Upper Mississippi River C-Dory Trip - Sep. 2021

Jim, I just came across this. I've been up in Isle Royale National Park the last two weeks, with very little cell service. (ie, no data!) And now I'm at one of my wife's brothers lake side cottages for the weekend, where I still have poor cell reception. I'll have to go back and read this thread closer to see what your exact plans are, but I may be interested in doing this trip with you guys. I have some experience on the Mississippi River from Winona down to St. Louis. Rather I come or not, the most important advice I can share is to be very aware of the wing dams. The tows monitor and use ch. 13. Colby
 
I’m giving it serious consideration. Looking at my charts I’ve actually been as far as Hudson then continued up the St. Croix. September should be a good time to be on the Mississippi. Past Meet in the Middle gatherings were always the first weekend after Labor Day. Sometimes the River was low, but that only made launching a bit harder and some wing dams more visable. I’ll look at the trip closer when I get back home and let you know sometime during the week. But I think there is a good chance I’ll join if room.
 
By the way, for those that haven't, but would like to, you can download the entire Upper Mississippi River Chart book at:
https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions ... ppi-River/
Near the top of the page on the left is a link to download the entire book. Regarding Alton, it is a beautiful marina. Even has a hot tub. Nice place to end up. Enjoy the hot tub and some very nice showers before heading back for the rigs. Also a nice visitor center at the Mel Price Lock and Dam if it's open. And when we got a tour there, everyone found that very interesting. Alton has several good restaurants as well. Dubuque has become somewhat of a partying marina, at least the Dubuque Yacht Basin. It may be noisy on a weekend night. There is a very good restaurant there, Catfish Charlies. However, right next to the River Museum, which I highly recommend worth a visit, is a smaller and quiet marina. That one is behind flood gates named the Port of Dubuque Marina. Not usually a problem in September. The Clinton marina wasn't all that impressive when we held a gathering there. And the slips are perpendicular to the current. Makes for fun docking. There are several interesting towns worth walking thru if time allows. Guttenburg is one of the many. I mentioned the wing dams earlier. They extend out at a slight angle from the shore, and serve the purpose of channeling the river water to help keep the main channel scoured out for the minimum of 9' draft for the tows. They are not always accurately marked in the charts, and usually lie just below the water's surface. If going to a sandy shore to beach for lunch, do it straight in, and slowly. (And be aware of your drift.) I'll admit nothing else on the Mississippi River scares me more than the wing dams. Stay in the main channel between the buoys and they are not a problem. If any of the marinas are in the off channels, be certain of the entrance. There are some narrow channels, some with bends, and if a group of boats have to pass or overtake a tow, it's courteous to give them a call on 13, let them know your intentions and see if they have a preferred side to pass on. Especially if approaching a bend. Tow terminology on the water, on the one, or one whistle means go to right, on the two or two whistle means go to the left. (At least that's how I remember it. For more official wording, you'll have to look it up in regs. :mrgreen: )
Jim, what are your plans for returning for the rigs? I'm considering another option of launching at Dubuque, as there is a nice park I've used there before. But running upriver to join you guys, and then back up river after arriving in Alton, would probably cost more in boat fuel than sharing a rental and rig gas to make the drive. Colby
 
Colby and friends (not that Colby isn’t a friend)

I find that the easiest way for us to remember the ‘see you on the one’ rules is this:

Regardless of whether you are OVERTAKING or MEETING HEAD ON, one whistle means that you steer your boat to starboard (to the right for Colby).

Still waiting at the bottom of Cayuga Lake for locks CS1-E35 to open,

John and Eileen
 
Hi Colby.

We plan to rent a car in Alton, Illinois and drive back to St. Paul, Minnessota to pick up our trailer rigs. It is 536 miles back by road. We may have to stay overnight in St. Paul before we head back the next morning.

It is 265 nautical miles from Dubuque, Iowa back to Watergate Marina in St Paul. That is quite a round trip for you. We are staying at America Marine Marina in Dubuque.

It is also 378 NM back from Alton, Illinois to Dubuque, Iowa. That is also a considerable round trip in your boat.

Seems to me you would be better off staying with our group. Much less logistics for you, unless you want to put another 643 NM on your boat, essentially doubling our 13 day boat trip in nautical miles!
 
gulfcoast john":lsp7v7cv said:
Colby and friends (not that Colby isn’t a friend)

I find that the easiest way for us to remember the ‘see you on the one’ rules is this:

Regardless of whether you are OVERTAKING or MEETING HEAD ON, one whistle means that you steer your boat to starboard (to the right for Colby).

Still waiting at the bottom of Cayuga Lake for locks CS1-E35 to open,

John and Eileen
Click to expand...

:lol: :lol: :lol:
John, that one got me today. :roll: I just did a move for a gal from our church. One of her friends who was helping with her truck and trailer is considerably directionally challenged, (N.S, E, & W and also Right and Left) are constantly mixed up SO , , , , She has to use Drivers side or passenger side to know which way to turn. Teased her a bit today, and then I saw this and thought YIKES, if she ever got on a C-Dory she would be constantly going the wrong way :shock: :twisted:

Had heard about Corrigan but didn't know that was real until a few years ago.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

Entrance_sign.thumb.jpg
 
Jim Gibson":1oune66w said:
...We plan to rent a car in Alton, Illinois and drive back to St. Paul, Minnessota to pick up our trailer rigs. It is 536 miles back by road. We may have to stay overnight in St. Paul before we head back the next morning.
Click to expand...

