Looper Southbound from St Louis in late November

[mlanger]

I spent much of October on the Great Loop between Chicago and Alton (near St. Louis). I’d been hoping to get as far as Paducah or Turtle Bay by now but a nervous crewmember and logistics slowed us down. I’m on a plane heading home for 3 weeks now and will return to continue the Loop at the end of November.

I’m looking for anyone else heading south as late as me to possibly buddy boat as far as Turtle Bay. I’m not a member of the AGLCA so I can’t post there. I’m hoping to spread the word anyway. I can be reached at boating@marialanger.com.

 

[acdfpic]

If you have NEBO, you might want to look and see if there are any boats around you. From what I've read, the problem with being so late is getting water...most of the marinas have or are shutting down their water for the season. Fuel will be a problem as well.

You may want to make contact with the marinas further down the loop and see if they are even going to be open. If Hoppies is closed, you are going to have a hard time getting to Paducah and even Paducah has been hit and miss lately.

Good Luck!

Chris Boyd
Ex RT 25SC
Gold looper

 

[CaspersCruiser]

As mentioned above, services are limited on that segment of the loop. To complicate matters, daylight hours are short during your proposed timeframe. You absolutely, positively do not want to navigate the Mississippi or Ohio rivers in the dark. If you can’t get fuel at Hoppies which is 40 statute miles and one lock from Alton, the next possible place for on-water fuel is at Paducah, Kentucky, 210 miles and one lock farther. If fuel is not available at Paducah, it’s at least another 35 miles and one lock to Green Turtle Bay (vice “Turtle Bay”), depending on route taken.

Hoppies (636) 467-6154

Paducah City Docks (270) 538-9849 or (270) 816-5607

 

[mlanger]

Thanks for all the bad news, guys. Yes, I am aware of all this, which is part of the reason I was looking for a buddy boat.

I think I’ll be fine past Green Turtle Bay. Alton and Hoppies have shut off water, but I filled at Grafton, which is also where I pumped out. Both Alton and Hoppies did have fuel as of yesterday. I did the fuel math and believe I can make it without a Hoppies stop if I have to, as long as I keep my speed down. I topped my tank at Alton before parking. I know the days are shorter and I have absolutely no intention of cruising after dark.

As for Nebo, I checked for potential loopers behind me and did find a few, but I’m pretty sure most or all will have passed me, given the challenges, before I get started again. That’s why I’m using additional means, such as posts here, to try to connect with other late loopers.

 

[tlkenyon]

You have probable bee told this, but you really need to join the AGLCA. By personal experience, it is worth every penny.

 

[BB marine]

We are Looping now sitting in Orange Beach Alabama. We have completed the segment that you are asking about twice. Once in our C26 Cutwater and this year in our 34 Pilot Mainship. The trip from Alton to Green Turtle bay can be uneventful as long as you plan your day. Know how fast you plan on running and the distance you can travel in day light. Your day light will be less by the end of November. I would recommend a early start from Alton and stop at Hoppies for fuel top off your tank and to tie for the night. Leave as early as possible in the morning. Hopefully fog will not be an issue. Plan a long day and adjust speed to make it to Little diversion creek in Cape Girardeau river MM 48. This will get you off the river for the night and is a safe anchorage. The water level was low this fall on the river but plenty of water for the Ranger 29 Tug. Leave here in the early morning and go to Angelo Towhead MM 2. An easy 46 mile day. From here plan an early morning and leave Mississippi River shortly after leaving the anchorage . You will have no problem making Paducah by end of day unless you get hung up at the one lock. The RDB of the Ohio has good water 9 to 10' of water 100 yards off the shore line (Kentucky side) Follow your charts to getting over and you can drop your anchor well out of the channel. Fuel at Paducah and plan an easy day from Paducah to Green Turtle Bay. I recommend taking the Cumberland River not the Tennessee River. The key is plan your anchorages for good day light. Plan your speed and fuel consumption. When I took the trip in the Cutwater we used 65 gallons of fuel from Hoppies to GTB. I was running at hull speed 6.5kts ingot a 2 kt average push from the river current. If I would have increased speed in the Cutwater I would not have made it and Paducah fuel dock was broke at the time. C26 only holds 80 Gallons. This year fuel was not an issue. The Pilot 34 holds 250 gallons and gets the same fuel economy at 8kts as the C26 did at 6.5kts. We fueled at Alton and had no issue making it to GTB having well over 100 gallons of fuel left. My wife has a Blog. She has a good description of this section of the trip in the Blog. I Post to Active Captain and posted a description of entering Angelo Towhead in Active captain.

