Anyone taking a yacht up to the Great Lakes this season; plans? route?

https://www.greatloop.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&module_id=356370

https://captainjohn.org/

https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/

https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Lock-Status/

Paid $2.50 at Demopolis this evening. Borrowed the marinas courtesy van and had Burger King because nothing else was open and it’s Mother’s Day so no cooking for the admiral. Weather and traffic has been very cooperative.

We are a 1989. 1033 gallons so range isn’t a problem. Getting about 13-14 gallons per hour with the generator running, that’s total burn for everything. Very few deadheads so far. Also basically no markers. We are treating the water as if they are there but most aren’t. We did see a large alligator a few hours south of Demopolis. Good luck and safe travels on your run!

Capt J and David, thanks for the updates.

Capt J, the range on those 52 Manhattans is brutal!!! I brought a 2017 from Chicago to Lauderdale 2 years ago through the Erie, and the fuel stops were a nice stop for the day, it just kind of threw the schedule off. Glad to hear your making way and it's looking like I'll be on your heels, and the shipyard should have the owners punch list completed around June 5-7 hopefully. Nothing like running it down to the wire!!! Safe travels!!

David, glad to hear your making way, and not seeing too many deadheads / trees floating in the rivers. Kind of surprised about very few markers. I spoke with Charlie Kidd on Saturday, and he did confirm that he can get you fuel if you need to stop at his barge, but remains an 0800-1600 M-F operation, and his barge is about 50' in length. Noticed last night that the Paducah transient dock is closed until further notice as well. Safe travels to you as well!!!

Thanks for the updates and if you can keep posting things, that will be beneficial as well.

Paducah is closed but letting people dock there at no charge since there are no services. I was just there on a 56 Sea Ray. If you can spare the fuel by running the generator for the night, it's the best jumping off point to leave there at daylight and head for Alton. We pulled into Green Turtle Bay around 2 pm heading north and chose to fuel and head to Paducah via Barkley Lock and the Cumberland.

When we came through, Alton was closed but we came out of Mel Price during a big storm and chose to just tie off (short on fuel) and try calling in the morning to beg for forgiveness. The security guard was genuinely just happy we were safe. At that time Alton was NOT fueling any boats, not sure about now. However, just up river Polestar and Port Charles Harbor were pumping fuel and very accommodating.

Keep it up Captains , this is neat! It's nice to read up-to-date travel info. Thank You.
Safe travels.

Capt J. Safe travels, and talked with a fellow Captain that is in Tarpon Springs yesterday, and he said how nasty the winds have been lately. Make sure you grab some Appalach oysters if you get there tonight!!!

Have heard a few rumors from some of the Lock Operators on the Erie that it may be partially opened by June 1. Again just rumors, and am not planning on it at the moment.

I'm still planning on leaving Lauderdale on June 4-5 and running the west Coast of Florida and up to Mobile and then up the River System to Chicago and then over to Detroit for the owner, but was told yesterday might have to take it down towards Erie, PA for them depending on when I get there.

Thanks for the update!

If you want great food in Apalatchacola head to the Hole in the wall restaurant and bar. Tell Brarbara Dave the baldheaded boat guy said hi and sent you there for the ****** food and ****** service. Ha. It’s really good and they are great people! Safe travels. So far our luck been good, we haven’t been held up by any tows in the locks and not much debris in the river. Columbus is at about four feet so we went up the Waverly anchorage. Just inside the channel and had 8.5’ with good holding in mud. Very peaceful. Safe travels!

Oops sorry about the cursing. Should have substituted the curse word with it rhymes with kitty.

just got a accepted offer on a boat in west palm beach will be going to Macinac island with her will be going your route leaving around the same time

The boat is in west palm beach . long story short version is we had a boat in ri listed it 4 days ago and offer accepted today and went right after one in west palm .offer accepted on that and closing in 10 days boss wants to keep me on my toes

Capt J, sounds good, and safe travels. I've heard from another Captain that the Rivers route hasn't been too bad with debris as of yet, and we have a decent window of weather in the Great Lakes at the time, so you should be good for a while.

WI3175, sounds good. I'll keep you posted as to what I plan to do. I have a conference call with the owner and broker this evening to get plans finalized and, worst case, when I get to FTL and if for some reason the Erie opens up, then I'll run the East Coast route instead of the Gulf / Inland Route.

The NYS canal system, originally scheduled to open today, has given no further updates since the 4/23/20 notice:

Notice to Mariners

2020 Navigation Season Update

April 23, 2020



Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the Canal Corporation has suspended all non-essential construction and maintenance activities, therefore the New York State Canal system will not open for through navigation of the locks on May 15th as previously announced. However, to support the Canal's continued use as a prime recreational waterway, the Canal Corporation is currently evaluating operational options to ensure New Yorkers will have access to the Canal system, if even potentially on a regional basis, this season. We recognize that this is an extraordinarily difficult time and are sensitive to potential hardships Canal stakeholders, as well as many other New Yorkers, may experience. The situation with COVID-19 is ever-evolving and we are trying to adapt our plans accordingly. Future updates will be posted through our Notice to Mariners program. We appreciate your patience.

Heads up, as of this am Alton does not have fuel and neither does Grafton. Sitting at Green Turtle enjoying a couple down days. Lost steering so we used our plan stop here to get the pump rebuilt. Also had our kids and girlfriends stay last night and tonight. Took them for a cruise to sea trial the steering then went to Nickel Bay on Barkley to anchored for a few hours and chill. Not sunny but warm and pleasant.