Mississippi status

As I am engaged to move a trawler up to the Great lakes from Alabama, I'd be interested in hearing from anybody on it about Mississippi conditions between the Ohio and Grafton.

rgano said:

As I am engaged to move a trawler up to the Great lakes from Alabama, I'd be interested in hearing from anybody on it about Mississippi conditions between the Ohio and Grafton.

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What is your timing? Are you looking for general conditions or specific conditions at this time?

Late May, I think.

There isn't a lot between the Ohio and Grafton. Conditions should be decent by late May, the spring run off having cleared. You will be going against a fairly strong current and you'll be in a heavily traveled commercial area. The first fuel stop will be Hoppie's in Imperial, MO. You need to verify conditions before starting up river.

Now your challenge will be clearing from Barkley into the Ohio and then from the Ohio to the Mississippi. It can be quite time consuming. How much crew will you have with you? This is most definitely not a trip for single handing. On the Mississippi, you'll encounter wing dams. There are very few decent anchorages along the way with a lot of down river traffic 24 hours a day plus the current.

At the moment, the section that is closed to recreational travel due to current and debris is a section of the Illinois River.

Also, be aware of the electric fish barrier on the Illinois and the protocol.

Charts for the river are generally not the greatest in the world. Garmin has the best river charts.

Here is the site to keep you informed regarding lock queues.

Lock Queue Report

That is very kind of you to send along. It's another site I had never heard of before.

Stay under the points when north bound and in the bends when south bound, let that current work for you and lessen the amount working against you. You may find it easier and safer to grab a willow rather than anchoring at night.

ulysses said:

Stay under the points when north bound and in the bends when south bound, let that current work for you and lessen the amount working against you. You may find it easier and safer to grab a willow rather than anchoring at night.

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He's only going north.

rgano said:

As I am engaged to move a trawler up to the Great lakes from Alabama, I'd be interested in hearing from anybody on it about Mississippi conditions between the Ohio and Grafton.

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How many days have you allocated for the trip from Alabama to Chicago? How much further do you have to take it? And how much crew?

BandB: I was not informed as to the route he was taking from Alabama. If, as I assumed he was coming up the Tenn-Tom to the Ohio, then he would necessarily be going south bound on the Tenn. and then the Ohio until he reaches the Mississippi. My assumption could be wrong but since he stated he was only concerned with Miss. River conditions above its confluence with the Ohio I believe I may have been right.

I have made that trip hundreds of times and can assure you that it is south bound down the Ohio and the Tenn.

ulysses said:

BandB: I was not informed as to the route he was taking from Alabama. If, as I assumed he was coming up the Tenn-Tom to the Ohio, then he would necessarily be going south bound on the Tenn. and then the Ohio until he reaches the Mississippi. My assumption could be wrong but since he stated he was only concerned with Miss. River conditions above its confluence with the Ohio I believe I may have been right.

I have made that trip hundreds of times and can assure you that it is south bound down the Ohio and the Tenn.

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No, you're correct. It is south on those two rivers and I overlooked that as I was thinking from the Ohio to Crafton. I thought you were thinking of a return trip.

I see the Tennessee and Ohio as being relatively simple except lock delays, but a much different type of boating once he hits the Mississippi.

I am anticipating about six weeks to get the boat to Michigan City. It's a single Ford-Lehman powered Grand Banks 36, about 8 MPH in still water and maybe 9 if pushed a little. I took my own GB42 (29 years ownership) up to as far as Chattanooga once, but that was in the Fall and BEFORE Active Captain now showing on my chart plotter. Since the boat has no AIS, I have purchased an AIS dongle for my two Coastal Explorer laptops. Crew for this trip is wife and me, veteran cruisers. I have absolutely no concerns about the Tombigbee, Tennessee, Ohio, or Illinois rivers, as I have experience on some and have studied every AC anchorage entry and associated reviews for the entire 1300-mile trip and believe we will always be able to find nightly shelter with the possible exception of the Mighty Miss due to our slowed speed there. However, I will be carrying a large halogen work light to mount on the bow should we get stuck on any waterway at night. We know how to cross large bodies of water overnight, but have no intention of testing such skills in rivers. So my ONLY concerns about a waterway are centered on the 219 miles of the Mississippi we must traverse. We certainly won't see water so low there that we would have trouble entering some anchorages, but the more likely high water has its own issues. I am daily watching the Cape Girardeau levels with the idea that a stage of around 18 feet is doable but will gladly to consider any advice about this river from true veterans of it.