Enjoy the run down the River. Once you start you will find it is an easy run.

 

[CaptT]

Brian, I may have missed something but where can we find your wife's blog? I know my wife and I would love to read it as we are planning on doing the loop as well.
Thanks,
Terry

 

[CaspersCruiser]

……where can we find your wife's blog? I know my wife and I would love to read it as we are planning on doing the loop as well…...

Brian’s wife, Loral, publishes a very nice blog— well-written and well-illustrated. This link will take you to the first post of their current trip:

http://portageelooper.blogspot.com/2022 ... 82022.html

 

[CaspersCruiser]

……..Know how fast you plan on running and the distance you can travel in day light….I would recommend a early start from Alton and stop at Hoppies for fuel top off your tank and to tie for the night. Leave as early as possible in the morning. Hopefully fog will not be an issue. Plan a long day and adjust speed to make it to Little diversion creek in Cape Girardeau river MM 48. This will get you off the river for the night and is a safe anchorage. The water level was low this fall on the river but plenty of water for the Ranger 29 Tug. Leave here in the early morning and go to Angelo Towhead MM 2. An easy 46 mile day. From here plan an early morning and leave Mississippi River shortly after leaving the anchorage

Hey Brian, as always, GREAT advice from someone who has made the trip twice. Just the information she needs.

…….The RDB of the Ohio has good water 9 to 10' of water 100 yards off the shore line (Kentucky side) Follow your charts to getting over and you can drop your anchor well out of the channel..…..

If one is proceeding upstream on the Ohio, as one is doing when heading to Paducah from the Mississippi/Ohio River confluence, the Kentucky side of the river is to the right, but it’s on the Left Descending Bank (LDB).

The reason I’m making this post is to resolve for Tugnut forum readers the confusing concept of Left or Right Descending Bank (LDB and RDB). The banks of a river are always referenced in the downstream direction. Heading downstream, the LDB is to the left and RDB is to the right. Heading upstream, the LDB to the right and RDB is to the left.

I’ll let you explain passing a river towboat on the “one” or the “two.” I can NEVER keep that straight!

 

[Katmat]

Can't go wrong if you take Brian's advice!!

 

[BB marine]

Bill 100% right. Kentucky side is LDB. As you proceed upstream on the Ohio it is right side. Kentucky side.

 

[mlanger]

You have probable bee told this, but you really need to join the AGLCA. By personal experience, it is worth every penny.

I was a member and had a bad experience with the organization’s management. I let my membership lapse. I am a principled person and will not give money to people I cannot support.

Please note that there are more quality resources for traveling along the great loop than one organization can provide. I’m tapping into those resources and am doing fine.

 

[mlanger]

We are Looping now sitting in Orange Beach Alabama. We have completed the segment that you are asking about twice. Once in our C26 Cutwater and this year in our 34 Pilot Mainship. The trip from Alton to Green Turtle bay can be uneventful as long as you plan your day. …

Enjoy the run down the River. Once you start you will find it is an easy run.

Wow! Thanks for this very complete summary and anchoring recommendations.

I had planned on stopping at the Kaskaskia Lock on the first night after Hoppies. I’ve gone through waterway guide and notes I made at Heritage Harbor at Harbormaster Jeremy’s briefing and listed all the potential anchorages. The ones you mention are on that list. I’d planned on setting a speed of 6 to 8 knots to save fuel, and that limits the distances for my daily runs. Fortunately, I’m an early riser and have no qualms about getting started at first light. But I also want to set anchor at least an hour before sunset in case I have trouble doing so. I did see some very dense fog in Hardin and Alton on my way south; I sure hope that isn’t an issue. Even though I have radar, I have no intention of traveling in visibility less than a mile.

Thanks again for this. I’ll print it out so I can put it with my notes.

 

[mlanger]

……where can we find your wife's blog? I know my wife and I would love to read it as we are planning on doing the loop as well…...

