GL: In-Water winter storage?

[John Esch]

>>if we were to decide to come back up the rivers to do the North Channel <<
>>next spring-summer and then complete the loop to Florida in 2008, how <<
>>formidable are the spring currents on the rivers?<<

The rivers can be a problem in the spring.  You have to carefully watch rain 
patterns & snow melt which affect river levels and river current.  In early 
April we missed a weather opportunity on the Mississippi and ended up coming 
up river from Eddyville, KY in June.  A lot depends on the speed you can 
cruise at.  We cruised up in June at a net 7 mph against a current of 4-6 
mph.

What speed do you cruise at and what is your max speed?  Since you are an 
LRC I assume you carry a lot of fuel so you should not need to purchase any 
for the 250 miles from Green Turtle to Hoppies.

>>How far south do we have to travel to find no- ice in-water <<
>>storage for the winter months?<<

Does this comment mean that you stay on the boat for the winter?  If so, I 
understand the warm water storage.  If you don't stay on the boat you may 
want to consider storing it on the hard on Lake Michigan or the Illinois 
River and saving fuel & headaches (coming up the Miss. in Apr/May period).

John Esch
Fet-Esch,a 48' Chung Hwa Seamaster
Currently lying North Point Marina, Winthrop Harbor, IL
on Beautiful Lake Michigan/Wisconsin border
www.Fet-Esch.com