Author Topic: A Long River Cruise (Read 11592 times)

fireman24mn · « **on:** February 22, 2016, 04:04:58 PM »

The new (old) boat I am looking at is located in TN. The owner lives up here in the Minneapolis area. He drives the boat back and forth each year. He would rather sell the boat down in TN because the boats he is looking at buying (if it sells) are in the southern part of the US and he doesn't want to drive 2 boats up this year. We are driving down to TN in a few weeks to look at it. I have pretty much told him that I will only buy it if he brings it back up here to MN.

Sounds like I can get a lot better deal on it if I buy it down there and get it back here myself. I have looked into having it trailer-ed but it is very expensive because of the Height and width. I have also looked into hiring a Captain and paying them to driving it up however this is not cheap either.

From talking to him he says it is about a 2 week trip. Depending on weather, and river conditions. He said he usually drives up to St Louis docks there for a few weeks then he heads the rest of the way. Each leg taking about 2 weeks.

My question is does anyone know a captain or someone with extensive boat experience that would be interested in driving the boat up here. The boat is on the Tennessee River, you take that to the Ohio River and then to the Mississippi then up to MSP. Another option would be having a few people to join me in doing it or to have someone do the southern leg and I would do the northern leg. I really don't have the time off work but if I could make it work it would be an option. If you or someone you know would be interested please feel free to PM me. Or if someone would have a good rate on trailer transport that would be an option. The boat has a 14' 10" beam/ width and total height of about 26' and 43' length. The Fly bridge could be removed to lower the clearance but not sure how much it would remove I would guess about 7or 8 ft.

Boat Season is coming!!!

Jason · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2016, 08:09:51 PM »

Quote from: fireman24mn on February 22, 2016, 04:04:58 PM

The new (old) boat I am looking at is located in TN. The owner lives up here in the Minneapolis area. He drives the boat back and forth each year. He would rather sell the boat down in TN because the boats he is looking at buying (if it sells) are in the southern part of the US and he doesn't want to drive 2 boats up this year. We are driving down to TN in a few weeks to look at it. I have pretty much told him that I will only buy it if he brings it back up here to MN.

Sounds like I can get a lot better deal on it if I buy it down there and get it back here myself. I have looked into having it trailer-ed but it is very expensive because of the Height and width. I have also looked into hiring a Captain and paying them to driving it up however this is not cheap either.

From talking to him he says it is about a 2 week trip. Depending on weather, and river conditions. He said he usually drives up to St Louis docks there for a few weeks then he heads the rest of the way. Each leg taking about 2 weeks.

My question is does anyone know a captain or someone with extensive boat experience that would be interested in driving the boat up here. The boat is on the Tennessee River, you take that to the Ohio River and then to the Mississippi then up to MSP. Another option would be having a few people to join me in doing it or to have someone do the southern leg and I would do the northern leg. I really don't have the time off work but if I could make it work it would be an option. If you or someone you know would be interested please feel free to PM me. Or if someone would have a good rate on trailer transport that would be an option. The boat has a 14' 10" beam/ width and total height of about 26' and 43' length. The Fly bridge could be removed to lower the clearance but not sure how much it would remove I would guess about 7or 8 ft.

Boat Season is coming!!!

Jamie keeps telling me we should rent a big boat and go down the river for a trip. Sounds like a lot of fun. Don't think we could get that much time off work either.

fireman24mn · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2016, 09:19:28 PM »

Jason you got me thinking. Maybe I should put an add on Craigslist and sell a week long river experience. I could probably get paid to drive the boat up then. However it would be too early for swimming or anything else. It would just be a sightseeing trip. Although we could pull into a marina each night.

I wonder if I would be required to have a captains license for that? I would think as long as they were along for the ride and not choosing destinations or anything it would be ok. Otherwise it may be considered a charter.

David CVX-16 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2016, 10:14:24 PM »

I had an accounting/tax client that bought a river boat around Washington DC and traveled through the Potomac River to Chesapeake Bay to the Atlantic Ocean, then along the coast to New Orleans, and up the Mississippi River to harbor the boat year round at the St. Paul Yacht Club. Delivered his tax return to him on the boat April 15 one year. He loved his river boat.

Tonka Jim · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2016, 10:57:30 AM »

I'm not qualified to pilot a big cruiser but I'm available to be a first mate to the captain.
Let me know!