You need to plan carefully for a rental car these days. They can be very pricey and hard to come by. Also, one way rentals are more difficult and can involve extra fees (unless you are going between certain cities).

FWIW, I rented a car a couple of weeks ago in Seattle. It was over $200/day.

They say you might be better renting a U-Haul (or other moving type company) truck or van than going with a conventional rental car company. These companies are also more friendly to one way rentals.
 
There is a reason I said right and left. I started with Starboard and port. But I didn't want folks to confuse direction with rather I was talking about the side of their boat or the side of the overtaken or passed tow. So whatever works for you, if the tow tells you on the one or one whistle, turn to your starboard side, or right. On the two, or two whistle, turn to your port side or left. This always works. Much better than trying to remember if it's your port to his/her starboard, or your starboard to his/her port, or your port to his/her port or your starboard to his/her starboard. (All depending upon if you are passing or overtaking. Now, if you are being overtaken, you have to remember it's the overtaking vessels turning to port or starboard. Muddy enough? lol. Sorry I made this all so confusing. Colby :mrgreen:

BTW Jim, you can sign me up. It'll just be me as Rosanne is working. I'm still working on logistics, but I will likely travel with you from at least Prescott (the confluence with the St. Croix, if not the entire distance.) The unknown will be if I will need to travel with you to get the rigs.
 
Jim Gibson":g9e89whr said:
Hi Colby.

We plan to rent a car in Alton, Illinois and drive back to St. Paul, Minnessota to pick up our trailer rigs. It is 536 miles back by road. We may have to stay overnight in St. Paul before we head back the next morning.

It is 265 nautical miles from Dubuque, Iowa back to Watergate Marina in St Paul. That is quite a round trip for you. We are staying at America Marine Marina in Dubuque.

It is also 378 NM back from Alton, Illinois to Dubuque, Iowa. That is also a considerable round trip in your boat.

Seems to me you would be better off staying with our group. Much less logistics for you, unless you want to put another 643 NM on your boat, essentially doubling our 13 day boat trip in nautical miles!
Click to expand...

I live on the Mississippi , in Prescott, Wisconsin, 100 yards from where the St. Croix enters. Maybe 20 miles from Watergate. If you need some on-deck assistance from up here before, during, or after the trip, just let me know. I’ll PM you contact info.
 
Sandpiper on Anura 16 - going on Mississippi River Cruise Ship. We will just be arriving Red Wing, Minnesota on 9/11/21. You are leaving that day from the same port.

What is the name of your Cruise Ship so we can look for you the next several days downriver?

Jim & Kath
 
We have over 500 miles to drive our trucks and empty trailers to get back to our boats. I have not done this before. I'm thinking the trailer will be bouncing on every little bump in the road.
What about lowering the tire pressure for the ride back. Maybe down to 30 psi. Would this help the ride? Is it a bad idea?

I'm also wondering if we will see any Invasive Species requirements or inspections on this trip? Maybe just at state line crossing where you need to have your drain plug removed.

Thanks,
Steve
 
Steve, I have wondered about doing this too, and thought about some way to get the trailer up onto the truck, or in the case of more than one trailer, loading one onto the other. It might take some 4x4's but might save on beating the trailers to death.

I don't think lowering the tire pressure would hurt. But I would check with a tire guy.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

JC_Lately_SleepyC_Flat_Blue_070.thumb.jpg
 
I wouldn't worry about lowering your tire pressures or a bouncy trailer. I towed my new trailer back from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, a distance of a little over 600 miles without a boat on it. During the Snake and Columbia River cruise, I also towed my empty trailer from where we started down to Astoria, again a distance of about 500 miles. Yes, it will bounce just a bit more than if the boat was on it, but not so much that it was all that noticeable. And I'm not sure lowering tire pressures would make it bounce any less.
Along I80 or I40 I can not remember any invasive species inspection stations. I do remember leaving LAS on I15 south, at California's agriculture inspection station getting an invasive species inspection, but it was pretty straight forward. If you are traveling on I90 or 94, you will have inspection stations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. There they will be looking for dry bilges and any indication of invasive species. And that your bilge plug is pulled. Most midwest states require boats to have bilge plugs pulled, even though the only inspections I have seen are rare at the boat ramps. Good idea to have the bilge plugs pulled anyway. Colby
 
Unfortunately there are heavy infestations of invasive species in the area of the cruise.

Although the trailers will bounce a little, we have towed many thousands of miles with empty trailers. One was a 1200 mile journey to pickup a C Dory 25, where we had the trailer built locally. Many were after staging. We had the car round trip for one day. Drove to the trailer, I drove the rig back, and Marie drove the rental car back. Had it in the lot before opening the next day, and keys into the box. Be sure and have all persons who may be driving the rental car listed.

Also I assume that Jim will have already arranged for that rental car.
 
Jim, it doesn't look good for me to clear September for the trip. Issue after issue keeps coming up, some I can hand off or delay, others not so easy. At this point I'm going to have to bow out of the trip. I will continue to to try to make it, but it doesn't look good for this year. Nevertheless, I will follow your adventure with great interest.
 
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