rgano said:

. I have absolutely no concerns about the Tombigbee, Tennessee, Ohio, or Illinois rivers,

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Well, at the moment the Illinois has a stretch closed to recreational vessels due to conditions, so I would be concerned about it as well. The Illinois certainly can rise and pick up a lot of debris during the spring, just as the Mississippi can.

Anchoring on the Mississippi is a matter of the lack of protection from commercial traffic.

As to water levels, Cape Girardeau just came out of flood stage today. It will continue to drop over the next few days. If you were trying to go right now, it would be a no go. It's as much about where it's been the last couple of weeks as where it is now. The water flow a couple of days ago was nearly double normal. Right now it's at 31'. Then when it reaches 15' they are going to do rock removal. Here's another website that may help you, although for some reason this week's update hasn't been made.

St. Louis District > Missions > Navigation > Status Reports

Well for sure, no water body can be taken for granted, but on a scale of concerns the Illinois probably won't be as high as the Mississippi. I am up to my eyes in the site you sent and very much appreciate the edification. I am looking at the USACE Rock Island site, but have not yet found a reference to the Illinois being temporarily closed to rec boats. Can you direct me?

rgano said:

Well for sure, no water body can be taken for granted, but on a scale of concerns the Illinois probably won't be as high as the Mississippi. I am up to my eyes in the site you sent and very much appreciate the edification. I am looking at the USACE Rock Island site, but have not yet found a reference to the Illinois being temporarily closed to rec boats. Can you direct me?

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Actually, not closed, just strongly discouraged.

I got the information from Waterway Guide which got it from the Coast Guard.

https://www.waterwayguide.com/nav-a...=Nav Alerts&utm_content=Nav+Alerts+04-14-2017

The upper Mississippi is similar to most all our other western rivers. There are challenges in both high and low water conditions and likewise benefits in each condition. I have run those rivers commercially towing 25 or more barges but it has been some time since I have been up there. You are doing the right thing by viewing the river conditions and stages of the River. It is more important to know the direction - either falling or on the rise and the speed of that direction such as a quick fall or a sudden rise. Anchorages or tying to the willows should not be a problem at all. During certain stages some of the wing dams can be run over and others may not. Likewise during certain stages on the Ohio you can run over the dams although I believe locks 52 and 53 are being rebuilt as one lock so that may not be an option any longer.
Follow a tow and keep your radio on - all will be well.

Sage advice I have read before an will follow. With a boat that can run only 8-9 MPH in still water, I imagine tows may overtake ME. What's your take?

8-9 MPH is not a problem. As are most rivers the current is not the same everywhere between its banks. You will find the strongest currents coming into and out of the bends of the river and the easiest current going up river under the points. You may often pick up an eddy or reverse current that will boost you along if you stay up and under the points as long as you can.
Contrary to what many say in regards to "right of way" the descending vessel does indeed have the right of way and they will tend to be staying in the current and on the bend side of the river unless you hear on the radio that they are "flanking". If so, slow or stop and give the tow the entire river until the complete that operation. They will need every inch.
You will be fine.

