GL: From Cumberland R. to Chicago

[ALloyd217 at aol.com]

Tom,
    From Land Between the Lakes to Chicago  is no problem for a 5ft draft.  
Commercial traffic with a 9ft draft  regularly use this route.  
    Begin heading downstream on either the  Cumberland or Tennessee then the 
Ohio River to the Mississippi.   From  here you will be motoring upstream 
against the current which can be considerable  after heavy rain in the mid-west.   
Diesel is available at mile 52 and  gas and diesel at mile 159 on the 
Mississippi.  These are the first fuel  stops since leaving Land between the Lakes.   
There are no low bridges  on the Mississippi. 
    After St. Louis, there are two locks,  then you will leave the 
Mississippi and take the Illinois River.    There are about half dozen bridges that need 
to be opened for your 48ft  mast.  This is not a problem but it may be more 
convenient to lower the  mast at Lighthouse Landing Marina on Kentucky Lake 
where they have  facilities.
    Approaching Chicago area, the lowest  fixed bridge is 19.1 feet.
There are two routes thru Chicago.  On the Chicago River  (recommended) the 
bridges have only 17 feet clearance.  The Calumet River  is the alternate route.
 
Alan  Lloyd
Great Loop Navigation Notes
_www.NavigationNotes.com_ (http://www.navigationnotes.com/) 
Visit web  site for more information

 
 
In a message dated 10/30/2008 11:26:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
tafelice at yahoo.com writes:

I'm  interested in taking a sailboat with a 5 foot draft from the Cumberland 
R.  Land Between the Lakes area to Chicago, Lake Michigan.  

1) What  is the route?
2) Where on the Mississippi is entry to the R. system to  Chicago?
3) Will I have any concerns with a 5 ft draft?
4) I'm pretty  sure I understand there is not sufficient air draft for a 48ft 
mast.   Where do I have to take down my mast? And when can I put it back  up?

Thank you,

Tom
reply to _tafelice at yahoo.com_ (mailto:tafelice at yahoo.com) 

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