locking is easier with some help. Folks at Demopolis suggested lock mooring rigging that helps a lot. I can send you a photo if you like. Last time up I single handed from Demopolis to Guntersville. You will need the Corps of Engineers charts, (two books) a chart book of the Tennessee also from the Corps, and guides. Nitty Gritty Guide to the Tenn-Tom is helpful in making a straight through run since it is organized for either going up or down and the mile posts are arranged for pretty easy reference but it doesn't tell you much about the country. I would assume that your old guide that you mention is the Marion Rumsey guide, the green book. Even though it is old, (Rumsey has died), it is still great for giving background and history of the river system. Anchorages shown by Rumsey on the Tenn-Tom are very often questionable or just not there anymore. Turns out that many of the anchorages that she identified have been made inaccessible by bars of bottom mud thrown up by the tows. On the other hand, I have found her anchorages on the Tennessee and Bay Springs Lake right on. Otherwise stick with nitty gritty anchorage recommendations. Fuel is a large consideration with Bobby's fish camp above Coffeeville lock the only dependable diesel between Dog River and Demopolis, about 235 miles as I remember it. It is a trip to savor the traveling process itself. There is a magic carpet aspect of the river unwinding through the wilderness before you. The landings on the Tombigbee shown on the charts hark back to ante-bellum days with nothing at all there now of the days when everything moved on the river. Now, it seems more likely to see a red man than a planter. The ever changing scene, along with the ever present possibility of being surprised by throusands of ton of commercial traffic rounding the bend just ahead keeps the trip from ever being boring. The unimpounded lower Tombigbee runs through some really wild basically uninhabited SW Alabama country making the comforts of a sailboat seem palatial juxtaposed on the wilderness at the end of the day. Demopolis is at a strategic point, more or less half way and it is certainly possible to leave a boat there for a while to regroup. Have fun,
I have made the trip up and down several times, the last coming down last October from Guntersville to Choctawhatchee bay, a distance of about 750 miles. Some comments: If you have a garmin gps, I could email you a track coming down last fall. Displaying an earlier track on the gps can help. Be aware that spring river flow may slow you down. Going up in late summer 2004 I averaged 6.5mph with a Hunter 33 but that was with pretty much minimum current. Current is a factor most of all in the Mobile river and Tombigbee below Coffeeville. At Mobile and up probably 30 miles tidal flow can cut a sailboat speed by almost half or speed it by 50 percent. Pays to hit Mobile docks with a rising tide Locking up is much more turbulent than coming down. Pick the most upstream bollard to tie to. Less turbulence near the upstream sill. Though the trip can be singlehanded, locking is easier with some help. Folks at Demopolis suggested lock mooring rigging that helps a lot. I can send you a photo if you like. Last time up I single handed from Demopolis to Guntersville. You will need the Corps of Engineers charts, (two books) a chart book of the Tennessee also from the Corps, and guides. Nitty Gritty Guide to the Tenn-Tom is helpful in making a straight through run since it is organized for either going up or down and the mile posts are arranged for pretty easy reference but it doesn't tell you much about the country. I would assume that your old guide that you mention is the Marion Rumsey guide, the green book. Even though it is old, (Rumsey has died), it is still great for giving background and history of the river system. Anchorages shown by Rumsey on the Tenn-Tom are very often questionable or just not there anymore. Turns out that many of the anchorages that she identified have been made inaccessible by bars of bottom mud thrown up by the tows. On the other hand, I have found her anchorages on the Tennessee and Bay Springs Lake right on. Otherwise stick with nitty gritty anchorage recommendations. Fuel is a large consideration with Bobby's fish camp above Coffeeville lock the only dependable diesel between Dog River and Demopolis, about 235 miles as I remember it. It is a trip to savor the traveling process itself. There is a magic carpet aspect of the river unwinding through the wilderness before you. The landings on the Tombigbee shown on the charts hark back to ante-bellum days with nothing at all there now of the days when everything moved on the river. Now, it seems more likely to see a red man than a planter. The ever changing scene, along with the ever present possibility of being surprised by throusands of ton of commercial traffic rounding the bend just ahead keeps the trip from ever being boring. The unimpounded lower Tombigbee runs through some really wild basically uninhabited SW Alabama country making the comforts of a sailboat seem palatial juxtaposed on the wilderness at the end of the day. Demopolis is at a strategic point, more or less half way and it is certainly possible to leave a boat there for a while to regroup. Have fun,
Tom, When are you planning your trip? We are also looking at this trip as far as Pickwick. Any chance you would be interested in going together? Email me at GrantZ5906@aol.com Grant Ziebell
Re-Mobile to Wheeler
Hey Tom dont forget me, I may want to catch you at Pickensville mile marker 306.4 an follow you on up in your previously owned Macgregor.