Brian’s wife, Loral, publishes a very nice blog— well-written and well-illustrated. This link will take you to the first post of their current trip:

http://portageelooper.blogspot.com/2022 ... 82022.html

Thanks for this. I’ll check it out.

 

[mlanger]

I’ll let you explain passing a river towboat on the “one” or the “two.” I can NEVER keep that straight!

Same here. I have a cheat sheet in the Skipper Bob book that I have to consult every single time.

 

[BB marine]

One Whistle, the port side of your boat is (parallel facing) to the boat you are passing either way. Approaching the bow or stern. Two whistle, the starboard side of your boat is (parallel facing) the boat you are passing either way.

Second explanation

If I am overtaking a boat. Coming up from the stern of the boat to overtake. I am passing the boat on that boats Starboard side and my boats port side are parallel . I am passing right of the boat I am passing. One whistle !

If I am overtaking a boat. Coming up from the stern of the boat to overtake. I am passing the boats Port side and my boats starboard side are parallel . I am passing left of the boat I am passing. Two whistle !

If I am approaching a boat. Coming up to the boats Bow to pass. I am passing the boats port side and my boats port side are parallel. I am passing to the right of the boat I am passing. One Whistle !

If I am approaching a boat. Coming up to the boats Bow to pass. I am passing the boats starboard side and my boats starboard are parallel. I am passing to the left of the boat I am passing. Two whistle !

Third explanation
It gets complicated if you over think it. If my boat is passing a boat Over taking it or Approaching it and I pass to the right of that boat. One whistle ! If my boat is passing a boat Over taking it or Approaching it and I pass to the left of that boat. Two whistle.

In most of our boating this is not needed knowledge. Once in a while you will hear a commercial boat sound the horn one short blow or two short blows. Most recreational boaters don't have a clue what that means. When you travel the inland waterway river system Illinois river, Mississippi River, Ohio river, Tennessee river, TennTom and Tombigbee river to Mobile Bay you will encounter many commercial Tows in tight river bends. Calling the tow and asking best side to pass is a good idea. Many times the tow captain needs more swing room and will use all of the channel. The tow captains are familiar with the waterways and know water depths, shallow areas and deep areas in theses bends. Sometimes they will have you pass them on the opposite side of them that you think you should pass them on. Using the VHF marine radio to talk with them and find out what side they prefer or recommend. One whistle or Two whistle side is good information. Many times it is as simple as "See you on the one's" Means Passing on his right. There are many times on the straight runs in the wider sections of the river there is no need to even call. The Tow captains see you and you see them with plenty of room to pass.

 

[mlanger]

Brian,

These are all great explanations. And you’re right when you say most boaters don’t need to know this for regular boating activities. Unless you’re on the inland rivers, of course, which are full of tows. But even then, tow captains understand that PC (pleasure craft) don’t always know the whistle signals.

I passed (in either direction) at least a dozen tows during my 350-mile trip south from Chicago in October. When overtaking a tow, I’d usually call and use plain English to say how I wanted to pass: “I’d like to pass on your port side.” The captain would usually respond with a verbal whistle call: “Ok for a two-whistle pass.” Near the end of this leg of my trip I got brave and would just request the two whistle pass. But there was always this weird feeling of doubt that I was getting it wrong. :lol:

If the tow was clearly maneuvering, I’d ask what the tow preferred. Then I’d get the verbal whistle call and scramble to look it up on my cheat sheet to make sure I got it right. For the most part, the tow captains were very nice and easy to work with.

I passed an oncoming tow that was maneuvering around a bend — or maybe he passed me? He was swinging wide to make the second half of an S-turn and I moved out of the channel for him, which he appreciated. But then he got nervous for me and told me I could come closer. I assured him I had plenty of water — it’s nice to have a 2 1/2 foot draft and a depth finder — and he continued on his way, thanking me as he cleared me.

I think I could tell quite a few tow passing stories already! I’m sure you can, too. Dealing with this large, lumbering river traffic is one of the challenges I’m enjoying on this trip.

Not once (so far) did I actually hear any whistles.

 

[forfun1960]

One small Marina that used to stay open most all winter is: https://golcondamarina.net/ maybe this stop can help with fueling.

 

[mlanger]

One small Marina that used to stay open most all winter is: https://golcondamarina.net/ maybe this stop can help with fueling.

I'm only heading as far as Paducah on the Ohio RIver, but thanks for this.