A towboat acquaintance told me that when encountering a tow in turns, there is the possibility of the towboat "tripping" by having its stern hit the outside bank causing the barges to swing like a door into the outside bank along with anything between the barges and the bank. So the small guy like me should always aim for two things, good communications with the towboat and if agreement is reached, to pass on the inside of the turn. As you say, COLREGs are quite clear about in meeting a downbound vessel and I repeat Rule 14(d) here because it is the ONLY place where the term "right of way" is used :






(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Rule, a power-driven vessel
operating on the Great Lakes, Western Rivers, or waters specified by the
Secretary, and proceeding downbound with a following current shall have
the right-of-way over an upbound vessel, shall propose the manner of
passage, and shall initiate the maneuvering signals prescribed by Rule
34(a)(i), as appropriate.

The reality is you communicate and stay the heck out of their way. You're far more maneuverable. Their course is set and their options are limited. This is where you're electronics are also important in being aware of those you can't see, those around the next turn.

Too be sure. VHF, radar, and chartplotter with AIS and AC all in use all the time plus probably a lot of following the guy ahead!

It is a big river there are very few places where you can not meet and/or pass safely. Don't cross too closely in front of the tows especially if they are pushing empties. Their sight line may be limited. Remember that the current is effecting both of you so even if it may appear that they may be pointing at you they may indeed be sliding and falling away from your position. Expect a "washboard" type wheel wash behind them for sometimes as much as a half mile.
They are all professionals and will treat you with the same professional attitude that you would expect. Feel free to ask them, they will be your best source of information, on river conditions or safe places to tie-off or anchor. Not withstanding Active Captain or Waterways Guide, these individuals often travel over the same section of the river three or four times during their days on the boat and note many conditions and changes that are never mentioned in other forms of information.

ulysses said:

They are all professionals and will treat you with the same professional attitude that you would expect. Feel free to ask them, they will be your best source of information, on river conditions or safe places to tie-off or anchor. Not withstanding Active Captain or Waterways Guide, these individuals often travel over the same section of the river three or four times during their days on the boat and note many conditions and changes that are never mentioned in other forms of information.

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We found them to be professional and helpful as well. They would advise us as to a good place to pass them if we approached from behind. We also locked through tied to a couple. That's especially helpful on the TN river where they may require more than one locking to get their barges all through.

I have experienced the good attitude you both speak of. One time while stuck below an inoperable lock, we were hailed from a workboat off the tow pushed up on a nearby sandbar and invited to a bonfire dinner. And skippers never fail to respond to calls. Tow skippers want things to go smoothly - I just wish I could always understand some of their marble-mouthed transmissions. I am a deep sea sailor with a now-lapsed USCG unlimited tonnage license, and I have listened to the King's English slaughtered all over the world by foreigners on the radio, but nothing beats the occasional garble heard on our our waterways. I am sure the other tow skippers catch the gist of what the fellow is saying but some of the rest of use who are in waters new to us miss the landmarks they use for reference. Mile markers seem to be seldom spoken of in my experience.

Good point on the communications. If you have a good river chart look at the names of the lights not the mile markers. They will typically report their positions based on the light name.
To become a licensed first class unlimited ton pilot it was necessary that I draw the river and label each light by its name along with a few other things but at any rate you will find they expect you to say what light you are and not the mile marker. This is true on all the rivers you will be on.

Mississippi passage

Its been a few years now since Classy Lady (my Alaskan 46) and I traveled the "big miss" & working with the tow boat captains still brings fond memories! A great bunch of guy, always willing to help & discuss situations on the rivers. One boat I remember was Sugarland" --had several pleasant conversations! God Bless you all!

I too have had perfectly fine experiences with the tow skippers, IF I can understand their garble. We are closely watching the Cape Girardeau gage levels and see that it has finally crested at over 45 feet. We plan to leave Orange Beach, AL on the 29th of May and head up the Tombigbee Waterway to be in position by mid-June to run up the Mississippi to Grafton as/if the Cape G levels go below 20 feet.

Hi Rich, I hope you will keep us posted about the trip on here. I think I'd like to do the Tenn-Tom when we get back into cruising again.

Hey, Steve. Long time no hear. The TTom is simple enough. I described our 2006 trip in my www.cruisinthrough.blogspot.com if you never looked at it before.