Your longest trip?

[Jfreeman1412]

Hey Guys
What is the longest trip you took in your trojan? We are looking at possible embarking on a trip from MPLS to Chicago via the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Anyone done this trip or one similar? How was it? What kind of advice would you give? Pretty excited to hear your stories and advice. Thanks.

[Diverted Income]

Not many yet, but plan to move from St. Charles, Mo area to Dubuque,Ia. Not quite half your trip. Actually that was to happen a month ago...... Then it rained.............and rained again.
That is the plan anyway. Maybe our wakes will cross along the way!

[LandVF36]

Every other year, we take a trip from Red Wing to Dubuque or Davenport and back. The other years we travel up to Stillwater, then North Minneapolis, and back. On either one, its about a week. What is hard to plan for is the bardge traffic in the locks!

I think there is an android app now that will help with that if you are in a hurry.

[rossjo]

325 miles - 3 day trip up the ICW from below St. Augustine, FL to Mount Pleasant, SC (just above Charleston). Had a great time in late January 2005. Started out warm and balmy, then the weather turned bad in Savannah, arrived in the dark in Charleston harbor at the upper helm with 20knot sleet in my face (with that silly F32/F36 white anchor/nav light right in front of my face).

Love to do it again - had a great time.

[prowlersfish]

My longest trip was up the Chesapeake bay , 10 days or so, 140 miles or so the first day , a lot less every day afterwords . Maybe a total of 450+ miles ? Great trip .

[Diverted Income]

LandVF36 - I have a friend that bought a 32' Marinette in Red Wing last fall. Maybe you have run into him? His name is Bud. Great guy.

[LandVF36]

Diverted Income: There are six marina's here in Red Wing and a coupe of Marinette's. Which Marina? What's the name of the boat?

[Jfreeman1412]

Hey guys from Minnesota or familiar with the Upper Mississippi. Have you ever heard of anyone making the trip from here to Chicago? Is there a good resource for marinas along the way. Specially ones with gas?

Does anyone know the name of the app that helps with the locks? Thanks

[ready123]

http://www3.mvr.usace.army.mil/NIC2/

and Active Captain will likely give you all you need.
I did Tennessee river and Tom Bigbee waterway using AC and my AIS receiver in my VHF and found that more useful than any charts I had.
AC's satellite view and user comments was much more useful to plan stops and fuel info..... Now I was in my diesel boat so fuel stops were not a big concern with 1000 mile range at 9 mph.

[lawyerdave71]

Jfreeman1412

I know that West Marine sells a guide book that will have all the info you need for this sort of trip!

[Jfreeman1412]

Thanks Dave
I stopped by there today and they said that I need to call the Corp. to get a general map. There are books for other rivers but not the Mississippi. I was surprised. Do you or anyone else know what the book would be named? Or where I could find one? Thanks.

[lawyerdave71]

I am sorry I was WRONG!

It is Lakeland Boating that has the guide books - check out their website lakelandboating.com

Last time I needed a chart book I bought it from them for $40 whereas West Marine was charging $80 for the same book

My understanding is they have books that will take you from Chicago to Miami and vice versa

[Jfreeman1412]

Dave
All I can find on the website is the books on the Great Lakes. Is it in one of those?

[Diverted Income]

Get a Quimby's book. Lists all marinas along the way and states what services they have to offer. http://www.landfallnavigation.com/-bj010.html

[Diverted Income]

Upper Mississippi River Chart
http://www3.mvr.usace.army.mil/NIC2/Doc ... _PAGES.pdf