Oldfishguy · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2016, 12:08:23 PM »

Hmmm,

This potential journey is bringing back flashbacks of . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3HFXSgWps8

Plugcheck · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2016, 12:37:01 PM »

It sounds like an epic journey, a story to tell for years. Maybe a retiree you may know would be interested. Would it be possible to plan the journey in increments, storing it in slips along the way for short periods? Basically bring it home over several long weekends? Might be able to have others do some of the "legs" Just some thoughts, I've never attempted such a cruise, but the idea is intriguing.

dorelse · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2016, 01:23:29 PM »

I might have some time, but like Jim said, I really don't want that responsibility...but...I can certainly yell, "Look out skipper!"

fireman24mn · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2016, 02:20:32 PM »

We are going down over spring break to check it out and find out if it is something that we want to peruse.

Mike the problem with doing it in increments is you would have to drive down with a few people. A couple in the boat and someone in the car then drive for a few days in the boat and the person in the car would have to sit and wait in a different hotel or town until you got there then drive back home. Keep doing that all the way.

One thing on my to do list is the Great Loop. It is a trip down the Mississippi, around Florida, up the east cost, threw the great lakes and down the IL river back to the Mississippi. This would give me some experience on a very large section of the trip. If you have never looked it up there is a lot of great info online.

I agree with everyone that this would be a great trip. It is just hard to be gone from work for so long. Jess would be a single mom for 2 weeks. Not to mention it is a long trip on a boat that I am unfamiliar with, in a section of river I know nothing about.

I will keep everyone informed. If i do decide to do the trip or at least part of it I will let the one who have volunteered company/ help know first. At this point its not bought, but we really like it and I am showing our current boat to someone on Friday.

Jason · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2016, 02:50:49 PM »

Quote from: fireman24mn on February 24, 2016, 02:20:32 PM

Mike the problem with doing it in increments is you would have to drive down with a few people. A couple in the boat and someone in the car then drive for a few days in the boat and the person in the car would have to sit and wait in a different hotel or town until you got there then drive back home. Keep doing that all the way.

Rental cars.

dorelse · « **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2016, 04:01:24 PM »

I want to do the Miss/Ohio/Tenn-Tom section of the loop. Thought about getting that CV-23HT for just that purpose...though a CV-27 would be much more comfortable...

fireman24mn · « **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2016, 04:37:06 PM »

Quote from: Jason on February 24, 2016, 02:50:49 PM

Quote from: fireman24mn on February 24, 2016, 02:20:32 PM
Mike the problem with doing it in increments is you would have to drive down with a few people. A couple in the boat and someone in the car then drive for a few days in the boat and the person in the car would have to sit and wait in a different hotel or town until you got there then drive back home. Keep doing that all the way.

Rental cars.

Depending on Marinas many of them wont have a rental company or airport close. With one way rentals the rate usually doubles and I couldn't leave it at the marina. A lot of the river is 1 or 2 hours from the closest major city. Think of around here. Red Wing prob don't have rentals, even Stillwater might have rentals but a cab from Stillwater to the airport would probably be 150.00 then add in airfare for me and at least one more person.

Rosscoe · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2016, 06:16:40 PM »

OK so you got Jimmy and I.
That's a start.

Tonka Jim · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2016, 08:30:49 PM »

Jason · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2016, 10:14:10 PM »

Craigslist rideshare?

Plugcheck · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2016, 07:31:44 AM »

Ride a motorcycle and put it on the boat? Rentals, Bus, or cabs, maybe even fly into some areas. Call it the great Planes, trains, automobiles, and boats adventure. This trip would certainly serve as a primer for the odyssey you described above going to the great lakes.

fireman24mn · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2016, 09:08:33 AM »

Quote from: Plugcheck on February 25, 2016, 07:31:44 AM

Ride a motorcycle and put it on the boat? Rentals, Bus, or cabs, maybe even fly into some areas. Call it the great Planes, trains, automobiles, and boats adventure. This trip would certainly serve as a primer for the odyssey you described above going to the great lakes.

Funny you mention motorcycle. I have thought about doing that already. Then I could just drive it onto the boat and strap it down and go.

Thats my plan when the kids are gone and Jess and I live on one full time. Then I would have transportation at each stop. The boat we are looking at it one that is sought after to live aboard.

Oldfishguy · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2016, 10:16:47 AM »

FINALLY, a thread on motorcycles! Well, kind of. LOL

Been riding various machines since I was 10.

2001 Honda Valkyrie Interstate

makinwaves · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2016, 12:27:38 PM »

I can get you a flight back on Tuesday?

Hyperacme · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2016, 01:03:42 PM »

Any pictures or link to new boat Shawn ?