Hey Tom dont forget me, I may want to catch you at Pickensville mile marker 306.4 an follow you on up in your previously owned Macgregor.
might want to call about slip rental
tom, call and get a slip soon. there is only a couple of marinas that are conducive to the primary (read wide) part of the river. wheeler state park has waiting list and bay harbor is next best.
tom, call and get a slip soon. there is only a couple of marinas that are conducive to the primary (read wide) part of the river. wheeler state park has waiting list and bay harbor is next best.
If you need crew...
I might be interested in helping over a long weekend. I've only got experience on a Mac 26, though. Nothing big.
I might be interested in helping over a long weekend. I've only got experience on a Mac 26, though. Nothing big.
Aqua Yacht
Morning Tom: If you have trouble at Wheeler getting a slip, don't exclude the possibility of Aqua Yacht Harbor, right at the mouth of the Tombigbee. There are a few slips available there, full service marina with lifts, restaurant, friendly people, good sailing and grocery stores within easy driving distance. Never paid much attention, but I believe that it is about 30-40 miles to Florence, right there at Wheeler, and if you ever decide to go back to the coast, all you have to do is pull out of the marina and take a right. Stop by and visit us on your way up at least, you might decide to stay. There are always social events on the sail boat dock in play most of the time, even during hte winter months.
Morning Tom: If you have trouble at Wheeler getting a slip, don't exclude the possibility of Aqua Yacht Harbor, right at the mouth of the Tombigbee. There are a few slips available there, full service marina with lifts, restaurant, friendly people, good sailing and grocery stores within easy driving distance. Never paid much attention, but I believe that it is about 30-40 miles to Florence, right there at Wheeler, and if you ever decide to go back to the coast, all you have to do is pull out of the marina and take a right. Stop by and visit us on your way up at least, you might decide to stay. There are always social events on the sail boat dock in play most of the time, even during hte winter months.
Brown's Creek boat Transport
We are considering Brown's Creek to haul the boat to Wheeler. I am not sure of their operation and our boat might be too largge. I wrote them an e-mail and they haven't responded yet. The choice was to spend two weeks sailing around the gulf and then have the boat hauled or to spend two weeks taking the boat up river. Cost is the primary factor and we'll decide when get an estimate from Browns creek. If we need crew it would be for the trip from Panama city to Mobile which would take about 48 hours. My wife and I have sailed for 24 hours from Pensacola to Panama city a few times. She does well if I take the few hours before dawn. Thanks for all the advice and offers. I'll be contacting DaveP off of this list. Tom
We are considering Brown's Creek to haul the boat to Wheeler. I am not sure of their operation and our boat might be too largge. I wrote them an e-mail and they haven't responded yet. The choice was to spend two weeks sailing around the gulf and then have the boat hauled or to spend two weeks taking the boat up river. Cost is the primary factor and we'll decide when get an estimate from Browns creek. If we need crew it would be for the trip from Panama city to Mobile which would take about 48 hours. My wife and I have sailed for 24 hours from Pensacola to Panama city a few times. She does well if I take the few hours before dawn. Thanks for all the advice and offers. I'll be contacting DaveP off of this list. Tom
Boat Transport
Tom, I purchased a pearson that was at Wheeler State park about a year and 1/2 ago. I elected to have it shipped due to the time involved and wear and tear on the boat. The owner moved the boat to Muscle Shoals. I rented a crane and removed the mast and had the boat shipped to Mobile where I put it back together. If I remember right it was around $1,500 to haul it and about $400 on each end for take down and set up. After it was all said and done I felt I made the right decision. The trip down river takes a while, there are not many places along the way for repairs and supplies. Plus I got to spend the 2 weeks time sailing around the beach. I can look up all of the specifics if you are interested. The trucker moving it and the marina in Muscle Shoals were very helpful. Bob Blue Moon 31-2
Tom, I purchased a pearson that was at Wheeler State park about a year and 1/2 ago. I elected to have it shipped due to the time involved and wear and tear on the boat. The owner moved the boat to Muscle Shoals. I rented a crane and removed the mast and had the boat shipped to Mobile where I put it back together. If I remember right it was around $1,500 to haul it and about $400 on each end for take down and set up. After it was all said and done I felt I made the right decision. The trip down river takes a while, there are not many places along the way for repairs and supplies. Plus I got to spend the 2 weeks time sailing around the beach. I can look up all of the specifics if you are interested. The trucker moving it and the marina in Muscle Shoals were very helpful. Bob Blue Moon 31-2
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