GL: Mobile Bay-Tenn-Tom

[Bill Donovan]

Fred:

First of all, get the right documentation.  Try to get a copy of Fred 
Myers book, "The Tenn-Tom Nitty-Gritty Cruise Guide."  It is out of 
print, and you may have to borrow a copy from someone.

Second, get Skipper Bob's "Cruising from Chicago to Mobile" cruise guide.

There are other good guides (like Quimby's Cruising Guide or Waterway 
Guide), but the two above will be the most practical and useful.

You will need NOAA Charts 11376 and 11378.

You will need two USACE chartbooks: Waterway Charts, Lower Black 
Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway, and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway 
Charts.  Both books available through US Army Corpse of Engineers, 
Mobile District or Bluewater Books or Landfall Navigation, among others.

Mobile Bay itself is big but not very deep, so in a windy situation, 
the seas build quickly and can be steep.  There is a lot of 
commercial shipping using the ship channel, but you can usually 
cruise just outside the markers and be in plenty of water.  From the 
west, follow the ICW to the ship channel and turn north.  Good 
marinas are Eastern Shore near Fairhope on the east side, Grand 
Mariner or Dog River Marina just inside Dog River on the west side of 
the bay.  Dog River is a AGLCA sponsor, but all three marinas have 
their charms and attractions.  There is a free wharf in downtown 
Mobile you can dock for the night.

The Alabama River (lower part of the "Tenn-Tom") offers some of the 
most isolated and best anchorages within the continental US, in my 
opinion.  See Fred Myers' or Skipper Bob's books.  Bob is less picky 
on anchorages, whereas Fred only suggests the best of anchorages 
(same for marinas).

The best fuel prices on the entire route will be at Aberdeen Marina, 
about mm 378.  Call ahead to be sure they aren't out of diesel (I 
have pumped them dry twice in the last month after pumping  less than 
200 gallons each time).

If you have any specific questions, feel free to contact me off line.

It is a great trip!  Have fun!

Bill Donovan
"Georgia Peach" DF 44
lying Columbus Marina


At 11:22 AM 3/18/2008, A. F. Moen wrote:
>Hello all!!  The first part of May, I will be leaving Lake Pontchartrain
>and heading up the Tenn-Tom.  Ultimate destination is Lake Superior.
>
>I was wondering if anyone could give me some insight ...snip...