East Coast Cruise

El and Bill,

We’re aiming for Nashville and a cruise afterwards. Here come the questions.

When do you plan to leave the area?

What waters might we reasonably visit after the Nashville gathering?

Do you know a good source for paper charts? Cruising guides?

Our electronic charting system is the Raymarine C 80. It takes Navionics Compact Flash cards. After I hear from you, I’ll check to see if they have a card for the region. I also have the Captn, which uses a computer and Maptech CDs. The latter is not as handy but the display is better. I’ll see what they have.

If we will be going through locks, I’d appreciate your thoughts on lines and fenders.

Have you decided on a place to leave the vehicle and trailer?

We like to collect sights and experiences along the way to our next pretty and safe anchorage. It is nice to arrive a few hours before sunset, set up the chairs, gaze awhile into the middle distance, and enjoy a glass of wine. Life is good. Add pleasant company and life is even better.

Looking forward to good and better.
 
George and Penny --
Great to hear that you will be at nashville and cruising afterwards. To answer questions:
1. When do we plan to leave the area? We don't have any fixed schedule, but will want to cruise the Cumberland/Tennessee Rivers most of April.

2. What waters might we reasonably visit after the Nashville gathering? a)One could cruise southerly down the Tenn/Tom, but might be getting a little warm for that. b) The Ohio is a wonderful cruise if you want to either trailer up to the top end or just drop through the locks out of either the Cumberland or Tennessee, take a hard turn to starboard, and trundle up river and back down to the start. c) We are thinking of trailering over the mountains to the sounds of North Carolina -- great cruising inside the Outer Banks. Then, could continue up through the Dismal Swamp and into Chesapeake.

3. Do you know a good source for paper charts? Cruising guides? We'll have to look up our sources for those and get back to you. There are great fishing maps for most of the lakes along the Tennessee/Cumberland that sell for about $5 apiece. The channels are well-marked since they are navigable for tows -- charts are most needed coming into anchorages.

4. Charts? Our charts are Garmin, and the Fishing Hot Spots chips (East and Middle) cover some of the lakes. Don't know about Navionics or Captn charts for that water, but others might help you with those.
If we will be going through locks, I’d appreciate your thoughts on lines and fenders.

5. Have you decided on a place to leave the vehicle and trailer? the two Byrdmen have places available for the Nashville Gathering and a launch ramp nearby. I'm sure they will post detailed directions as time comes closer. We plan to park and launch where they say.

Sounds like you folks like to cruise like we do -- no itinerary, relaxed, weather-dependent, and see the sights and critters. Great to hear that you guys are coming and look forward to seeing you at the Gathering.
 
El and Bill,

I notice that Halycon and Wanderer are the only two boats registered for the Nashville gathering. The Byrdman has been out of the coop since 8 Feb. Will you still cruise the area, at that time, if no one else chooses to do so?

My investigation suggests three types of information should be aboard.

1. Quimby’s Guide. It can be purchased from Heartland Boating for $39 plus shipping.
http://www.heartlandboating.com
2. Paper Charts. The Corps of Eng. Shows 62 charts for the Cumberland River. http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/opn/CumbRiver/cumbmap.htm
I think, I can print them myself. Click on one of the numbers and you will get a PDF chart. I assume the same can be printed for the Tenn. River.
3. Navionics Chip(s): Two chips cover the inland waters. Do I need both to cover the expected cruising area? They are sold this way at $200 each: http://www.navionics.com/Charts.asp?ContinentID=5&RegionID=37&ChartSizeID=6
or this way at a smaller price:
http://www.navionics.com/Charts.asp?ContinentID=5&RegionID=37&ChartSizeID=2

I’m always interested in meeting C-Brats but am most interested in cruising with them. Since South Florida is a prime cruising area, I would not leave it at the end of March to cruise elsewhere except to do so with like minded cruisers.

If it is still a go, I need to place some orders. Any help in narrowing the coverage needed will hold expenses down.
 
George and Penny --
If the creeks don't rise, we are planning to be at the Nashville Gathering and plan to stay on for some extensive cruising on the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers afterwards. We hope to arrive about the 1st of April and cruise until about the last week in April. I know of two boats from CA planning to come to the Gathering and cruise afterwards.
Quimby is always handy, paper charts are good to carry, and I don't know anything about navionics chips (we use Garmin, and I know that the east and central fishing maps cover many of the reservoirs along the rivers). We have an old Quimby that would probably work for marinas, etc., and that would save some money for you.
 
El and Bill,

I placed orders for paper charts, one Navionics chip (Southern Rivers) and Quimby's. Look forward to seeing you there. I hope more info will be posted on how to get to the rendezvous.
 
I keep jumping around on the various threads and find mention of our first ever gathering.

Now look, seriously, it is your obligation to come and support this fledgling group of 'brats tryng to establish a new point of pride for C. Dory(and just remember, those left coasters are watchiing to see if we can do it!) just kidding.

We are hovering around 15 boats...love to all of them..You can catch the aroma of crabs steaming, maybe a fish fry, good company, a bano ringin' in the night, lots of lies about fishing (we are famed for that), and the hospitality of the 'Shore. Y'all come.


tom, terraplane
 
Tom --
Looks like at least three eastern states Gatherings in the offing:
1. Nashville Gathering in early April
2. Eastern Shore Gathering in early June
3. Erie Canal (Northeast Gathering) in September.

As our friend Pat Byrd might say, "EEEEHAAAA"
 
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